CFL Kickoff Weekend: A Bettor’s Guide to Week 1

The new Canadian Football League season is just around the corner, with six out of nine teams taking the field for the CFL kickoff weekend. While we won’t see any major rivalries in the Week 1 fixtures, we’re still in for a treat, as last year’s East Division finalists will test each other’s mettle. Other matchups may also offer strong betting opportunities, so read our CFL betting guide for Week 1 for a quick yet detailed overview of what to expect.

CFL Week 1 Fixtures

With the new CFL season kicking off on June 4, and two more matches following in the days after, the Week 1 fixtures are:

• June 4: Montreal Alouettes vs. Hamilton Tiger-Cats
• June 5: Winnipeg Blue Bombers vs. Calgary Stampeders
• June 6: Edmonton Elks vs. Ottawa Redblacks

The pre-season games may provide better insight into each team’s current form as we wait for odds on this weekend’s matchups on Canadian sports betting sites.

How to Bet on CFL Week 1 Games

The 2026 CFL kickoff weekend delivers three distinct betting opportunities, from a high-stakes East Division rematch to a clash of West Division rivals. Navigating this opening board requires balancing home-field advantage against the latest futures odds and offseason roster changes. Here is how to approach the Week 1 slate and spot the best value at Canadian sportsbooks.

Montreal Alouettes vs. Hamilton Tiger-Cats

Even without going deeper into the analysis, it’s clear that the matchup between the Alouettes and the Tiger-Cats promises to be the most intense of the CFL’s opening week. The teams met in last year’s East Division Final, in which Montreal narrowly defeated Hamilton. So, even with betting odds yet to be announced, this game already looks like the marquee matchup of the first CFL round this year.

And if futures odds are any indication, expectations are high for both teams this season. The Montreal Alouettes are currently considered the favourites to win the Grey Cup, while the Tiger-Cats are ranked fourth among the contenders. However, Hamilton will have home-field advantage in the first round of the 2026 CFL season, so the final result could be just as close as last season’s East Division Final.

Even a closer look at the leading players doesn’t make it easy to determine which team deserves a slight edge. Both sides feature outstanding quarterbacks Davis Alexander for the Alouettes and Bo Levi Mitchell for the Tiger-Cats.

Alexander’s contribution to the Alouettes grew significantly in 2025, as he recorded 2,024 passing yards compared to 1,347 in the 2024 season, along with 10 touchdowns. Some Canadian sportsbooks have also given him strong odds to be named the league’s Most Outstanding Player this season.

Mitchell, however, posted more impressive numbers last season, throwing for 5,296 yards and 36 touchdowns, with his production remaining largely consistent with the 2024 season.

Winnipeg Blue Bombers vs. Calgary Stampeders

This matchup certainly isn’t viewed as the marquee game of the first round of the CFL kickoff weekend in 2026. Still, betting on its outcome could prove to be just as intense as the clash between Montreal and Hamilton.

Looking at last year’s final West Division standings, the two teams were fairly close, with Calgary finishing 11–7 and Winnipeg ending the regular season at 10–8. Both were also eliminated in the division semi-finals, although Winnipeg fell to the Montreal Alouettes in the Eastern Semi-Final after crossing over into the East bracket, while the Calgary Stampeders lost to the BC Lions in the Western Semi-Final.

The fact that the Stampeders will have home-field advantage may ease some of their fans’ minds. However, bettors may want to look beyond that when considering how to wager on this matchup of the CFL opening weekend. According to futures odds from some reputable sportsbooks, such as FanDuel, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers may be expected to finish higher than the Calgary Stampeders this season, although this is not a universal consensus.

The leading quarterbacks for both teams, Zach Collaros for the Blue Bombers and Vernon Adams Jr. for the Stampeders, who joined Calgary from the BC Lions ahead of the 2025 season, have both shown strong form in recent years. So, all things considered, it’s safe to say that this could be an intense showdown and an appealing betting opportunity for experienced bettors.

Edmonton Elks vs. Ottawa Redblacks

The final fixture of the CFL’s 2026 opening weekend may appear to be the safest option for conservative bettors, at least when considering this season’s futures odds and home-field advantage. With that in mind, the Redblacks are seen as clear favourites as they host the Elks. According to futures odds from various sportsbooks, Ottawa is expected to finish higher in the standings, while Edmonton enters the season as the league’s clear underdog.

However, cautious bettors should keep in mind that Ottawa was the league’s weakest team in 2025.

Main CFL Betting Types

Fixtures in the first week of the 2026 Canadian Football League season offer both new and experienced bettors a chance to test their betting skills. While beginners may be better off focusing on the matchup between the Elks and the Redblacks, more experienced bettors may prefer the other two games.

Most beginner bettors place moneyline, point spread, and totals bets, which are among the most common betting markets. You may also consider parlay bets if you’re confident in your selections. In short, parlays allow you to combine multiple bets into a single wager, increasing potential returns. However, a single incorrect selection will result in the entire parlay losing.

Moneyline

This bet lets you wager on the outright winner of a game. So, if you believe the Ottawa Redblacks will defeat the Edmonton Elks in the first week of the 2026 CFL season, place a moneyline bet on them and collect your winnings if they win.

Point Spread

This bet levels the playing field for betting purposes. For example, if sportsbooks view the Calgary Stampeders as slight underdogs to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, they might set a point spread of +3.5 for Calgary and -3.5 for Winnipeg to balance the betting action.

In that case, the Stampeders would cover the spread if they won the game or lost by three points or fewer. Conversely, the Blue Bombers would need to win by four points or more to cover their -3.5 spread and justify their status.

Totals (Over/Under)

If you’re uncertain which team will win but believe the total number of points scored will be over or under a number set by a sportsbook, you can bet on the total (over/under).

Let’s say a sportsbook sets the total at 40.5 for the CFL 2026 season opener between the Montreal Alouettes and the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. If you believe the total points scored will be 40 or fewer, you’d place an under bet and win if the combined score finishes at 40 or fewer.