Everything you need to know about the Canadian Football League

The Canadian Football League and National Football League have more in common than most people realize.

Both leagues feature hard hits, amazing catches, thrilling run plays, and the need for fundamentally sound football. They have also been fodder for punchlines for The Simpsons. 

That’s about where the similarities end. This guide will help you to understand the striking differences between the two leagues so you can wager on the CFL with confidence.

How many teams are in the CFL?

The CFL is much smaller than the NFL, with only nine teams divided into West and East Divisions. 

Typically, one West Division team and one East Division team will play for the Grey Cup, the CFL’s championship. However, the CFL does have a cross-over playoff rule that makes it possible for two teams from the same division to meet in the Grey Cup game. 

For example, if the fourth-place team in the West Division standings has more points than the third-place team in the East Division at the end of the regular season, that West Division team would cross over into the East Division playoff bracket. 

The CFL is working to expand to a 10th team. 

How long is the CFL season?

The 2020 CFL regular season has been delayed due to COVID-19, with no word on when it will start. However, league officials are working to have a truncated season that could begin in September. 

Last year, the CFL began its regular season in June, with each team playing 18 games. The regular season typically ends at the beginning of November, followed by two rounds of playoffs and then the Grey Cup game, which usually takes place at the end of November. 

What are the major rule differences?

The rules in the CFL differ significantly from those in the NFL. We’ll dig deeper into the major ones below.

Three downs

Offenses in the CFL only have three downs to operate with instead of four in the NFL and NCAA. 

The onus is on the offense to move the ball more efficiently on first down in order to make the most out of fewer opportunities, or else the punt team is quickly called into action. Three-down football also sets up offenses to be more pass-oriented. 

Larger Field

The length of a CFL field is 110 yards, goal line to goal line, and is about 12 yards wider than an NFL field. 

The end zone is also larger, at 20 yards deep compared to 10 yards in the NFL. Goal posts are also located at the front of the end zone and not the back. 

The 12th man plays on the field

With a larger field, the CFL has 12 players for each team on the field, instead of 11 in the NFL. 

No fair catch rule

If you’re a kick returner in the CFL, most times you must try to make a play on a kickoff or punt – unless the ball goes into the end zone or out of bounds. There is no fair rule in the CFL. 

Kicking teams must be five yards away or more when the returning player catches the ball on a kick, before they can attempt to make the tackle. If players on the kicking team encroach that invisible five-yard space, they are called for 'no yards' and penalized either five yards or 15 yards depending on if the returner caught the ball in the air or off the hop. 

Twenty-second play clock

The 20-second play clock means offenses in the CFL don’t have nearly as much time to make substitutions, call a play, and line up and snap the ball as their NFL counterparts. 

With fewer downs and less time on a play clock, teams also don’t have the luxury of running out the clock during the final two minutes of the fourth quarter. This does raise the possibility of late-game comebacks in the CFL. 

The rouge

One of the many quirks of the CFL game is the rouge – or single point awarded to teams in certain kicking situations. 

A rouge can be awarded to a team if they miss a field goal, punt the ball, or kick off and the receiving team is unable to bring the ball out of the end zone. 

Yes, games have been decided on a rouge. Imagine losing a championship (or a bet) on the rouge. 

Is the CFL predominantly a passing league?

The CFL has earned a reputation for being a passing league. The larger field and three downs present more opportunities for the pass, which can result in incredibly thrilling catches. 

That said, there is still a need to run the ball well, especially if offensive coordinators want to run on first down. The CFL had five running backs hit the 1,000-yards rushing mark last season, led by Canadian Andrew Harris of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

Can you bet on the CFL?

Yes, you can bet on the CFL at BetAmerica.

The Grey Cup outright market is currently available, with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats favored to win the championship with odds of +325. 

Have CFL players made the jump to the NFL?

The list of players that spent time in the CFL before moving up and building successful NFL careers is lengthy. It includes quarterbacks Warren Moon, Doug Flutie, and Joe Theismann. All three went on to Pro Bowl seasons in the NFL. 

Most recently, defensive end Cameron Wake built an 11-year NFL career, recording 100.5 quarterback sacks, with the Miami Dolphins and Tennessee Titans after spending the first two years of his pro career with the B.C. Lions in the CFL. 

Wake dominated in both leagues, with a combined 39 sacks in two CFL seasons. 

Which current CFL players will I recognize?

Hamilton Tiger-Cats quarterback Jeremiah Masoli is about to enter his eighth season in the CFL. 

Masoli signed with the San Francisco 49ers as an undrafted free agent in 2011 after playing his college football for the Oregon Ducks and Ole Miss Rebels. Masoli helped lead the Ducks to the Rose Bowl in 2009. 

---

Find 2020 Grey Cup odds and more football futures at BetAmerica!