CFL Betting – Bet on the Canadian Football League

CFL Draft

The CFL Draft is where players are assigned to teams. It takes place once a year in May. In each of the eight rounds, Canadian players (or non-import players) are chosen by CFL teams, beginning with the team that ranked lowest in the league. The winners of the Grey Cup choose last.

This format helps balance the quality of teams, with the teams who are theoretically weaker getting the initial picks and, therefore, the best players available. It is similar to the National Football League (NFL) Draft.

Teams can also trade drafts as the process is taking place, which makes for some interesting twists and turns.

Regular Season

After a month of preseason training and exhibition matches, the regular season begins. It runs from June to November, and teams are split into two relatively small divisions, similar to the format of The Rock’s XFL.

There are four teams in the East Division and five in the West Division. However, teams play home and away against each team from both leagues – plus two extra, divisional games.

Teams earn two points for a win and one for a tie. The top three teams in each division progress to the playoffs. The winners receive a bye to the finals, while second and third face off to play them.

Over the course of the season, watch out for highlights such as the Labour Day Classic, Banjo Bowl, Hall of Fame Game and Thanksgiving Day Classic.

Playoffs

The aim throughout the regular season is to rack up enough points to qualify for the playoffs.

To do this, CFL teams must finish in one of the top three positions. The team which finishes second in a division will face the team who came third. Whoever wins that semi-final faces the winner of the league, who receives a bye and therefore doesn’t have to play a knockout game to qualify.

The winners of the two playoff games then meet each other to face off for the Grey Cup.

Grey Cup

Even after finishing top of the league in the regular season or winning a game or two in the playoffs, there are still further betting opportunities with CFL Grey Cup odds! The Grey Cup is contested by the two playoff winners, and the victor lifts the coveted Grey Cup itself.

The Grey Cup is one of the most anticipated matches in the CFL season. Over the years, the Toronto Argonauts have proven their worth time and time again, racking up 17 Grey Cup trophies.

If you’re new to CFL betting, make sure you tune in to this one, as a 2014 CBC survey found the Grey Cup was neck and neck with the Super Bowl for viewers in Canada.

Field Size

The size of the field in a CFL game is bigger than that of an NFL game.

NFL fields measure 100 x 53.3 yards, while CFL fields measure 110 x 65 yards. And the end zone in CFL is twice as deep at 20 yards. These differences are significant enough to alter the general play, with CFL teams favouring passes more than their NFL equivalents, who mix it up with a more even blend of both passes and runs.

Number of Downs

The CFL allows three downs to the NFL’s four.

Fewer downs generally leads to a more exhilarating game, as action is faster and teams are forced into risky plays more frequently. If you’re new to CFL betting, this faster action will probably be quite noticeable even after watching just a few games.

Number of Players

The NFL has 11 players on each team while the CFL has 12.

Despite the differing number of players on each side, both leagues require seven offensive players involved in the scrimmage line. This allows CFL teams to abandon the tight end position and compensate with a couple of slotbacks, totally changing the dynamic of the game.

Timer

CFL teams have 20 second to restart play, NFL teams have 40 seconds.

If you’ve ever heard complaints that the NFL is too stop-start or that games take too long, this is yet another way that the CFL tackles that. Not only is the play clock halved, but there are also far fewer timeouts permitted. In the CFL, you can take two timeouts per match. In the NFL, you’re allowed three per half!

The Rouge

The CFL allows players to advance past the line of scrimmage and drop-kick the ball.

If a player progresses past the line of scrimmage in the CFL, they may attempt a drop-kick. If they knock it into the end zone while avoiding the uprights, they earn their team a point, or ‘rouge’. Meanwhile, doing this in the NFL would result in a penalty.

Look for Top Passers

If you already have knowledge of the NFL, you might be on the lookout for CFL teams who can make brilliant runs. While this is a worthwhile attribute, your search should focus on great passing teams. CFL fields are bigger than NFL fields, creating more space for accurate, long-range passes.

Research Rivalries

The adage that form goes out the window when great rivals meet is a cliché, but a cliché that’s relevant. Matchups like the Saskatchewan Roughriders and Winnipeg Blue Bombers have gotten personal over the years, and this can often spillover onto the field, causing unexpected results.

Find the Best CFL Betting Odds

It might sound obvious but researching the best CFL betting odds will be a vital part of your winning strategy. Slight differences in CFL odds can quickly add up. If you sign up to one of the best betting sites on this page, you’ll gain access to consistently competitive odds for every fixture.

Check Roster Turnover

Things can change quickly in the CFL. At the end of 2017, a massive 209 free agents were listed by the CFL. When you consider there are only 414 vacancies in the league’s top nine teams, that’s a hugely significant number. Monitor upcoming draft picks and factor them into your thinking.