It’s a Canada Day battle between a pair of 0-3 teams on Friday, with the Edmonton Elks visiting the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.  The Elks are coming off a 30-23 loss in Calgary last week and sit last in the West Division.  Hamilton fell 26-12 in Winnipeg last week and now sit last in the East Division.

The Tiger-Cats are 6.5-point favourites to win on the CFL odds, with a total of 46.5.

CFL Odds and Betting

Hamilton won the lone meeting between the teams last season in Edmonton, downing the Elks 39-23 in Week 13.  Ti-Cats quarterback Jeremiah Masoli threw for 357 yards and three touchdowns, while Taylor Cornelius answered for Edmonton with 251 passing yards and no touchdowns.  Neither quarterback remains on their respective club.

The Elks’ 0-3 record this season brings their ugly straight up record to 1-12 in their last 13 games overall and 1-6 in their last seven road games.  They’ve covered once this season, but they’ve gone 1-7-1 against the spread in their last nine games against Hamilton.  The total has gone Over in two of Edmonton’s three games this season, both on the road.

The Ti-Cats are winless on the year, but they do boast a 17-4 record in their last 21 games at Tim Horton’s Field and they’ve won five straight games against Edmonton.  They’re 7-1 ATS in their last eight games against the Elks, although they’re 0-3 ATS this season.  The total has gone Under in 16 of Hamilton’s last 23 games, including two of three in 2022.

Edmonton Elks

Edmonton kicked off the first of four Battle of Alberta matchups this season with a disappointing loss last week in Calgary.  The Elks led for most of the fist three quarters before surrendering the lead on the final play of the third quarter.  Quarterback Nick Arbuckle, who spent his first two CFL seasons in Calgary, completed 20 of 31 pass attempts for 225 yards, one touchdown and one interception.  Through the first three games of the season, Arbuckle ranks third in passing yards (795), but has only thrown two touchdowns compared to six interceptions.

Emmanuel Arceneaux was Arbuckle’s favourite target last week, hauling in seven receptions for 99 yards, including a 33-yard touchdown.  Kai Locksley added a short touchdown run.  Edmonton linebacker Deon Lacey recorded a game-high 11 tackles.  As a team, the Elks rank sixth in points per game (17.7) and last in yards per game (303.7).

Hamilton Tiger-Cats

It was more disappointment for Hamilton against the Blue Bombers last week as the Ti-Cats once again lost to the team that has defeated them in the last two Grey Cup games.  Quarterback Dane Evans competed 25 of 42 pass attempts for 237 yards.  Evans completed no touchdown passes and the last of his two interceptions was run back for a Winnipeg score in the fourth quarter, essentially ending the game.  He leads the CFL with 884 passing yards, but has thrown just four touchdowns compared to six interceptions.

Hamilton needs to start finding a way to turn field goals into touchdowns if they want to start stringing some wins together.  Last week they had successful field goal attempts from 27, 32, 41 and 49 yards, but they failed to record a touchdown.  As a team, they’re actually tied with Edmonton in average points per game (17.7).  They are seventh in yards per game (319.0).

CFL Prediction: Who Will Win Elks vs. Tiger-Cats?