The 2023 CFL season is upon us, as things officially kick off Thursday June 8th with a showdown between the BC Lions and the Calgary Stampeders. The Winnipeg Blue Bombers open the season as the betting favourites to win the Grey Cup, as they have for the better part of the last decade. Meanwhile the Edmonton Elks will be hoping to stay relevant through the summer, as they face an uphill battle in 2023.
Here’s what you need to know to get ready for the 2023 season.
Grey Cup Odds
| Team | Odds |
| Winnipeg | +185 |
| Hamilton | +450 |
| BC | +500 |
| Toronto | +600 |
| Calgary | +600 |
| Ottawa | +1100 |
| Montreal | +1300 |
| Saskatchewan | +1300 |
| Edmonton | +1700 |
Favourites To Win Most Outstanding Player
| Player | Position | Odds to win |
| Zach Collaros | Quarterback | +275 |
| Bo Levi Mitchell | Quarterback | +500 |
| Chad Kelly | Quarterback | +550 |
| Jake Maier | Quarterback | +650 |
| Jeremiah Masoli | Quarterback | +800 |
| Cody Fajardo | Quarterback | +800 |
| Trevor Harris | Quarterback | +850 |
| Mason Fine | Quarterback | +1600 |
| Taylor Cornelius | Quarterback | +1800 |
| Vernon Adams | Quarterback | +2200 |
2023 CFL Schedule
| Week | Date | Visitor | Home |
| 1 | 08/06/2023 | BC | CGY |
| 1 | 09/06/2023 | HAM | WPG |
| 1 | 10/06/2023 | OTT | MTL |
| 1 | 11/06/2023 | SSK | EDM |
| 2 | 15/06/2023 | CGY | OTT |
| 2 | 16/06/2023 | WPG | SSK |
| 2 | 17/06/2023 | EDM | BC |
| 2 | 18/06/2023 | HAM | TOR |
| 3 | 22/06/2023 | BC | WPG |
| 3 | 23/06/2023 | MTL | HAM |
| 3 | 24/06/2023 | SSK | CGY |
| 3 | 25/06/2023 | TOR | EDM |
| 4 | 30/06/2023 | EDM | OTT |
| 4 | 01/07/2023 | WPG | MTL |
| 4 | 03/07/2023 | BC | TOR |
| 5 | 06/07/2023 | EDM | SSK |
| 5 | 07/07/2023 | CGY | WPG |
| 5 | 08/07/2023 | OTT | HAM |
| 5 | 09/07/2023 | MTL | BC |
| 6 | 13/07/2023 | HAM | EDM |
| 6 | 14/07/2023 | TOR | MTL |
| 6 | 15/07/2023 | WPG | OTT |
| 6 | 15/07/2023 | CGY | SSK |
| 7 | 20/07/2023 | EDM | WPG |
| 7 | 21/07/2023 | TOR | HAM |
| 7 | 22/07/2023 | SSK | BC |
| 7 | 23/07/2023 | OTT | CGY |
| 8 | 28/07/2023 | HAM | OTT |
| 8 | 29/07/2023 | SSK | TOR |
| 8 | 29/07/2023 | BC | EDM |
| 8 | 30/07/2023 | CGY | MTL |
| 9 | 03/08/2023 | BC | WPG |
| 9 | 04/08/2023 | TOR | CGY |
| 9 | 05/08/2023 | MTL | HAM |
| 9 | 06/08/2023 | OTT | SSK |
| 10 | 10/08/2023 | WPG | EDM |
| 10 | 11/08/2023 | SSK | MTL |
| 10 | 12/08/2023 | CGY | BC |
| 10 | 13/08/2023 | OTT | TOR |
| 11 | 17/08/2023 | EDM | HAM |
| 11 | 18/08/2023 | WPG | CGY |
| 11 | 19/08/2023 | MTL | OTT |
| 11 | 20/08/2023 | BC | SSK |
| 12 | 24/08/2023 | MTL | WPG |
| 12 | 25/08/2023 | CGY | TOR |
| 12 | 26/08/2023 | HAM | BC |
| 12 | 27/08/2023 | OTT | EDM |
| 13 | 02/09/2023 | BC | MTL |
| 13 | 03/09/2023 | WPG | SSK |
| 13 | 04/09/2023 | TOR | HAM |
| 13 | 04/09/2023 | EDM | CGY |
| 14 | 08/09/2023 | HAM | OTT |
| 14 | 09/09/2023 | MTL | TOR |
| 14 | 09/09/2023 | SSK | WPG |
| 14 | 09/09/2023 | CGY | EDM |
| 15 | 15/09/2023 | TOR | MTL |
| 15 | 15/09/2023 | EDM | SSK |
| 15 | 16/09/2023 | WPG | HAM |
| 15 | 16/09/2023 | OTT | BC |
| 16 | 22/09/2023 | SSK | OTT |
| 16 | 22/09/2023 | BC | EDM |
| 16 | 23/09/2023 | MTL | CGY |
| 16 | 23/09/2023 | HAM | TOR |
| 17 | 29/09/2023 | TOR | WPG |
| 17 | 29/09/2023 | SSK | BC |
| 17 | 30/09/2023 | MTL | OTT |
| 17 | 30/09/2023 | CGY | HAM |
| 18 | 06/10/2023 | EDM | TOR |
| 18 | 06/10/2023 | WPG | BC |
| 18 | 07/10/2023 | HAM | SSK |
| 18 | 09/10/2023 | OTT | MTL |
| 19 | 13/10/2023 | BC | HAM |
| 19 | 13/10/2023 | SSK | CGY |
| 19 | 14/10/2023 | MTL | EDM |
| 19 | 14/10/2023 | OTT | TOR |
| 20 | 20/10/2023 | CGY | BC |
| 20 | 21/10/2023 | TOR | SSK |
| 20 | 21/10/2023 | EDM | WPG |
| 21 | 27/10/2023 | WPG | CGY |
| 21 | 28/10/2023 | HAM | MTL |
| 21 | 28/10/2023 | TOR | OTT |
Storylines to Watch For Each Team
Toronto – After a thrilling Grey Cup win in 2022, can the boatmen repeat their on field success? Or were they merely a flash in the pan, that happened to get hot at the right time?
Montreal – Montreal is projected to finish last in the East in 2023. Is this simply a rebuild year, or can the Als bank on their youth movement to flip the script?
Ottawa – Simply put, can the RedBlacks finally put an end to their embarrassing home record since 2019 (2-23)?
Hamilton – Now 33 years old, can former Grey Cup Champion and Most Outstanding Player Bo Levi Mitchell revive his career in Hamilton?
Winnipeg – All dynasties must come to an end eventually. But is 2023 the year where the Blue Bombers finally take a step back? Or are they headed towards their 4th consecutive Grey Cup appearance?
BC – Jonathan Kongbo went from highly touted signing to a “chemistry related” subtraction seemingly overnight. Is his removal from the roster enough to right the ship? Or was he just the tip of the iceberg in terms of locker room related issues out west?
Calgary – The Stamps made the decision to turn the offence over to Jake Maier, closing the chapter on the Bo Levi Mitchell era in Calgary. Did they make the right call? Or will the former UC Davis signal caller struggle under increased scrutiny?
Saskatchewan – Trevor Harris told reporters he wants “all the smoke” when it comes to the pressure of being the QB for the Roughriders. But at 37 years of age, will he be able to shoulder the load in the always competitive West Division?
Edmonton – The Elks named Victor Cui President and CEO in January of 2022. While he gets full marks for some of the off field initiatives he’s helped spearhead, the Elks finished 4-14 last season, and seemingly have one of the weakest rosters on paper headed into 2023. How much longer will the good will from the fanbase last if it’s another dismal season in Edmonton?
-Kyle Skinner
Twitter: @JKyleSkinner
Photo: Cmm3. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license.