CFL Betting Tip: The Winning Way to Target Underdogs

CFL Betting Tip: The Winning Way to Target Underdogs article feature image
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Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports. Pictured: Toronto Argonauts mascot Jason

  • The Ottawa Redblacks (+6.5) and Toronto Argonauts (+11.5) are underdogs in Thursday's CFL doubleheader.
  • Using Bet Labs, we share a profitable against-the-spread system for betting on underdogs.

Want to bet on the Canadian Football League (CFL)? Bet Labs makes it easy. Follow these three steps to create a winning CFL betting system:

  • Develop a theory that explains why the system works
  • Analyze a large sample size
  • Look for consistent year-to-year results

Find a strategy that meets all the requirements and you can have confidence in betting system matches. One such system is wagering on early-season underdogs.

Since 2005, underdogs in the CFL are 551-472-18 (53.9%) against the spread (ATS) according to Bet Labs. In the first two months of the season, June and July, dogs have performed even better.

It is advantageous to bet on teams getting points early in the season because oddsmakers know the least about each squad. Poor starts and biases from the previous season, such as failure to reach the postseason, can influence the lines.

This system meets all the requirements we look for in a winning strategy. We have a theory that explains why it works, a large sample (more than 300 games) and consistent results (only two losing ATS seasons in 15 years).

Week 7 of the 2019 CFL season gets underway tonight with a doubleheader. In the first game, the Ottawa Redblacks host the Calgary Stampeders (7 p.m. ET), followed by a nightcap between the Edmonton Eskimos and Toronto Argonauts (9:30 p.m. ET).

The Redblacks (+6.5) and Argonauts (+11.5) are matches for our system. Large underdogs of six or more points, like Ottawa and Calgary, have performed even better.

In the past five seasons, teams matching this system have gone 34-19 (64.2%) ATS.

Early money is on the favorites, but history points to value on the underdogs.

About the Author
Analyst for The Action Network. Bet Labs subject-matter expert.

Follow John Ewing @johnewing on Twitter/X.

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