The BC Lions and Saskatchewan Roughriders both have earned postseason berths, as have current West Division leaders the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. The rub is that not none of their positions are set in stone. As such, this Week 19 matchup pitting the Lions and Riders can go a long way to determining who gets a first-round bye and hosts the West Final in November.

Our CFL odds see this one as incredibly tight, with the host Roughriders as the slimmest of favourites at -1.

CFL Odds and Betting

This is the second time the Vancouver and Regina-based rivals draw swords this season. The first bout was in July at BC, which the Lions claimed 35-20. That was the Lions’ second consecutive success over the Riders. Over the 10 most recent encounters, the series is all square, 5-5.

BC is in the thick of the race for first place in the West despite only winning three times in their last 10 tries. A great start to the season is what’s led to the current 8-8 straight-up tally. Things are not on par against the spread, with the Lions sporting no better than a 7-9 record. Outcomes are pretty straightforward as only once all season did straight-up and ATS results differ.

Saskatchewan, also experiencing turbulence in the not-so-distant past, is more dependable ATS in 2024. The Roughriders are a solid 10-6, courtesy of three wins in a row. The backend of September and the first weekend of October have seen the winds change direction, which head Corey Mace hopes will carry through to the rest of the season. RB Ryquell Armstead has a shoulder issue which has limited his participation in practice through Wednesday.

BC Lions

In Week 18 when the Calgary Stampeders came to town, it was they who had more on the line with their fading playoff hopes. The BC Lions, to their credit, were not deterred, handling their business via a 32-15 victory.

It was a peculiar game to describe. One would think that Nathan Rourke’s 20-for-24 passing day would be cause for celebration, but it only amounted to 218 and every single offensive drive eventually stalled. Luckily, the Lions have Sean White, the most reliable kicker in the game, who went 6-for-6.

For readers wondering how BC scored its touchdowns, both were courtesy of brilliant defensive plays. One was from star DL Mathieu Betts who returned a pick 70 yards to the house. The second was when DB T.J. Lee returned a fumble 27 yards for six more points. Both broke the game wide-open in the fourth quarter.

If the Lions can punch the ball in the end zone more frequently, they’ll look like their old selves. That said, this game reminded worried supporters that the dominant Lions are still somewhere in there, just dormant.

Saskatchewan Roughriders

The Roughriders didn’t necessarily have an easy match when they visited the Edmonton Elks for Week 18. After all, the Elks are still on the prowl for a playoff spot.

Their clash was a beguiling back-and-forth affair that ended 28-24 in Saskatchewan’s favour. In fact, most of the damage each side inflicted on its opponent came in the second period, which the Riders won 18-14. That was partly due to the fact that it wasn’t a clean game. QB Trevor Harris tossed two picks, which made his day harder than it should have been given the 358 yards and two TDs he threw for. WRs Samuel Emilus and KeeSeaon Johnson helped in huge ways, corralling passes for 126 and 103 yards, respectively.

The Riders now head back home with the momentum of a three-game winning streak for a game of great magnitude.

Who Will Win Lions vs. Roughriders?

LIONS

Away

27

ROUGHRIDERS

Home

25

Score
Predictions

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