Week 17 brings several games with major implications in the playoff race, particularly in the West Division. We're backing BC in a pivotal matchup with Saskatchewan, expecting plenty of offense when Hamilton visits Edmonton and taking Calgary to complete a home-and-home sweep of Ottawa.

CFL Best Bets for Week 17

Saskatchewan Roughriders vs. BC Lions

Lions -3.5 (-120, FanDuel)

BC has won six of its last seven games and enters this matchup rested after dismantling Montreal 48-29 in Week 15. The Lions lead the CFL with 429.7 net yards per game, while Nathan Rourke has topped 300 passing yards in his six appearances since returning from injury -- and in his last eight games overall. As if Rourke's strong run of play wasn't enough, Zander Horvath adds another dimension with 19 total touchdowns, including 16 on the ground, and he's the league's biggest threat near the goal line. Saskatchewan is getting healthier with A.J. Ouellette and Kian Schaffer-Baker returning, but the Riders scored only six points against Winnipeg in their last game and have dropped three straight on the road. BC also won the previous head-to-head meeting 30-16, and another victory would give the Lions the season-series tiebreaker in a crucial battle for second place in the West.

Hamilton Tiger-Cats vs. Edmonton Elks

Over 57.5 (-110, BetMGM)

This is a high number, but both offenses have enough explosive potential to push the matchup beyond 57.5. Hamilton quarterback Harrison Frost is coming off career highs of 330 passing yards and three touchdowns, while Kurleigh Gittens Jr. has accumulated 166 receiving yards and three scores over his last two games. Betting on Frost to repeat that performance might be a stretch, but the Tiger-Cats need a bounce-back performance after dropping their last four games. Edmonton brings considerably more firepower on the other side. Cody Fajardo is on pace for the first 5,000-yard passing season of his career, Justin Rankin is approaching 1,000 rushing yards, and the Elks rank third in the CFL with 30.9 points scored per game. The Tiger-Cats are dead last with 23.4 ppg, but Hamilton's desperate playoff situation should also encourage an aggressive approach, particularly if Edmonton establishes an early lead at Commonwealth Stadium.

Calgary Stampeders vs. Ottawa Redblacks

Stampeders ML (-140, bet365)

Last week's 40-38 thriller showed why laying points with Calgary carries some risk, but the moneyline offers a cleaner path against an Ottawa team that remains 0-13. Vernon Adams Jr. threw for 357 yards in that victory, while newcomer Deonta McMahon immediately strengthened Calgary's backfield with 102 rushing yards on 15 carries. Ottawa certainly looked more dangerous with McLeod Bethel-Thompson under center, as the veteran threw a career-high five touchdowns, but the Redblacks still couldn't finish the job despite producing their highest point total of the season. Calgary remains firmly involved in a crowded West playoff race, and at -140, backing the Stampeders to win is more appealing than asking them to cover another road spread, especially considering they'll be facing a winless team.