SportsLine expert backs Montreal, Winnipeg and Ottawa for CFL season opener
The SportsLine analyst favours the Alouettes, Blue Bombers and Redblacks in Week 1, citing defensive edges and backfield strength as decisive factors.
SportsLine expert Emory Hunt has released his primary betting selections for the opening week of the 2026 Canadian Football League season, which is set to commence on Thursday, June 4. Hunt’s analysis centres on three specific fixtures, predicting victories for the Montreal Alouettes against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers against the Calgary Stampeders, and the Ottawa Redblacks against the Edmonton Elks.
The season opener features a rematch of last year’s division semifinal between Montreal and Hamilton. The Alouettes secured a 19-16 win in that contest before falling to the Saskatchewan Roughriders in the Grey Cup. Hunt argues that while the teams are closely matched, Montreal holds a slight advantage in defensive performance and offensive line strength, making a Tiger-Cats loss unlikely in the opener.
In the matchup between Winnipeg and Calgary, Hunt highlights the contrast between the Stampeders’ potent passing game, led by quarterback Vernon Adams Jr., and the Blue Bombers’ defensive pressure capabilities. He describes Winnipeg as one of the more stable organisations over the past decade and suggests their ability to disrupt the quarterback may counter Calgary’s offensive strengths. The outcome, he notes, will likely depend on which signal-caller, including Winnipeg’s Zach Collaros, can establish a fast start and avoid errors.
Hunt also selects the Ottawa Redblacks to defeat the Edmonton Elks. While acknowledging that Edmonton built significant goodwill and positive momentum towards the end of the previous season, Hunt points to Ottawa’s backfield depth as a critical factor. He identifies Greg Bell and Daniel Adeboboye as key assets that could provide the offensive balance necessary for Ottawa to ease into the season and secure a win.
Hunt, a New Orleans native who played running back at the University of Louisiana-Lafayette and coached high school football, brings a track record of 132-111-2 on NFL bets over the past three seasons. His CFL predictions are available through major betting platforms, with promotional codes for DraftKings and FanDuel cited in the release.
