CFL Week 1 Predictions: An enticing opener, a high-scoring debut, and a redemption arc - all things on the table in Week 1 of the 2025 CFL season.

Week 1 of the 2025 CFL season is upon us! Can the Toronto Argonauts kick off their title defence in style? Can Calgary upset the West’s hierarchy with a fiery debut? And can Edmonton finally win in Week 1?

(Image Credit to: 3 Down Nation)

After over half a year, CFL (Canadian Football League) football is back! And with the return of CFL football, I will be taking the time to break down and predict every regular season CFL game, starting this week with Week 1. 

Let’s get into it. 

Ottawa Redblacks vs Saskatchewan Roughriders:

The season officially kicks off as the Ottawa Redblacks travel west to the Prairies to take on the Saskatchewan Roughriders. Ottawa did well to build up their offence over the offseason, particularly focusing on big names and depth. This creates an intriguing matchup where the Redblacks’ potentially high-powered offence goes up against a Riders’ defence that was able to help power Saskatchewan to a 5-1 start last season. While the Redblacks' new-look offence will eventually break through and score points, it will be the Roughriders that take the opening CFL regular season game of 2025. 

The pick: Roughriders 28, Redblacks 13

Toronto Argonauts vs Montreal Alouettes:

The Toronto Argonauts will look to kick off their championship defence on the right foot with a win against the Montreal Alouettes; this is a rematch of last year’s East Division Final, which saw the Toronto Argonauts win a closely fought 30-28 affair even after their starting quarterback Chad Kelly went down with an ankle injury late in the game. With Nick Arbuckle, who played a big role in the Argos’ Grey Cup win last year, slated to start Week 1, the team should feel confident about their Week 1 chances. While Davis Alexander is set to start his first full season as the Alouettes starting quarterback, there shouldn’t be too much in the way of intimidation when going up against the defending champions. We all saw what Davis Alexander was capable of last season (look up the Alouettes win at home against Saskatchewan), and I think that he will be able to keep his Alouettes team in the mix for the win. This will be a close one, but I think the Argonauts will get their campaign off on the right foot, ultimately pulling away in the final frame to secure the win. 

The pick: Argonauts 31, Alouettes 19

Hamilton Tiger-Cats vs Calgary Stampeders:

Perhaps the most intriguing game of the first week belongs to this matchup, which sees the Hamilton Tiger-Cats kicking off their quest to return to the playoffs on the road against a revamped Calgary Stampeders squad. With quarterback Vernon Adams Jr set to make his Stampeders debut after a trade to the team from BC

, there is optimism that this team can return to the playoffs after missing for the first time in over twenty years. The big question for the Stamps is whether the defence can be remotely better than it was last season. This is especially true considering that they play a strong Tiger-Cats offence, led by veteran QB Bo Levi Mitchell and receiver Kenny Lawler, in their home opener. 

If you’re a fan of high-scoring affairs, this one's for you. And of the four opening-week games, this looks to be the one that could most easily go either way. That said, I do have not that much trust in the Stampeders' defence, so I’m going to back the Hamilton Tiger-Cats to get the Week 1 win in Calgary. 

The pick: Tiger-Cats 31, Stampeders 29

Edmonton Elks vs BC Lions:

Week 1 concludes Saturday night as the BC Lions welcome the Edmonton Elks in their season opener. The Lions will look to rebound from a poor 9-9 season that saw the team struggle even with Nathan Rourke returning to the lineup, ultimately bowing out in the West Semifinal against Saskatchewan. Considering that, like BC, Edmonton could very likely be fighting for one of the final playoff spots, this game could go a long way in determining the playoff race. The Elks will be looking to finally be able to lean on quarterback Tre Ford to get them into the playoffs for the first time in six years; with a talented receiving group consisting of the likes of Kurleigh Gittens Jr and Steven Dunbar Jr, a quick running game, and a reinforced defence, the Elks have the pieces to challenge for a playoff spot.

Last year’s affair at BC Place saw the Elks fall three points short of beating the Lions in a 24-21 loss, while the Elks got the win a few weeks later in Edmonton. I think we see a somewhat similar story this season - the Elks will catch BC off guard and make this into a far closer matchup than expected. While I gave the Elks a very bleak outlook for 2025, I never said they weren’t allowed to win in Week 1. And that is what I think they will do: win in Week 1. While there won’t be too many points scored in this affair, the Elks should be able to catch the Lions, and many CFL fans, off guard early and often in this game; the offence should be able to power the Elks through this game and to a Week 1 win.

The pick: Elks 25, Lions 21

Article written by Noah Guttman