The CFL Division Finals are finally here and the games are what we expected them to be. Both favorites won in the first round, although it was not easy for either of them. Each will face hostile road conditions this week to face the rested teams at the top of each division.
Vancouver reporter JC Abbott remains our top pick, while Regina reporter Brendan McGuire has already won our title for popularity. Below are our picks for the final Saturday of CFL competition.
Saturday, November 8: Montreal Alouettes at Hamilton Tiger-Cats (+2.5) at 3:00 pm ET
The Hamilton Tiger-Cats are home underdogs to the Montreal Alouettes in the Eastern final on Saturday as the team looks to break a 25-year championship drought. The Alouettes remain undefeated with Davis Alexander at the helm. Pierre-Olivier Lestage and Austin Mack are expected to be available despite injuries. However, defensive tackle Mustafa Johnson is listed as questionable due to a shoulder issue. The Tigercats will come into this match rested and healthy after a first-round bye and will have the advantage of a hostile crowd at their back.
ABBOTT: This game would be a must-see movie, with Bo Levi Mitchell and Davis Alexander battling for long shot supremacy. Hamilton has plenty of motivation from his Gray Cup drought and will be fueled by the memory of the late Ted Gouveia, but Montreal's faith is unmatched.
Directly: Montreal. Anti-spread: Montreal.
BALLANTINE: We recently saw long-starved Ontario teams make it to the championship games. No one goes hungry longer than the Ticats. Look for an aging silverback to ward off the powerful youngster.
Straight up: Hamilton. Against the reversal: Hamilton.
SPICY: Hammer is going to be amazing and I fully expect an exciting, ongoing game. The Ticats will be desperate to get their ticket to the Gray Cup in front of a rowdy home crowd, but the Alouettes come to town with plenty of swagger and confidence. I lean towards visitors simply because I think they peak at the right time and it might take Beau and company a quarter or so to wash off the rust.
Directly: Montreal. Anti-spread: Montreal.
GASSON: The Alouettes, with David Alexander, are the best team in the CFL right now. Hamilton has some terrible losses on his record and I don't think they are as good as his record suggests.
Directly: Montreal. Anti-spread: Montreal.
HERRERA-VERGARA: This week the Als will face a different beast. Bo Levi Mitchell is ready to move on after a tough few years. However, Davis Alexander is currently on another planet. I think that in a high-scoring game, Montreal will leave Hamilton with a ticket to Winnipeg.
Directly: Montreal. Anti-spread: Montreal.
HODGE: It should be an even game and I wouldn't be surprised to see the Tigercats in this year's Gray Cup. With that said, the Alouettes are playing the best football of any CFL team right now. Davis Alexander is an up-and-coming superstar and it looks like he'll be played by Pierre-Olivier Lestage. Advantage: Alouettes.
Directly: Montreal. Anti-spread: Montreal.
HOSKINS: Montreal just feels like the team has recovered and peaked at the right time. The remaining week will help Hamilton tie the game. I just see the battle for intangibles going in the Alouettes' favor.
Straight: Montreal Vs. Spread: Montreal
KLEIN: When healthy, the Alouettes have always looked like the best-rounded team in the East. For them, everything comes together at the right time.
Directly: Montreal. Anti-spread: Montreal.
McGuire: The 12-0 record in favor of Davis Alexander as the starting quarterback is hard to ignore. Even when the Blue Bombers returned last week, it still seemed like the Alouettes were just toying with them. Wally Buono started out in the CFL as an Alouette and once said something like, “You need a bye week until the day after the semifinal game because the team that wins the semifinals has momentum.” He was right.
Directly: Montreal. Against the reversal: Hamilton.
THOMAS: Davis Alexander's 12-0 record is truly impressive, as is Montreal's ability to find the gas pedal after Winnipeg erased a 19-point lead. On the other hand, it was not for nothing that the Tiger-Cats conquered the East. The Ticats' defense causes more turnovers than anyone in the league, and the extra possessions win football games. We know what they are capable of offensively. I think Hamilton is better at his best and Scott Milanovich will give them his best. The fact that the Alouettes are entering their barn, which everyone else prefers, will likely add fuel to the fire.
Straight up: Hamilton. Against the reversal: Hamilton.
RESULTS STRAIGHT: Montreal 8, Hamilton 2.
TOTAL BY SPREAD: Montreal 7, Hamilton 3.
Saturday, November 8: BC Lions at Saskatchewan Roughriders (-3) at 6:30 p.m.
The Saskatchewan Roughriders favor a field goal over the BC Lions in the east final on Saturday, where cold weather could pose a challenge for the ambitious Leos. Canadian wide receiver Justin McInnis and running back James Butler are expected to play, but remain limited in practice and right tackle Dejon Allen is unavailable. The Riders, on the other hand, appear to be getting better thanks to a first-round bye at wide receiver. Donte Meyers, KeeSean Johnsonand Samuel Emil are all eager to return. The secondary should also get reinforcements in the form of Roland Milligan Jr. and Marcus Sayles as they prepare to face MOP finalist Nathan Rourke in front of a rabid Mosaic crowd.
ABBOTT: Betting against Nathan Rourke right now is a stupid idea, but I'm just a fool. Saskatchewan is the deepest team in the CFL and James Butler has struggled to put together a ground attack over the past two weeks. If BC fails, they will need their QB to be the undisputed hero.
Direct: Saskatchewan. Anti-spread: BC
BALLANTINE: With a sold-out game in sight, Regina's home fans must get to work against Nathan Rourke. BC was lucky to win last week, but this week's luck ran out.
Direct: Saskatchewan. Anti-spread: Saskatchewan.
SPICY: Everything is in Saskatchewan's favor – sold-out team, cooler temperatures, extra rest, overall better lineup – but I can't shake the feeling that Nathan Rourke is putting a feisty Lions team on his shoulders and finding a way to get the job done.
Straight Up: BC Against Spread: BC
GASSON: I truly believe the Lions have been the best team in the West for several weeks now. However, the Riders appear to pose a challenge for the Lions. Add in some concerns about the cold weather and things look up for the home team.
Direct: Saskatchewan. Anti-spread: Saskatchewan.
HERRERA-VERGARA: Are the Lions still a dome team? We'll find out on Saturday, but for now I have to give the edge to the Riders. Corey Mays has taken the team to the next level this year and Trevor Harris is playing good football. The Riders' defense will be key in this matchup.
Direct: Saskatchewan. Anti-spread: Saskatchewan.
HODGE: I've watched this game a half dozen times, but I keep coming back to the cold weather, which should benefit the home team. Nathan Rourke is the best player in the CFL, but Saskatchewan is a little better in the trenches and will have a rowdy crowd behind him as they look to reach the Gray Cup for the first time since 2013.
Direct: Saskatchewan. Anti-spread: BC
HOSKINS: It has everything a playoff game should have. Both teams are playing well, cold weather, big crowd and neither team has been in a big game for a long time. The Lions didn't dominate as much as I thought they would last week. I think the bye and the home fans can make a difference.
Direct: Saskatchewan. Anti-spread: Saskatchewan.
KLEIN: Nathan Rourke has been fantastic all year, but Saskatchewan's passing game has proven to be too much for many teams. This will be the difference between Regina.
Direct: Saskatchewan. Anti-spread: Saskatchewan.
McGuire: The weather is talking about Saskatchewan as the Lions have a 10-game losing streak in the outdoor playoffs dating back to 2009. I wouldn't care if the Lions were built for the cold, but they aren't. A good passing game won't help in sub-zero temperatures against arguably the best defense in the Canadian Football League.
Direct: Saskatchewan. Anti-spread: Saskatchewan.
THOMAS: A candidate for the CFL's best defense faces the league's most dangerous offense in recent memory. The Lions mounted an attack but lost to the Stampeders. They'll need more to upset the Riders at home. The elements are on the side of the Horsemen, they have the best defense, and they are in front of the faithful of Moses.
Direct: Saskatchewan. Anti-spread: Saskatchewan.
RESULTS STRAIGHT: Saskatchewan 9, BC 1.
TOTAL BY SPREAD: Saskatchewan 7, BC 3.
Records 2025 (straight)
Abbott – 57–26
HOSKINS – 54-29
McGwire – 54-29
HODGE – 53-30
HERRERA-VERGARA – 53-30
BALLANTINE – 51-32
KLEIN – 51-32
THOMAS – 50-33
GASSON – 46-37
SHARP – 46-37
2025 records (against spread)
McGwire – 52-31
Abbott – 44–39
THOMAS – 44-39
BALLANTINE – 43-40
HERRERA-VERGARA – 42-41
KLEIN – 42-41
SHARP – 39-44
GASSON – 39-44
HODGE – 38-45
HOSKINS – 36–47
