Posted at 11:00 AM EST. Odds are subject to change.

Edmonton +140 over Montreal

4:00 PM EST. The market continues to treat Edmonton like the same team that finished at the bottom of the West Division a year ago, but this year's version already looks far more competitive. The Elks opened the season with a convincing 29-21 win over Ottawa, controlling long stretches of the game and outgaining the Redblacks while winning the turnover battle 2-0. Cody Fajardo provided stability at quarterback, completing 23 of 34 passes for 266 yards and a touchdown without turning the ball over, while Justin Rankin was the most explosive player on the field with 102 rushing yards on just 13 carries. When a team can run the football at nearly eight yards per carry and get efficient quarterback play, it becomes very difficult to defend over four quarters.

Montreal enters undefeated and the public is understandably impressed with what it has seen through two weeks. However, a closer look suggests the Alouettes have received timely contributions from their defense and special teams at critical moments. A pick-six and a blocked punt touchdown played major roles in helping Montreal get to 2-0, and those are the types of high-impact plays that are difficult to count on every week. Edmonton presents a different challenge because the Elks can create balance offensively. They already average 122 rushing yards per game and nearly 380 total yards of offense, giving them the ability to stay ahead of the chains and keep Montreal's defense from dictating the pace.

Perhaps the most encouraging sign for Edmonton is on the defensive side of the ball. Through one game, the Elks sit atop the CFL in points allowed at 21 per contest and have surrendered fewer than 200 passing yards. While those numbers will naturally fluctuate as the season progresses, they reflect a unit that is playing with confidence and discipline. Home underdogs with a productive running game and a defense capable of getting stops are always worth a long look in the CFL. Montreal has been excellent, but perfection rarely lasts long in this league. Edmonton appears undervalued after its opening-week performance and catches the Alouettes at a time when the market may be overreacting to a 2-0 start. The plus-money value is on the home side, with the Elks fully capable of pulling the outright upset.

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