It is never too early to look forward to the next CFL season picks. Just a few weeks after the Winnipeg Blue Bombers won their second straight Grey Cup, the CFL betting odds have them back on top to win the 2022 season. But no CFL team has won three straight Grey Cups in nearly 40 years. Can Winnipeg do it and if not, who will dethrone them?
A quick look at the latest Grey Cup Odds for 2022 shows the Winnipeg Blue Bombers a tier above their peers. Even though no team has won three consecutive Grey Cups since 1982, this Bombers team has looked nigh unbeatable and is complete: from an elite quarterback to an all-time great defence. But next to them are a handful of hungry and improving contenders.
| Team |  |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winnipeg Blue Bombers | 3.50 | 3.50 | 3.50 | 3.50 |
| Saskatchewan Roughriders | 5.00 | 5.00 | 5.00 | 5.00 |
| Hamilton Tiger-Cats | 6.00 | 6.00 | 6.00 | 6.00 |
| Toronto Argonauts | 7.00 | 7.00 | 7.00 | 7.00 |
| Calgary Stampeders | 7.50 | 7.50 | 7.50 | 7.50 |
| Montreal Alouettes | 9.50 | 9.50 | 9.50 | 9.50 |
| BC Lions | 11.00 | 11.00 | 11.00 | 11.00 |
| Edmonton Elks | 11.00 | 11.00 | 11.00 | 11.00 |
| Otawa Redblacks | 15.00 | 15.00 | 15.00 | 15.00 |
CFL 2021 Season in Review
Winnipeg had the 2021 CFL season wrapped from the beginning. The 2019 Grey Cup champions opened by dominating the runner-ups, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats then went on to win 11 of their next 12 games and clinch a playoff spot by the middle of the season.
Even with a rusty quarterback in Zach Collaros, the Blue Bombers would not be denied as they took out the Saskatchewan Roughriders and Tiger-Cats, again, to capture the Grey Cup for a second consecutive season. The Roughriders and “Ticats” in their credit, were worthy of winning the title but were just one step behind Winnipeg.
Other notable teams included the Calgary Stampeders. Toronto Argonauts, and Montreal Alouettes.
Calgary overcame a 2-5 start to finish strong with an 8-6 record. QB Bo Levi Mitchell did not play at his best but the “Stamps” managed to give Saskatchewan a run for their money in the playoffs.
Meanwhile, the Toronto Argonauts captured the East Division despite having a roster overhaul. They would get outclassed by their archrivals, the Tiger-Cats, but will be back stronger.
The Alouettes endured an inconsistent season and finished with a 7-7 record but the third-best point differential in the league. This team has flashed serious potential and could be a dark horse for the upcoming season.
CFL 2022 Early Betting Odds Preview: The Other Contenders
The CFL schedule has just been released and we are back to a full 18-game schedule in 21 weeks. This means each team will face every team in the league at least once, which could give a bit more parity this coming season. Either way, the new CFL football betting odds for 2022 put this into consideration.
With this in mind, let’s preview the other top contenders for the 2022 CFL Grey Cup. It is worth advising to keep an eye on the rosters and to get an update on which teams lose and gain key players:
Saskatchewan Roughriders
The Roughriders are right behind Winnipeg as the likeliest Grey Cup champions. The Bombers’ archnemeses gave them everything they could handle but ran out of gas in the second half. Over half of Saskatchewan’s roster is a free agent entering the 2022 season.
But assuming this team keeps its most important players, particularly defensive tackle Micah Johnson and defensive back Nick Marshall, it should be able to make another deep run.
Hamilton Tiger-Cats
Hamilton was this close to beating Winnipeg but suffered another heartbreak at home. This team was arguably just as dominant as the Bombers for the latter half of the season and had a division-leading nine players (six on defence) selected to the All-Star team.
Injuries were once again a big part in slowing down Hamilton along with inconsistent quarterbacking. It’s unclear which of Dane Evans and Jeremiah Masoli Hamilton will keep. But both will need to take their game to the next level if the “Tabbies” are to get over the hump.
Toronto Argonauts
Toronto had a roster makeover for the 2021 offseason and they almost made it work. This time, the Argos shouldn’t have as much turnover as the rest of the contenders on this list. McLeod Bethel-Thompson should return as the team’s pivot and more continuity can only help the Argos get better.
At 6-1, the Argos are a notable contender here. They lost to Hamilton in the playoffs but did beat them all three times in the regular season along with being the only team to defeat a full-strength Bombers team.
Calgary Stampeders
It still takes some getting used to seeing Calgary as a middle-of-the-pack kind of contender. But if Mitchell can have a renaissance and the defence keeps All-Stars Mike Rose and Darnell Sankey, Calgary could return to challenge Winnipeg as the best team in the division.
At their current odds, the “Stamps” are a better bet than the Roughriders. It’s weird to say, but Calgary could be the “sleeper” bet of the West like Montreal (9.50) is of the East.
Bet The CFL From The Top Online Sportsbooks
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