Ottawa Redblacks vs Saskatchewan Roughriders Picks and Predictions for Friday August 7 2026

The Ottawa Redblacks travel to Mosaic Stadium in Regina, Saskatchewan, for a Week 10 matchup against the Saskatchewan Roughriders on Friday, August 7, 2026. Kickoff is scheduled for 9:00 p.m. ET, with television coverage available on TSN, RDS and CBS Sports Network. Ottawa enters at 0-7, while Saskatchewan owns a 5-2 record. The Roughriders are 7.5-point favorites, and the total is set at 61.5 points. For more Canadian football predictions throughout the season, check out our free CFL picks⁠.

Ottawa Continues Searching for Its First Victory

Ottawa has lost all seven of its games this season and has gone 0-5 over its last five appearances. The Redblacks recently lost 34-13 to Montreal after falling 36-34 against Winnipeg. Those defeats followed a 40-17 road loss to Edmonton, a 27-22 home loss against Saskatchewan and a 37-35 defeat at Montreal. Ottawa scored 121 points while allowing 174 across those five games, averaging 24.2 points scored and 34.8 points allowed during that stretch. .

The Redblacks are averaging 23.7 points and 357.9 total yards per game this season. Ottawa’s passing game has generated 298.4 yards per contest, ranking considerably ahead of a rushing attack producing only 59.4 yards per game. The Redblacks have accumulated 2,092 passing yards but only 416 rushing yards through seven games. That imbalance has made the offense easier to defend when Ottawa falls behind and is forced into predictable passing situations.

Ottawa’s defense has been its greatest concern. The Redblacks are allowing 35.3 points and 454.4 total yards per game. Opponents have averaged 336 passing yards and 118.4 rushing yards against them. Ottawa has also allowed opposing passers to complete 69.6 percent of their attempts. Those numbers create a difficult matchup against a Saskatchewan offense averaging more than 400 yards and 33 points per contest.

The Redblacks have demonstrated that they can remain competitive. Three of their seven losses were decided by five points or fewer, including the first meeting with Saskatchewan. However, Ottawa followed its narrow loss to Winnipeg with a 21-point defeat against Montreal. The Redblacks must improve their defensive consistency and establish a more productive rushing attack to remain within the spread in Regina.

Saskatchewan Brings a Balanced Offense Home

Saskatchewan has won three of its last five games and enters Friday at 5-2 overall. The Roughriders recently defeated Edmonton 28-26 after losing the first meeting with the Elks 36-34. Saskatchewan also defeated Hamilton 38-7 and Ottawa 27-22 after beginning this five-game stretch with a 40-34 loss against Toronto. The Roughriders scored 161 points while allowing 131 during those contests, averaging 32.2 points scored and 26.2 points allowed. 

The Roughriders average 33.1 points and 419.3 total yards per game. Their passing offense produces 322 yards per contest, while the ground attack adds 97.3 yards. Saskatchewan has accumulated 2,254 passing yards and 681 rushing yards through seven games. That balance gives the Roughriders a substantial statistical advantage over an Ottawa team that has struggled to run the football.

Saskatchewan is allowing 27.9 points per game, which gives the Roughriders a season scoring margin of more than five points per contest. Their defense has surrendered 288.1 passing yards and 86.7 rushing yards per game. The rushing defense should be particularly important because Ottawa averages fewer than 60 yards on the ground. If Saskatchewan prevents the Redblacks from establishing early balance, it can force Ottawa to rely almost entirely on its passing game.

The concern for Saskatchewan is its recent inability to create separation against Edmonton. The Roughriders split two games decided by a combined four points, and three of their seven games have been decided by three points or fewer. Saskatchewan defeated Ottawa by only five points in the first meeting, which makes laying more than a touchdown less comfortable despite the significant differences in the standings and season statistics.

Ottawa Redblacks vs Saskatchewan Roughriders Picks and Prediction

ATS Pick

• Pick: Saskatchewan Roughriders -7.5

I am taking Saskatchewan to cover the 7.5-point spread. The Roughriders own the better record and hold clear advantages in scoring, total offense, rushing production and defensive efficiency. Saskatchewan averages 33.1 points against an Ottawa defense allowing 35.3 points per game, creating a favorable opportunity for the home offense.

Ottawa stayed within five points in the first meeting, but Saskatchewan has the statistical profile needed to produce a more decisive result at Mosaic Stadium. The Redblacks have allowed at least 34 points in four of their last five games, while the Roughriders have scored at least 27 in every appearance this season. I expect Saskatchewan to pull away during the second half.

Total Pick

• Pick: Under 61.5

I prefer the under at 61.5. The first meeting produced only 49 combined points, and Ottawa’s offense has scored 17 or fewer in two of its last three games. Saskatchewan should generate consistent offense against Ottawa’s vulnerable defense, but the Roughriders have allowed only 33 combined points over their two games against Ottawa and Hamilton.

The possibility of Saskatchewan controlling the game with a lead also supports the under. Ottawa’s limited rushing production makes it difficult for the Redblacks to sustain balanced drives, while Saskatchewan’s defense allows only 86.7 rushing yards per game. I expect the Roughriders to reach the low-to-mid 30s without Ottawa contributing enough to push the matchup beyond 61.5.

Projected Final Score: Saskatchewan Roughriders 34, Ottawa Redblacks 20