The BC Lions are the last team to play a road game in the early going of the CFL season as they visit Edmonton in Friday’s late matchup. The Eskimos opened as 6.5-point favourites for this CFL matchup.

CFL Betting Odds

That 6.5-point number is often a magic one in football as you avoid a potential push if the game is decided by seven points; it could well jump to 7 by kickoff, so it could be crucial to bet early if you want to give the points. On the moneyline, Edmonton is -310 and BC +250. The total is set at 54.

Edmonton is -152 to be the first team to score, with the favoured scoring play a touchdown at +275. BC is +108 to score first and +375 for it to be a touchdown. The favoured winning margin is Eskimos by 7-12 points at +325 followed by 1-6 at +450. BC’s top result is by 1-6 points at +600.

Last year, the Eskimos were 3-0 against the Lions. In Week 1, Edmonton won 30-27 at British Columbia. Sean Whyte hit a field goal as time expired. In Week 6, the Eskimos were 37-26 home winners as Mike Reilly threw for 412 yards and two scores. In the regular-season finale, Edmonton prevailed 35-29 at BC. Eskimos scored 22 unanswered points during the final four minutes or so of regulation and then the overtime.

The Lions are 1-4 against the spread in the past five meetings overall.

BC Lions

The Lions were 8.5-point home favourites in Week 1 and beat Montreal 22-10 before taking last week off – the team also won both preseason games by double digits. The Als didn’t score after the first quarter, and BC put up 10 points in the fourth. Jonathon Jennings was very efficient, going 20 of 24 for 183 yards and two scores. Shaquille Johnson and Cory Watson had the TD catches. BC prevailed despite being outgained 359-300. The defensive front, led by newcomers Odell Willis and Gabe Knapton, had five sacks against the Alouettes. There were 17 punts in the game. Perhaps the most memorable part of it was Lions player Marcell Young destroying a fan who came running onto the field. Naturally, said fan hired a lawyer. Meanwhile, the Lions have lost five straight games at Edmonton’s Commonwealth Stadium. Their last win was July 13, 2013.

Edmonton Eskimos

The Eskimos have yet to cover the spread this season, winning by three points Week 1 as a 7-point favourite at Winnipeg and then losing 38-21 vs. in their home opener last week at -6.5. Jeremiah Masoli torched the Edmonton defence, which has allowed the second-most points in the league. Reilly was 20 for 30 with two TDs, an interception and 286 yards for the Eskimos. He became the 26^th all-time leading passer in CFL history. D’haquille Williams had four catches for 105 yards and a touchdown. Riddled by injuries already, Edmonton this week signed veteran receiver Sam Giguere, who was released in January by Montreal. Giguere has 202 receptions for 2,458 yards and 13 touchdowns in 94 career regular-season games. The Eskimos are 2-5 ATS in their past seven home games.

Lions vs. Eskimos Prediction