CFL Opening Weekend: Handicapping Thoughts After Week One

Pro football handicapping action is back in true Canuck style! The 100th Anniversary year of the Grey Cup Championship kicked off the Canadian Football League as part of the Canada Day long weekend festivities.

With top quarterbacks Henry Burris and Ricky Ray leaving the West Division and heading East, there was talk in some circles of a power shift in the CFL. If that’s true – it wasn’t on display during Week One action.

CFL 2012 Week One Action: West Totally Dominates East

With all four Week One match-ups being of the East versus West variety, the CFL West got the better of their Eastern counterparts. It started Friday night with Saskatchewan shellacking the Tiger-Cats 43-13 in Hamilton. It was an auspicious start for new Ticats QB Henry Burris who was overshadowed by Roughriders QB Darian Durant who passed for 345 yards and four touchdowns.

In a rematch of the 99th Grey Cup, also played on Friday night in British Columbia, the defending Champion Lions bashed the Winnipeg Blue Bombers 33-16. In this contest Lions wide receiver Geroy Simon, who entered his 14 season, became the CFL all-time leading receiver. Simon caught five balls for 105 yards to move past Milt Stegall with 15,192 total receiving yards over his career.

Alberta Tops Ontario and Quebec in CFL Weekend Action

It was more West beats East on the weekend as Ricky Ray and the Toronto Argonauts fell 19-15 to the Edmonton Eskimos on Saturday night. The Eskimos looked better than what they really are, especially on defense, while the Argonauts missed two field goals in the loss. This was a sloppy contest throughout and neither of these clubs are 2012 Grey Cup Championship contenders.

CFL Kickoff Weekend closed on Canada Day as the Stampeders rolled the Montreal Alouettes 38-10 at McMahon Stadium in Calgary. The Stamps were the superior team from start to finish in their win over the Alouettes. With Drew Tate as their new starting QB, and Canadian Jon Cornish as their new starting running back, the Stamps manhandled Montreal all day long.

Canadian Football League: Looking Forward To Week Two

So, with the CFL Week One in the books, what did we learn during Kickoff Weekend action? We mentioned that you shouldn’t count on Edmonton or Toronto to contend. The Stampeders and Lions are for real, while the Alouettes and Blue Bombers have some work ahead.

We’ll reserve judgement on the rebuilding Tiger-Cats and Roughriders. Week Two action is now just two days away! Top online bookmakers, recommended here at SBR.net, are loaded with all the Canadian Football League wagering action. Pro football betting is back – and we love it!

CFL Week Two Winning Predictions: