CFL Predictions And PIcks
Advice on betting on the Canadian Football League (CFL), including picks for today's games and where to find accurate predictions
By James McMath
The Canadian Football League (CFL) isn’t as popular as its American equivalent, the NFL, but that doesn’t mean that it isn’t exciting.
In fact, the Canadian game can be a great alternative as it’s smaller, more compact, and has elements of the game entirely unique to the region.
If you’re eager to get started with CFL betting, then hopefully this guide teaches you all you need to know.
Let’s jump right in and discuss our top Canadian football betting tips.
How To Bet On The CFL
Betting on the CFL involves uitlising the same principles you would when making NFL predictions or even NCAA college football predictions. However, that isn’t to say that the CFL isn’t different from the American game.
Let’s talk about how the CFL differs from the more famous NFL, as this will help you avoid the mistakes made by a lot of those who decide to start betting on Canadian football.
CFL vs NFL Differences
There are a few unique things about the CFL that you’ll only find in Canada - one of which is the field size. In the NFL, the field is 120x53 yards with a ten-yard end zone.
CFL fields, however, measure 150x20, with twenty-yard-long end zones. This may not be directly related to betting, but knowing differences like this can help build your confidence and help the CFL seem more approachable.
The CFL also has three downs instead of four - making it much more of a passing-focused league. Running backs still have their place, but not the extent as they do in the NFL.
There are also 12 players on the field in the CFL - one more than in the NFL.
Several bettors start wagering on the CFL without knowing the differences beforehand. If you can avoid this pitfall, then you’ll already be ahead of several punters.
Analyse The Teams
Conducting analysis is a vital part of any betting endevour, and you should keep in mind that lots of bettors have difficulty finding detailed CFL betting resources. This is because, although popular, the CFL is dwarfed in terms of global popularity by the NFL.
Nevertheless, you should make team analysis the cornerstone of your CFL betting strategy and only make bets after you’ve developed a fair understanding of how the typical season pans out. Thankfully, there are only nine teams in the CFL, so it doesn’t take a lot of time to know the teams well.
CFL Team News
Gridiron football is not easy, and injuries are commonplace. Whilst they’re certainly a big deal in the NFL, the smaller nature of the CFL makes them that little bit more of a curveball.
It’s well-worth paying special attention to CFL injury news as this is an area often neglected by most casual bettors.
Any advantage, no matter how marginal, can massively aid you in your CFL betting journey.
Team news is also vitally important, as an entire squad can be in imbalance with only one or two absences. Squads aren’t as deep as they are in the NFL, and elite players are slightly more rare in the CFL.
CFL Betting Markets
There’s no shortage of exciting, dynamic CFL betting markets. From the tried-and-trusted moneyline bet to the more advanced player prop bets, here are just a handful of the different markets you’re likely to come across.
CFL Betting Money Lines
The most common form of CFL picks is the moneyline bet, where the punter predicts who’ll win a game.
You’ll often come across moneyline odds being written in the North American style - for example ‘BC Lions +250’, or ‘Ottawa Redblacks -200.’
If you’re not familiar with this style of odds, all you need to remember is the plus sign means how much you’ll win if you bet $100. For example, a $100 bet on BC Lions will reward $250 should they win.
The minus sign denotes the amount of money you’d have to bet to win $100. In this example, a $200 bet on Ottawa is required, should they win, of course.
CFL Over/Under Bets
The over/under betting market (also known as ‘totals’) is a common sight across the industry, and the CFL is no different.
This market will involve you betting on whether or not a game will score either under or over the total set by the bookmaker. You’ll need to be fairly knowledgeable on the CFL to make sensible over/under bets, as it’ll take an understanding of a team’s style of play and average amount of points scored per match.
If you know your stuff, however, totals can be a great betting market with generous payouts.
Prop bets
Prop bets are a fun way to spruce up more conventional CFL picks, and they involve the punter making bets on individual players.
For example, you can bet that a certain player will make over or under a selected number of passing yards, or make a certain amount of tackles during a game. Keep in mind, however, that CFL prop bets can be harder to make due to the fact they’re harder to find.
It’s also a little more difficult to find detailed stats guides on players due to the league’s smaller status. However, if you know your CFL players well, then prop bets can be a great option.
No matter how experienced you are, you’ll find a betting market that works for you. One of the best betting tips we can give you is to not verge into more complicated markets too early. Once you’ve got the basics down and have built a solid foundation of experience, then you should consider testing yourself.
CFL Predictions Summary
Making CFL predictions involves largely the same principles as the NFL, but keep in mind that there are quite a few differences between the two versions of the sport.
Once you’ve familiarised yourself with the Canadian game, it’s imperative that your bets are made with research and data in mind. If you’re feeling confident, then consider branching out into more challenging betting markets.
The CFL is a great sports league to bet on, and hopefully this guide has made the prospect a little bit less daunting.
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