Ottawa Redblacks at Winnipeg Blue Bombers 6/10/22 - CFL Picks & Predictions

The Ottawa Redblacks visit the defending CFL Champion Winnipeg Blue Bombers on Friday in the opening game of the 2022 CFL season for both teams. Ottawa  was 3-11 in 2021 with two wins against last place Edmonton. The Redblack were last in 14 of 20 offensive categories last season. The Redblacks scored an average of only 16.0 per game. Several quarterbacks played last season, but Ottawa signed veteran QB Jermiah Masoli during the offseason.

Jeremiah Masoli passed for 2,445 yards, with 10 touchdowns and six interceptions in nine games last season with Hamilton. Running back William Powell was acquired from Saskatchewan and last season rushed for 299 yards. The top wide receivers for all the way this season will be Darvin Adams, Shaq Johnson and Jaelon Acklin. Last season with Winnipeg, Adams caught 26 passes for 441 yards and four touchdowns. Last season with the BC Lions, Johnson caught 30 passes for 295 yards. Acklin Caught 50 passes for 678 yards and four touchdowns last season with Hamilton.

Last season Winnipeg was 11-3 and defeated the Hamilton tiger-cats 33-25 in overtime to win the 2021 Grey Cup. it was the first time that any team in the CFL had repeated as Grey Cup champion since Montreal in 2009-10. Last season's quarterback Zack Collaros returns to guide the defending Grey Cup champs in 2022. In 2021, Collaros Passed for 3185 yards with 20 touchdowns and six interceptions. 

Brady Oliveira takes over as the No. 1 running back for Winnipeg this season. Last season Oliveira rushed for 429 yards and two touchdowns, running behind Andrew Harris who go down to play for the Toronto Argonauts. Wide receiver Greg Ellingson signed with Winnipeg to replace the departed Kenny Lawler. Last season Ellingson caught 47 passes for 687 yards and one touchdown, as a hip injury limited the receiver to 10 games. Rasheed Bailey returns as the No. 2 wide receiver for Winnipeg. Last season Bailey caught 52 passes for 629 yards and five touchdowns.