The Montreal Alouettes begin their 2021 CFL season on Saturday as they head out west to face the Edmonton Elks.
The Elks started their year off with a disappointing loss but oddsmakers expect them to bounce back, with CFL betting lines opening with Edmonton as a 3-point home favorite for Week 2.
Here are our best free CFL picks and predictions for the Alouettes vs. Elks on Saturday, August 14, with kickoff at 7 p.m. ET.
Alouettes vs Elks game info
• Location: Commonwealth Stadium, Edmonton, AB
• Date: Saturday, August 14, 2021
• Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
• TV: TSN
Alouettes vs Elks odds
Odds via the Covers Line, an average comprised of odds from multiple sportsbooks.
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Alouettes at Elks betting preview
Weather
Key injuries
Alouettes: Quan Bray WR (Out).
Elks: Jermaine Gabriel DB (Probable), SirVincent Rogers OT (Out), Colin Kelly OL (Out), Jordan Hoover (Out), Nate Anderson DE (Out).
Find our latest CFL injury reports.
Betting trend to know
The Under is 5-2 in Edmonton's last seven games in Week 2, while the Under has cashed in five straight Week 2 contests for Montreal. Find more CFL betting trends for Alouettes vs. Elks.
Against the spread (ATS) pick
Edmonton began the Elks era with an ugly showing in front of its home fans, losing 16-12 as 7.5-point favorites against Ottawa.
The Elks were expected to have one of the most explosive offenses in the league led by quarterback Trevor Harris, receivers Greg Ellingson and Derel Walker, and recently acquired running back James Wilder Jr. Harris passed for 333 yards last week but was also picked off three times, including one interception that was returned 102 yards for the Redblacks' game-winning touchdown.
That said, Harris is typically a very efficient passer and completed 71.8 percent of his passes with just six interceptions in 13 games for Edmonton in 2019. Expect him to bounce back against an Alouettes defense that allowed a league-worst 316.1 passing yards per game on a completion percentage of 73.6 in 2019.
While the Als added Monshadrik Hunter to their secondary, they also lost Tommie Campbell and Ciante Evans, so don't expect much improvement on that end. Montreal's biggest strength is on offense with QB Vernon Adams Jr. and RB William Stanback both being named East Division All-Stars in 2019 when the Als closed out the regular season with a 4-3 SU mark.
However, Montreal lost its third-leading receiver DeVier Posey in free agency, suspended second-leading receiver Quan Bray due to an offseason arrest, and recently released former Steelers wideout Eli Rogers before he even played a down with the club.
When it comes right down to it, I think the Elks are overrated this season, while the Als are being underestimated. That said, we saw just how rusty teams looked last week after the long layoff and that will be tough for Montreal to overcome, especially with so many new faces. Take Edmonton to win and cover.
PREDICTION: Edmonton -3 (-110)
Over/Under pick
The Elks have plenty of firepower at the skill positions, but their offensive line situation is a bit of a mess, especially at tackle. Last season's starter Tommie Draheim and three-time All-Star Derek Dennis both retired in June. Then their other 2019 starter, Colin Kelly, underwent surgery while another three-time All-Star SirVincent Rogers, who missed all of 2019 with an injury, was recently diagnosed with COVID-19.
That could limit the potential of their offense. However, the Elks' defensive line should be stout. While they lost one of the league's best defensive tackles in Almondo Sewell (along with end Nick Usher), tackle Jake Ceresna returns to the fold after trying his hand in the NFL, while ends Kwaku Boateng and Mathieu Betts give them a pair of extremely talented national pass rushers.
Edmonton tied for the CFL lead with 56 sacks in 2018 and if Week 1, where the Elks held the Redblacks to just 94 net yards, is any indication, they'll have a strong stop-unit once again.
Speaking of Sewell and Usher, guess who they signed with? That's right, Montreal, where they will join former Vikings backup and SEC standout linebacker Kentrell Brothers to bolster the front seven.
The Als might not be world-beaters on defense this season, but they should be improved on that side of the ball. Take the Under.
PREDICTION: Under 49 (-110)
Alouettes vs Elks betting card
- Edmonton -3 (-110)
- Under 49 (-110)
Picks made on 8/12/2021 at 1:45 p.m. ET
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