Week 9 of the CFL season kicks off Thursday night with the BC Lions as 3.5-point home underdogs on the Sports Interaction board as they host Edmonton.

Betting Analysis

Only three games this week in the CFL, and the BC Lions are the only home underdogs. The early betting lean at Sports Interaction is on Edmonton giving the points with a heavier lean on the over 54 points. On the moneyline, the Eskimos are -180 and Lions +150.

In the race to 10 points, Edmonton is -139 and BC +105. First team to score, the Eskimos are -133 with a touchdown at +300. The Lions are -108 to score first with a touchdown at +333. On the winning margin prop, Edmonton by 1-6 points is +350 and BC by the same margin +375.

In Week 3, the Eskimos beat the visiting Lions 41-22 despite trailing 14-2 early in the second quarter. Mike Reilly threw for 326 yards and three touchdowns while rushing for one. CJ Gable rushed for 165 yards and a touchdown on 23 carries. Jonathon Jennings was 13-for-24 for 199 yards and a pick for BC. The Eskimos have covered the past four in the series.

Edmonton Eskimos

The Eskimos (5-2) are at least keeping things moderately interesting in the West Division as they sit two games behind unbeaten Calgary. Edmonton won its third straight game last week 26-19 vs. Saskatchewan. Reilly scored the go-ahead touchdown on a 1-yard QB sneak with 2:43 left in the game. Sean Whyte added a 46-yard field goal with 34 seconds remaining. Reilly wasn’t his usual accurate self passing, hitting on just 13 of 27 for 257 yards with a TD. That was his 127^th career TD pass, now just two behind Hall of Famer Tom Wilkerson for fourth on the franchise’s all-time list.

Derel Walker caught six passes for 154 yards and that touchdown. Gable added 81 yards and a score on 14 carries. Edmonton has now covered seven of its past eight vs. the West.

BC Lions

We projected the Lions (2-4) to lose 35-18 last week at Calgary – not far off as the final score was 27-18. Travis Lulay was 25-for-39 for 281 yards (his first game fewer than 300 since returning from injury) with a touchdown and interception. Jeremiah Johnson rushed for 50 yards and a score after missing a game with an ankle injury. Wide receiver Kevin Elliott made his season debut and had four catches for 62 yards.

The Lions committed six defensive penalties against Calgary, many giving the Stamps a first down. BC was without return specialist Chris Rainey due to nagging injuries, but he should play Thursday. The Lions are 4-11-1 ATS in their past 16 vs. the West.

Eskimos vs. Lions Prediction