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Edgar Chaput
Lions vs. Alouettes Prediction: CFL Week 13 Point Spread, Odds
Both the Lions and Alouettes headed into their Week 12 matches looking like they were among the better squads in the CFL. By the end of their respective games, all that was put into doubt. BC was taught a humbling lesson at home by the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, 30-13. Montreal was obliterated by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers 47-17.
The CFL odds predict a close game, with the visiting BC Lions established as -4.0 favourites. The total has been tabulated at 47.0.
CFL Odds and Betting
The Lions roar loudly and proudly when they contend with the Alouettes. BC has captured eight of the previous 10 encounters, although two of those Montreal victories were in the most recent five. Furthermore, two of the last three matches at Percival Molson Stadium went to the Als, including a comfortable 31-10 win in 2022.
BC hasn’t been great against the spread this season, sporting a 6-4-1 record for their efforts. They were 6-2-1 until two weeks ago before falling to both the Roughriders and Tiger-Cats despite being heavy favourites. The only road game they’ve covered in the last four was against the lowly Elks, which isn’t saying much given that club’s historically bad form at home until recently.
It isn’t as though Montreal is flying high against the spread either. They’re 5-5 on the season and, lo and behold, have also failed to cover two weeks in a row. They were a decently sized underdog last week in Winnipeg yet still got blasted. Speaking of being an underdog, that hasn’t helped the Alouettes in the slightest this season. The club is 1-4 ATS when in that situation.
BC Lions
Were the Lions overconfident? Did the Tiger-Cats play above their talent level? It’s difficult to ascertain why Week 12 unfolded the way it did. Regardless, BC was put to the sword in a 30-13 defeat in front of its fans.
There was no reason for supporters and pundits to not think the Lions would emerge victorious. They needed a bounce-back match after losing to Saskatchewan and Hamilton had struggled with Taylor Powell at quarterback. What the Lions failed to account for was former teammate James Butler at running back, who bulldozed his way to 118 yards, a 5.6 average per touch, and a touchdown. BC’s defence rarely had an answer to Hamilton’s running plays (132 yards to 54). It’s not like Vernon Adams Jr. had an outright poor showing. Going 26-for-40, 326 yards and a TD is solid, but drives stalled at the worst possible moments and they only had the ball for 23 minutes. WR Alexander Hollins was a non-factor.
This is an intriguing set up because Montreal has a very good defence, at least usually, yet BC had trouble versus Hamilton.
Montreal Alouettes
The Lions are not the only team in Week 13 looking for answers. Even as underdogs last week in Winnipeg, the Alouettes were a disastrous operation, losing 47-17.
In a bitterly ironic twist, the Als picked off Zach Collaros on the first play of the game and returned the ball for a score! With a defence as strong as theirs, things were looking good for Montreal, and they remained predominantly so for the first half. Montrealer Marc-Antoine Duquoy got the team’s second pick-six in the second quarter and it was only a 20-17 game in Winnipeg’s favour at the break. Things unravelled in spectacular fashion in the latter half. The Blue Bombers tallied an incredible 196 yards on the ground, with Brady Oliveira leading the way with 119 of them. QB Cody Fajardo, returning from injury, was largely ineffective, going 14-for-25 and 137 yards.
BC
MTL