The CFL 2012 regular season kicked-off last weekend and the home teams prevailed with a 3-1 record both straight-up and against the spread. 

The following is a betting preview and prediction for Week 2’s Saturday and Sunday games along with a full set of betting lines as provided by top Sportsbooks.

Calgary Stampeders (-3.5) vs. Toronto Argonauts

Calgary made an early statement on opening day with a 38-10 romp over Montreal as a 2.5-point home favorite (with Montreal facing Winnipeg on Friday in Week 2 CFL). The total stayed UNDER the 55-point line. Led by new starting quarterback Drew Tate’s 299 yards through the air and running back Jon Cornish’s 86 yards on the ground, the Stampeders opened-up an early 18-point lead and never looked back. The defense pitched a shutout in the second half to also help Calgary coast to an impressive win.

Toronto lost a tough 19-15 battle against Edmonton in its season opener as a one-point underdog, but still has to be pleased with the team’s overall performance on the road. The Argonauts major offseason acquisition, Ricky Ray was able to complete 74.4 percent of his throws for 298 yards and a touchdown and their defense kept them in the game late into the fourth quarter.

The Stampeders are 5-1-1 against the spread in their last seven Saturday games and the total has gone OVER in 15 of their last 21 games following a SU win. Toronto is 4-9 ATS in its last 13 home games but 4-0 ATS in its last four games following a SU loss. Head-to-head, Calgary is 6-3 straight-up in the last nine meetings, but it has lost the last three both SU and ATS. It is actually just 1-7 ATS in its last eight trips to Toronto. Stick with the underdog Argonauts all the way in this one as they shock Calgary with the SU win.

Predictions: Toronto 24 - Calgary 22

 

Edmonton Eskimos vs. Saskatchewan Roughriders (-4)

Edmonton closed-out the 2011 regular season by winning four of its last five games and has to be pleased with its start this year. While its offense was not firing on all cylinders against Toronto, the defense did its part by holding the Argonauts to just 15 points. Eskimos’ quarterback Steven Jyles cannot be happy with a 58.3 completion percentage and the rushing attack only managed a total of 68 yards.

If Saskatchewan quarterback Darian Durant can continue to play like he did in the Roughriders’ shocking 43-16 demolition of Hamilton as seven-point road underdogs on opening day, this team will win far more than last season’s disappointing five games. Returning to the form that led the CFL in passing in 2010, Durant completed 73.5 percent of his throws for 390 yards and four touchdowns. Wide receiver Weston Dressler pulled-down 13 balls for 180 yards and three of those scores in this impressive aerial assault. The total went well OVER the 49-point line.

The Eskimos are 2-5 ATS in their last seven games following an ATS loss and 1-4 ATS in their last five games as underdogs. The total has gone OVER in four of their last five games on the road. Saskatchewan is 1-5 ATS in its last six home games as a favorite but 5-1 ATS in its last six games following a SU win. The total has stayed UNDER in 13 of its last 16 games overall. Head-to-head, Edmonton is 5-2 both SU and ATS in the last seven meetings, but stick with the hot hand this time around for your football picks as the Roughriders improve to 2-0 with a victory that covers the four points.

Prediction: Saskatchewan 34 - Edmonton 28