Stampeders vs. Lions Prediction: CFL West Division Semifinals Point Spread, Odds
The Calgary Stampeders look to punch their ticket to the CFL West final for the first time since their last Grey Cup win in 2018 when they visit the BC Lions on Saturday evening in this season’s CFL West semi-final at BC Place.
The Stamps closed out the regular season on a three-game win streak, capped by last week’s 20-10 victory in Edmonton, and finished the campaign tied with BC with an 11-7-0 record, but fell short of claiming home field for Saturday’s contests on tiebreakers.
The Lions look to return to the CFL West final following a one-year absence after wrapping up their schedule with six straight wins, capped by a schedule-ending 27-21 victory in Saskatchewan, and have also earned two points in each of their past five home contests.
The Lions lead the way as 5-point favourites on the CFL West semi-final odds. The Stampeders trail as +200 underdogs on the CFL moneyline, and the total is set at 53.5.
CFL Odds and Betting
The Lions swept the two-game season series with Calgary this season with a pair of decisive victories, giving them the nod on tiebreakers and the right to host Saturday’s contest. With their 38-24 win over the Stampeders four weeks ago, the Lions improved to 8-2-0 in their past 10 dates with Calgary and have seen seven of those victories come by double-digit margins. Accordingly, BC has gone 8-2 ATS over that stretch.
In addition, the Lions have dominated the Stamps on home turf, winning and covering in six of seven, with those victories coming by an average margin of 15.5 points, and including West semi-final victories in 2022 and 2023. Overall, the Lions have regularly run up the score during their current 6-0-0 run, scoring an average of 36.5 points per game, and have seen the OVER go 10-2 over the past 12 games.
Losers of four straight starting in early September, the Stampeders have salvaged their season with their current 3-0-0 run. But the road has been unkind to the Stamps, who gone just 2-4 SU and ATS over their past six while scoring 20 or fewer points four times.
Calgary has also lost four straight in CFL playoff action, with three of those defeats coming by double-digit margins, and has not claimed a playoff win on the road since defeating the Lions 34-29 in the 2012 CFL West final.
Calgary Stampeders
The Stampeders faced little resistance from the Elks in last week’s season-ending 20-10 win, but still find themselves pegged as +1400 longshots on the Grey Cup odds entering the postseason.
CFL betting fans should not underestimate the motivation of quarterback Vernon Adams Jr., who was discarded by the Lions at the end of last season after enjoying two years in BC. The change of scenery proved to be a tonic for Adams, who tossed for 4,247 yards and 21 touchdowns in 17 games this season.
However, Adams produced mixed results against his former BC teammates, averaging just 224 passing yards in two appearances this season, and connecting on just two TDs against five INTs.
The Stampeders also enjoy the benefit of the CFL’s top rusher. Dedrick Mills racked up 1,409 rushing yards and 11 scoring runs this season, while also contributing 292 receiving yards, and is a solid +165 bet to find the end zone anytime on Saturday.
BC Lions
The Lions are peaking at the right time, and one of the biggest reasons is the play of quarterback Nathan Rourke. The Victoria, BC native fell just six yards short of leading the CFL in passing with 5,290 yards, and also finished second in the league with 31 TD passes.
Rourke has also been sensational when facing the Stamps this season, leading BC to a pair of wins while racking up 745 total passing yards and six touchdowns. However, Rourke has also been hot and cold in recent dates on home turf, compiling 11 touchdown passes over his past five appearances but finding the end zone just once in three of those games.
Rourke enjoys the benefit of have two of the league’s top three receivers at his disposal. Keon Hatcher was tops in the CFL with 1,688 receiving yards, while Justin McInnis recorded 1,256 yards and made three total scoring catches against the Stamps this season.
CGY
BC