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Winnipeg Blue Bombers vs Ottawa Redblacks Preview
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers welcome the Ottawa Redblacks to the Princess Auto Stadium on Friday evening with kick-off scheduled for 5:30 pm. The hosts are still winless in 2024, having lost four games in a row and sit second-last in the West division.
The Ottawa Redblacks have enjoyed a strong start to the regular season. They are second in the East division with a record of 2-1 having already beaten the Blue Bombers in week two. Can Winnipeg get off the mark or will Ottawa complete the double over their opponents?
Winnipeg Blue Bombers vs Ottawa Redblacks Head-To-Head and Key Stats
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Ottawa Redblacks last met in week two at the TD Place Stadium on June 13. Winnipeg was coming off a poor showing in their season opener against the Montreal Alouettes, having lost 27-12. Ottawa was playing their season opener, having had a bye week in week one.
The Redblacks ran out deserved 23-19 winners on that day, despite the Blue Bombers opening as big -300 favourites. A 285-yard game flattered Winnipeg quarterback Zach Collaros, who completed just 15 of his 31 passing attempts and threw two interceptions. Wide receiver Keric Wheatfall had a 111-yard game with three receptions, helping to disguise some of Collaros’ shortcomings in the clash.
Ottawa established a strong running game in the first quarter and Winnipeg struggled to keep up. Ryquell Armstead completed a 95-yard game on the ground with Bralon Addison adding 31. The hosts finished with 129 overall rushing yards and 238 through the air via quarterback Dru Brown. The Redblacks gave up 105 yards in penalties, but Winnipeg’s three giveaways allowed Ottawa to find good field positions and see the game out.
The Blue Bombers most recently played last Saturday against the Calgary Stampeders. They had been in derisory form heading into the clash, starting 0-3 in their first three games. Mike O’Shea’s team has experienced some rotten luck with injuries in 2024 and headed into the game with a significantly depleted depth chart. They have 10 players on the six-game injured list and those omissions have taken their toll.
That form worsened on Saturday. Winnipeg battled bravely despite missing stars like Dalton Schoen, Kenny Lawler, Miles Fox and Tyjuan Garbutt. They entered halftime with the lead, up 9-7. However, Winnipeg’s cruel injury woes worsened when starting QB Collaros injured his thorax and had to sit out the entire second half. With a depleted receiving corps, the Blue Bombers faced an uphill battle despite having the lead. They went scoreless in the third quarter before fighting back in the fourth to level the game and take it to overtime. Chris Streveler had his pass intercepted on the first drive before Calgary pushed up the field and secured a field goal for the victory. Winnipeg is now 0-4 in the regular season.
Ottawa last took to the field on Sunday, facing the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. They entered the game following a heavy 47-21 defeat at the hands of Grey Cup favourites, the Montreal Alouettes. They snapped a 10-game losing streak against the Ticats with a walk-off field goal to secure a narrow 24-22 victory. Dru Brown finished with 265 yards and a passing touchdown, helping his team to a 2-1 record in 2024.
Winnipeg Blue Bombers vs Ottawa Redblacks Prediction
Correct score prediction: Winnipeg Blue Bombers 22-24 Ottawa Redblacks
Winnipeg’s injury issues are only getting worse. Things looked bright last week when they welcomed back Deatrick Nichols. However, injuries to their best receivers and starting quarterback in the last game have turned that on its head. They have gone from having the best-receiving corps in the league to one of the worst, having to turn to their second and third-string receivers and second-string QB. Having to play with essentially their second team means our football prediction is for an Ottawa Redblacks victory.
The Blue Bombers have injury issues all over the field. Their defensive depth is shocking with seven players on the six-game injured list from their roster of defenders. This has affected their performances immensely. They have allowed 98 points this season. Only two teams have allowed more: the Edmonton Elks and the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. They are bottom of the West and East divisions respectively with the Elks’ record matching Winnipeg’s.
In contrast, Ottawa has one of the stronger defences in the league. Only three teams have allowed fewer than their 88 points in the CFL in 2024. However, perhaps more notable is their form on the other side of the field. They have scored just 68 points so far, less than any team in the league. Their success comes down to their ability to find a way to win, proven by their walk-off victory last weekend. Ottawa’s steely defence has seen them over the line in their victories this season and can do so again here.
.@Frankie_g18 was EVERYWHERE on Sunday
11 tackles on the night in our Week 4 win vs the 🐯.#ALLIN pic.twitter.com/s20Nz2xOUc
— Ottawa REDBLACKS (@REDBLACKS) July 2, 2024
Winnipeg’s run defence has been poor this season. They have allowed 378 yards, averaging 95.5 per game. Ottawa has been excellent with their rush offence and averaged 85 per game through their first three fixtures. With depleted defensive numbers, the Redblacks will look to hurt the Blue Bombers on the ground. Ryquell Armstead has been one of the best-performing running backs in the CFL so far and he is in line for a big game at the Princess Auto Stadium.
Winnipeg Blue Bombers vs Ottawa Redblacks Betting Tips
Despite being winless in four games and half of their team missing through injury, there is still some hope that Winnipeg can find form here. They enter the game as the moneyline favourites. However, Ottawa already has a victory over Friday’s hosts on their record and can field a full-strength team. A moneyline bet on the Ottawa Redblacks offers attractive odds of +120. We are backing the road underdogs for this game.
Ryquell Armstead has been in fine form for Ottawa so far this season. He is averaging 57 yards per game. What is most notable is the reverse fixture here. He has his best game of the season so far, rushing for 95 yards from 16 carries against Winnipeg in their opener. Ottawa will focus on their run game and Armstead will shoulder most of the responsibility. His rushing yards line is set at 62.5 in CFL betting markets and he can hit the over as he did in his last clash with the Blue Bombers.
Winnipeg will be without Zach Collaros for this game. While he has not been in form, he has still managed decent yardage, including against Ottawa. Nic Demski is likely to be one of second-string Chris Streveler’s primary targets in this game. He managed 58 receiving yards in his first meeting with the Redblacks. We think he’ll go for fewer in the return fixture with no Collaros. The online betting markets set his receiving yard line at 59.5 and we are backing the under. He has hit the over on that line just once in four games this season.
The over/under is set at 46.5 for this game. Ottawa is not the strongest scorer but has been great defensively. Two of their three games this season have hit the under on this line. That includes their first meeting with Winnipeg in June, which finished at 42 points. Back the under with our online sportsbook, worth -120.
While we believe Ottawa has what it takes to win on the road against Winnipeg, football betting markets indicate belief in the Blue Bombers’ ability to turn their form around. It may be beneficial to look at the live betting markets if you are hesitant to back the Redblacks.
Winnipeg Blue Bombers Team News
Zach Collaros is out indefinitely following his thorax injury against the Calgary Stampeders. Offensive lineman Asotui Eli and wide receiver Jeremy Murphy are out with hip injuries. There are eight players on the Winnipeg six-game injured list: Miles Fox, Celestin Haba, Jake Kelly, Kenny Lawler, Cameron Lawson, Jamal Parker, Dalton Schoen, and Keric Wheatfall. There is still some good news out of Winnipeg. TyJuan Garbutt and Noah Hallett have made full returns to practice this week and are in line to appear on Friday, though it may come too soon.
Ottawa Redblacks Team News
Linebackers Lucas Cormier and Tyron Vrede were in limited practice this week with respective injuries to their quad and hip. They are questionable for this fixture. Ty Cranston has made a full return to practice following his ankle injury and is in line to appear against Winnipeg. They added veteran defensive back Money Hunter to the six-game injured list with a shoulder injury. Defensive end Deshawn Stevens remains out with a calf injury.
