2021 CFL Preview & Futures Odds

The Canadian Football League is back in action in 2021 after the coronavirus cancelled the entire 2020 season. Winnipeg, a 33-12 winner over Hamilton in 2019, looks to defend its Grey Cup title. The Blue Bombers will be hard pressed to do so as their foe in that 2019 championship game returns one of the best quarterbacks in CFL history.

Masoli Returns, Hamilton Favored
In 2018, Hamilton Ti-Cat QB Jeremiah Masoli enjoyed one of the best seasons in recent CFL history. Masoli completed 66 percent of his passes for 5,209 yards and 28 touchdowns. He also ran for 473 yards and two more scores.

Hamilton didn’t make the 2018 Grey Cup, but Masoli vowed to get them to the title game in 2019. Six games into the 2019 season though, Masoli wound up tearing an ACL and missed the rest of year. He was on a tear completing over 71 percent of his passes for 1,576 yards through those six games.

The 2020 season being cancelled might have been a blessing in disguise for Masoli who was able to rehab his injury and prepare for the 2021 season. A free agent, Masoli decided to sign a contract extension and return to Hamilton.

With Masoli back as well as WR Brandon Banks, one of the CFL’s best at the position, the Ti-Cats offense should once again be very difficult to stop. It is why Hamilton is the favorite at +300 to win the 2021 Grey Cup championship.

Defending Champs
If not for Chris Streveler’s signing with the NFL’s Arizona Cardinals, the Blue Bombers might have been the overall favorite to win this year’s Grey Cup. Streveler was the big reason why Winnipeg was able to beat Hamilton in the final in 2019. The Blue Bombers did also have one of the league’s better defenses, which was evident in the 2019 Grey Cup game. Winnipeg held Hamilton to just 12 points.

Streveler was as good a dual-threat quarterback as there is in the CFL. He actually split time with Zach Collaros, who will assume the full-time starting role in 2021, and still managed to throw for 14 touchdowns and run for 12 more in 2019. If Streveler was still on the roster, Winnipeg could have easily been the favorite, but they still find themselves listed at +350 to win this year at Candian Sportsbooks.

Roughriders Defense Could Mean Championship
Hamilton had the best scoring defense in the CFL in 2019 giving up 344 points in 18 games. Right behind the Tiger-Cats was Saskatchewan. The Roughriders were the only other CFL team to allow fewer than 400 points in 2019. Saskatchewan gave up 386 points over their 18 games, which helped them win the West Division with a 13-5 record.

The Roughriders ended up losing the West in the playoffs to Winnipeg, which had finished 11-7. Saskatchewan brings back the CFL’s leading passer in QB Cody Fajardo who completed 71.5 percent of his passes for 4,302 yards and 18 touchdowns in 2019. The league’s leading passer and one of the top defenses in the CFL make Saskatchewan a threat to win in 2021. The Roughriders are listed at +500.

Can Calgary Return?
Prior to the 2019 Grey Cup final, the Calgary Stampeders had a reserved seat in the game. The Stampeders played in the 2016, 2017, and 2018 championship games. Calgary won it all in 2018 with a 27-16 victory over the Ottawa Redblacks.

Calgary went 12-6 in 2019 and finished second in the West Division. They finished with the best (8-2) record within the division. They Stampeders have an explosive offense led by QB Bo Levi Mitchell, who is no stranger to winning Grey Cups. He is the only Calgary QB to win multiple Grey Cup games winning in 2014 and 2018. Mitchell was the CFL’s Most Outstanding Player in 2016 and 2018.

In 2019, he played in 11 games due to injury but still threw for 3,464 yards and 19 touchdowns. With a healthy Mitchell, the Stampeders are listed at +500 to win this year’s Grey Cup.

Odds to Win 2021 CFL Grey Cup

Hamilton +300
Saskatchewan +450
Winnipeg +500
Calgary +500
Toronto +600
Montreal +860
BC Lions +900
Ottawa +1100
Edmonton +1100