The Edmonton Eskimos squeezed past the upstart Ottawa RedBlacks to win last season's CFL Grey Cup and they are at the top of the CFL futures odds to win the title again in 2016. The last time any CFL team won back-to-back championships was Montreal in 2009 and 2010, so it could be a much tougher task than the current betting odds suggest.
The following is a look at my top-valued favorite, contender and longshot to win the 2016 CFL Grey Cup based on betting odds from Bovada.
While it can be extremely difficult for any team to repeat as champion in the sport of football, when it comes to Edmonton getting the job done as +375 favorites it remains a team that would be hard to bet against. Led by quarterback Mike Reilly, the Eskimos went 14-4 last season to win the West Division. Along the way they averaged 25.9 points per game and they gave-up the fewest points in the league (341).
A key addition to the backfield is running back John White, who missed the entire 2015 season due to injury. Another plus could be new head coach Jason Mass's decision to go with an up-temp offensive scheme that could make Edmonton even tougher to slow down this year.
Ottawa (+700) is not going to sneak-up on anyone in its third season as the RedBlacks following last year's run to the East Division title, but the Toronto Argonauts might at +725 betting odds to win their first Grey Cup since 2012. They ended-up tied with Hamilton last season at 10-8, but made an early exit from the playoffs in a tough 25-22 loss to the Tiger-Cats in the first round.
To make a run all the way to a CFL title, the Argonauts are going to need veteran quarterback Ricky Ray to roll back time a bit at the age of 36. This team is deep at the receiver position so it should be able to move the ball downfield and score some points. The new setting at BMO Field as taken the expectation level for this team to a whole new level and if Toronto can improve on defense in points allowed, it could easily make a run to the top of the East this year.
It is tough to keep a good team down and I am expecting much better things this season from a Saskatchewan team that only won three games last year. The Roughriders have been listed at +1000 odds to make that worst to first run, but you have to keep in mind that they are just three years removed from winning a Grey Cup after beating Hamilton for the title in 2013.
One of the biggest reasons for last year's slide was the loss of quarterback Darian Durant. He has actually suffered through injuries the past two seasons, but all the early reports out of training camp have been positive. The pressure will be dialed-up on new head coach Chris Jones to work the same magic he did by taking Edmonton to a title and if a few breaks fall the Eskimos' way early, they have the talent to make some noise in the West this year.
The second-favorite to win this year's CFL Grey Cup is Calgary at +525 betting odds. The Stampeders are a perennial threat in the West and coming off a 14-4 mark last year. Hamilton's odds to win a title this season are set at +600 just ahead of Ottawa at +700. Following Toronto is the British Columbia Lions at +900 odds and bringing up the rear are Montreal (+1100) out of the East and the West's Winnipeg Blue Bombers at +1225.