{"id":107035,"date":"2025-08-30T04:46:04","date_gmt":"2025-08-30T04:46:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/107035\/"},"modified":"2025-08-30T04:46:04","modified_gmt":"2025-08-30T04:46:04","slug":"3downnation-cfl-picks-straight-up-against-the-spread-week-13","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/107035\/","title":{"rendered":"3DownNation CFL picks straight-up & against the spread: Week 13"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

The best week of the CFL\u2019s regular-season schedule is here: Labour Day Weekend. We\u2019ve only got three games to watch but they\u2019re all time-honoured classics, including a clash of prairie foes, the Battle of Ontario, and the Battle of Alberta.<\/p>\n

Edmonton-based reporter Andrew Hoskins and Calgary-based reporter Ryan Ballantine are tied for the lead in our straight-up picks, while Regina-based reporter Brendan McGuire has a strong lead in our picks against the spread. Below are our picks for Week 13 in the CFL.<\/p>\n

Sunday, August 31: Winnipeg Blue Bombers at Saskatchewan Roughriders (-4.5) at 7:00 p.m. EDT<\/p>\n

The Saskatchewan Roughriders are home favourites against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers for the annual Labour Day Classic at Mosaic Stadium. The Blue Bombers have won three of the last four Labour Day Classics, including last year\u2019s affair, though the Riders are coming into this one with a better record on the season, sitting four points ahead of their prairie rivals in the West Division standings. Winnipeg is dealing with injuries in the receiving corps, though Dalton Schoen is trending towards a return. Meanwhile, Saskatchewan could have multiple key pieces missing from the secondary in Marcus Sayles and Nelson Lokombo.<\/p>\n

ABBOTT: As long as this doesn\u2019t come down to a field goal, I like the Riders\u2019 chances at home.<\/p>\n

Straight-up: Saskatchewan. Against the spread: Saskatchewan.<\/p>\n

BALLANTINE: Both of these teams have one loss combined when not playing Calgary. Give it to the home team in a close one.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Straight-up: Saskatchewan. Against the spread: Winnipeg.<\/p>\n

FILOSO: The Bombers have won four of their last six in Regina, and three of the last four Labour Day Classics. It\u2019s almost always a close game too, which is why I have no idea why Saskatchewan is so heavily favoured.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Straight-up: Winnipeg. Against the spread: Winnipeg.<\/p>\n

GASSON: It feels like the Riders need this for reasons beyond just the standings, but it\u2019ll be close.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Straight-up: Saskatchewan. Against the spread: Winnipeg.<\/p>\n

HERRERA-VERGARA: The Riders will look to bounce back after last week\u2019s disappointing performance.<\/p>\n

Straight-up: Saskatchewan. Against the spread: Saskatchewan.<\/p>\n

HODGE: You typically can\u2019t go wrong picking the home team on Labour Day.<\/p>\n

Straight-up: Saskatchewan. Against the spread: Saskatchewan.<\/p>\n

HOSKINS: This has been all Winnipeg in recent years, but the Riders want to bounce back after last week and will at home.<\/p>\n

Straight-up: Saskatchewan. Against the spread: Saskatchewan.<\/p>\n

KLEIN: The Riders have looked really good against the non-Calgary portion of the league lately. They keep that up at home this weekend.<\/p>\n

Straight-up: Saskatchewan. Against the spread: Saskatchewan.<\/p>\n

McGUIRE: Winnipeg always faces long odds on Labour Day weekend, and with an inferior record this time, it\u2019s hard to envision them pulling an upset. I\u2019m still willing to bet they\u2019ll keep it close.<\/p>\n

Straight-up: Saskatchewan. Against the spread: Winnipeg.<\/p>\n

THOMAS: Winnipeg has feasted here, but I like the Riders to put on a better performance than we saw from them last time around.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Straight-up: Saskatchewan. Against the spread: Saskatchewan.\u00a0<\/p>\n

TOTALS STRAIGHT-UP: Saskatchewan 9, Winnipeg 1.<\/p>\n

TOTALS AGAINST THE SPREAD: Saskatchewan 6, Winnipeg 4.<\/p>\n

\"\"Photo courtesy: Bob Butrym\/RFB Sport Photography
\nMonday, September 1: Toronto Argonauts at Hamilton Tiger-Cats (-6) at 2:30 p.m. EDT<\/p>\n

The Hamilton Tiger-Cats are home favourites against the Toronto Argonauts on Monday for the Battle of Ontario edition of the Labour Day Classic. The Boatmen are coming off a shocking 52-34 drubbing of the B.C. Lions during which Nick Arbuckle threw for over 400 yards and accounted for four touchdowns, while the Ticats are coming off a bye after getting blown out by Saskatchewan the previous week. Toronto may insert all-star Makai Polk into the starting lineup after repatriating him from the NFL earlier in the week, while Hamilton is still assessing the injury status of key pieces like Stavros Katsantonis.<\/p>\n

ABBOTT: I\u2019m twisting myself into knots justifying this, but I just have a gut feeling.<\/p>\n

Straight-up: Toronto. Against the spread: Toronto.<\/p>\n

BALLANTINE: Hamilton is rested and ready to put the division to bed.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Straight-up: Hamilton. Against the spread: Hamilton.<\/p>\n

FILOSO: I want to pick the Argos, but I think the Ticats coming off the bye gives them a slight edge.<\/p>\n

Straight-up: Hamilton. Against the spread: Toronto.<\/p>\n

GASSON: Worse Hamilton teams have beaten better Toronto teams in this game.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Straight-up: Hamilton. Against the spread: Hamilton.<\/p>\n

HERRERA-VERGARA: The Argos are improving, but it won\u2019t be enough against the Tiger-Cats<\/p>\n

Straight-up: Hamilton. Against the spread: Hamilton.<\/p>\n

HODGE: You typically can\u2019t go wrong picking the home team on Labour Day.<\/p>\n

Straight-up: Hamilton. Against the spread: Hamilton.<\/p>\n

HOSKINS: Hamilton\u2019s defence plays a lot better than B.C.\u2019s and they are coming off the bye.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Straight-up: Hamilton. Against the spread: Hamilton.<\/p>\n

KLEIN: The Argos were able to outscore their problems last week. I don\u2019t think they can do it again against the Ticats coming off the bye.<\/p>\n

Straight-up: Hamilton. Against the spread: Hamilton.<\/p>\n

McGUIRE: The Cats have had a bye week to lick their wounds but this Argo offence is showing pure fire! I smell an upset cooking.<\/p>\n

Straight-up: Toronto. Against the spread: Toronto.<\/p>\n

THOMAS: Hamilton is coming off a bye with a bitter taste in their mouths. The Tiger-Cats continue their Labour Day dominance over the Argos.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Straight-up: Hamilton. Against the spread: Hamilton.<\/p>\n

TOTALS STRAIGHT-UP: Hamilton 8, Toronto 2.<\/p>\n

TOTALS AGAINST THE SPREAD: Hamilton 7, Toronto 3.<\/p>\n

\"\"Photo: Larry MacDougal\/3DownNation. All rights reserved.
\nMonday, September 1: Edmonton Elks at Calgary Stampeders (-7.5) at 6:00 p.m. EDT<\/p>\n

The Calgary Stampeders are heavy home favourites over the Edmonton Elks on Monday for the Battle of Alberta edition of the Labour Day Classic. The Stampeders are coming off a statement win over Saskatchewan, while the Elks are on a three-game winning streak during which Justin Rankin has emerged as a fringe M.O.P. candidate. Calgary might actually get some pieces back for their deep receiving corps, while Edmonton has lost defensive end Robbie Smith and receiver Steven Dunbar Jr. long term.<\/p>\n

ABBOTT: The Elks are improving, but there is no need to overthink this.<\/p>\n

Straight-up: Calgary. Against the spread: Edmonton.<\/p>\n

BALLANTINE: Typically I\u2019d shy away from a wide spread like this, but Calgary has won by at least two scores in their first meeting against every other Western team.<\/p>\n

Straight-up: Calgary. Against the spread: Calgary. .<\/p>\n

FILOSO: The Stampeders are the best team in the CFL, but nine points feels like too much of a spread to cover.<\/p>\n

Straight-up: Calgary. Against the spread: Edmonton.<\/p>\n

GASSON: Things are looking up in Edmonton but not quite to this level.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Straight-up: Calgary. Against the spread: Calgary.<\/p>\n

HERRERA-VERGARA: The Elks are on a good streak, but the Stamps are on another level right now<\/p>\n

Straight-up: Calgary. Against the spread: Calgary.<\/p>\n

HODGE: You typically can\u2019t go wrong picking the home team on Labour Day.<\/p>\n

Straight-up: Calgary. Against the spread: Calgary.<\/p>\n

HOSKINS: The Elks have a steep challenge against a Stampeders team that\u2019s good in all three phases. Much like Fajardo\u2019s first two games, this will be closer than expected.<\/p>\n

Straight-up: Calgary. Against the spread: Edmonton.<\/p>\n

KLEIN: Edmonton is playing better, but Calgary has blown out better teams than them. Combine that with a Labour Day crowd and the choice seems clear.<\/p>\n

Straight-up: Calgary. Against the spread: Calgary.<\/p>\n

McGUIRE: The Stamps should win this one but the spread seems a bit high for beating a squad coming off three straight wins.<\/p>\n

Straight-up: Calgary. Against the spread: Calgary.<\/p>\n

THOMAS: Calgary earned a huge win last week. As good as Edmonton has been of late, the Stampeders won\u2019t let this one get away.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Straight-up: Calgary. Against the spread: Calgary.\u00a0<\/p>\n

TOTALS STRAIGHT-UP: Calgary 10, Edmonton 0.<\/p>\n

TOTALS AGAINST THE SPREAD: Calgary 7, Edmonton 3.<\/p>\n

2025 records (straight-up)<\/p>\n

BALLANTINE \u2014 32-15
HOSKINS \u2014 32-15
ABBOTT \u2014 31-16
HERRERA-VERGARA \u2014 30-17
HODGE \u2014 29-18
KLEIN \u2014 29-18
THOMAS \u2014 29-18
McGUIRE \u2014 28-19
FILOSO \u2014 26-21
GASSON \u2014 25-22<\/p>\n

2025 records (against the spread)<\/p>\n

McGUIRE \u2014 30-17
ABBOTT \u2014 26-21
BALLANTINE \u2014 26-21
HERRERA-VERGARA \u2014 26-21
FILOSO \u2014 25-22
THOMAS \u2014 24-22
HODGE \u2014 23-24
KLEIN \u2014 23-24
HOSKINS \u2014 22-25
GASSON \u2014 20-27<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The best week of the CFL\u2019s regular-season schedule is here: Labour Day Weekend. We\u2019ve only got three games…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":107036,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[437],"tags":[49,48,521,522,520,82],"class_list":["post-107035","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-cfl","tag-ca","tag-canada","tag-canadian-football-league","tag-canadianfootballleague","tag-cfl","tag-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/107035","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=107035"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/107035\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/107036"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=107035"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=107035"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=107035"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}