Lions vs. Alouettes Prediction: CFL Week 5 Point Spread, Odds
The Alouettes saw a three-game season-opening win streak snapped by last weekend’s 35-17 loss in Hamilton but maintain a two-point lead over the Tiger-Cats atop the CFL East standings. It has been a far tougher start to the campaign for the Lions, who arrive in Montreal on a three-game slide after suffering a crushing 37-18 road loss to the undefeated Saskatchewan Roughriders a week ago.
Montreal is a 2.5-point favourite to win on the CFL odds, with the total pegged at 50.5.
CFL Odds and Betting
Saturday night’s matchup is the first of two meetings between these squads over the next six weeks. The Lions have dominated in recent dates with the Als, winning 13 of 15 regular season meetings including each of the past four, and have run up the score while posting decisive wins in each of their past two visits to Montreal.
Overall, BC has averaged 33.3 points per game and claimed victory by an average margin of 15.8 points while taking four straight from the Alouettes. However, the Lions offence has sputtered during their three-game losing streak, averaging just 17.3 points per game.
Overall, BC has now lost and failed to cover in seven of eight dates, with their lone victory over that stretch coming in Montreal last September.
With quarterback Davis Alexander sidelined by injury, the Alouettes attack faltered last week after scoring 35 points per game during a red-hot 3-0-0 start. The Als have remained somewhat reliable at home, going 5-2-0 SU and ATS in their past seven contests but have covered just once in their past four visits from CFL West opponents.
BC Lions
The Lions expect to have Nathan Rourke back under centre after the Victoria native missed the past two games due to injury. Rourke enjoyed a sensational debut in his return to BC this season, tossing for 324 yards and three scores while leading the Lions to 31-14 win over Edmonton in Week 1.
However, it remains to be seen whether his recent oblique injury will limit his passing and mobility, especially against a ferocious Alouettes defence that has limited opponents to just 238.8 passing yards per game.
James Butler has helped pick up the slack in the backfield. The Lions rusher racked up 123 rushing yards and one score in last week’s loss to the Riders, which marks his most productive outing since 2022.
Montreal Alouettes
The Alouettes will once again be without Davis Alexander on Saturday night. The 26-year-old had been enjoying a solid debut as a CFL starting pivot before getting sidelined by a hamstring injury two weeks ago.
With Alexander still on the shelf, McLeod Bethel-Thompson will have a chance to atone for his middling performance in last week’s loss. The two-time Grey Cup champion connected on 24 of 41 pass attempts for 203 yards but managed to find the end zone just once when the game was already out of hand.
Bethel-Thompson also tossed two interceptions including a pick-six and recorded a fumble late in the game that the Ti-Cats returned for a score, snuffing out any hopes of a miraculous comeback.
Receiver Austin Mack joins Alexander in the clinic, which means bigger assignments for Cole Spieker and Tyler Snead, who combined to produce just 112 receiving yards last weekend.
BC
MTL