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CFL future bet: Veteran can deliver pinpoint passes and an 18-1 payout

By John Dudley | Last updated 6/2/23

Once the NBA and NHL seasons are done, the betting landscape might be characterized as a vast wasteland. Check-swing that — it could more aptly be called a “baseland.”

If wagering on our national pastime isn’t your preferred form of action, consider directing your attention north of the border, where the Canadian Football League has long offered a great bridge during the summer months. Sure, the field is longer, each side has 12 players, and there are only three downs. But the game is otherwise very similar.

Fans of college football are also likely to recognize some of the names. For instance, two of the starting quarterbacks are former stars for Ole Miss: Jeremiah Masoli (who previously played at Oregon) and Chad Kelly (who goes by “Swag” and is the nephew of Bills legend Jim Kelly). However, it’s another American signal-caller who deserves our season-long backing.

The bet: Saskatchewan Roughriders quarterback Trevor Harris to have the most regular-season passing yards (+1800 DraftKings)

After playing collegiately at Division II Edinboro in Pennsylvania, Harris set his sights on the pros and is now entering his 12th CFL season. He has frequently ranked among the nine-team league’s passing leaders, with his highest output being 5,116 yards for the Ottawa Redblacks in 2018.

Triggering the offense for the Montreal Alouettes last season, Harris posted the CFL’s third-highest passing total. He was just 26 yards behind second-place finisher Zach Collaros, who threw passes to Travis Kelce at Cincinnati and now leads the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Meanwhile, Grey Cup–winning Toronto Argonauts QB McLeod Bethel-Thompson was the league leader, but he has since departed for the USFL.

One of Harris’ favorite targets in 2022 was former South Dakota State standout Jake Wieneke, the fifth-best yardage gainer the previous year. The two have reunited in Regina, and Saskatchewan has further bolstered its wideout group by adding Texas A&M alum Derel Walker, who amassed a whopping 1,589 yards for Edmonton in 2016.

The Riders also boast a premier receiving back in Washington State product Jamal Morrow. With veteran savvy and a plethora of weapons at his disposal, Harris offers outstanding value to top the passing list when the regular season concludes at the end of October.

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