Lions vs. Blue Bombers Prediction: CFL Week 2 Point Spread, Odds
The Bombers are 2.5-point underdogs sans starting QB Zach Collaros with a total of 49.5 points on the CFL odds.
CFL Odds and Betting
This is the first of two regular-season meetings between the Lions and Blue Bombers, and they complete the series already Week 3 in British Columbia. Last year, they met three times and Winnipeg won two of three and split at home: Lost 26-24 in Week 3 and won 25-0 in Week 9 behind 295 yards passing and a TD from Zach Collaros. Brady Oliveira rushed for 100 yards and Ontaria Wilson had seven catches for 112 yards. The Lions had just 102 net yards of offence.
The lone matchup in B.C. last year was a 20-11 Blue Bombers victory in Week 11 as Collaros threw for 288 yards and a score. Nathan Rourke was brutal for the Lions under centre, completing just 8 of 25 passes for 126 yards and two picks.
BC Lions
Some extra spice for this matchup as the new head coach of the Lions is Buck Pierce, formerly the offensive coordinator with Winnipeg. B.C. won Pierce’s debut in Week 1, 31-14 over Edmonton last Saturday in Vancouver so it’s a quick turnaround.
Nathan Rourke was 27-for-36 passing for 324 yards and three touchdowns, two of those to Stanley Berryhill III (six catches for 105 yards). It was the 10th 300-plus yard passing performance of Rourke’s young career, and he also rushed for 54 yards to improve to 4-0 career vs. the Elks. The Lions averaged 9.0 yards per passing attempt and 6.9 per rush while not surrendering a sack.
Defensive lineman Mathieu Betts was a standout on that side of the ball with a Week 1-leading 10 quarterback pressures to go with six tackles and one tackle for a loss. Betts and the defensive line allowed just 87 rushing yards in the victory. Linebacker Jeremy Lewis (hamstring) and defensive lineman Deshawn Stevens (foot) did not return for the second half and both are out Thursday. B.C. is 1-6 ATS in its past seven road games.
Winnipeg Blue Bombers
The Blue Bombers were the only team to not play in Week 1 off losing the 2024 Grey Cup Final to Toronto. Tailback Brady Oliveira returns chasing a fourth consecutive 1,000-yard rushing season. The only other Winnipeg running back to post more than three consecutive such seasons was Charles Roberts, who had a run of six straight from 2002-07. In 2024, Oliveira won second consecutive Most Outstanding Canadian Award and was honoured for the first time as the CFL’s Most Outstanding Player.
QB Zach Collaros is also back and is one TD throw shy of 200 career. Only 13 other QBs in CFL history have thrown for 200 or more career. But he’s suspended for the opener for failing to respond to an off-season drug-testing request. Backup Chris Streveler gets the call Thursday. The 30-year-old made one start for an injured Collaros in 2024, helping lead the club to a 25-16 victory over Ottawa. Streveler eventually went down with a serious knee injury and finished the year completing 31 of 52 passes for 343 yards, one TD and one pick.
Winnipeg was 2-0 this preseason, both against Saskatchewan. Former running backs coach Jason Hogan is the team’s first-year offensive coordinator. Quarterbacks coach Jarious Jackson, formerly of Edmonton, rejoined the Blue Bombers recently after missing training camp due to personal reasons. Right guard Pat Neufeld is questionable Thursday. Winnipeg is 6-3 ATS in its past nine games.
BC
WPG