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Edgar Chaput
Lions vs. Tiger-Cats Prediction: CFL Week 19 Point Spread, Odds
In Week 18 at home, the BC Lions had a glorious opportunity to claim top spot in the West Division against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers but costly errors resulted in a 34-26 overtime defeat. Over in the East Division, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats kept pace with the Alouettes for second place by thumping Saskatchewan 38-13.
It’s the visiting Lions who. are pegged as favourites. They currently sit at -3.5.
CFL Odds and Betting
It’s been a rough go for the BC Lions when facing the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in recent years. Even earlier this season, back in August, they hosted the Ontario-based squad and were run out of their own building 30-13. The only time Hamilton has dropped a result against BC in the past seven meetings was in July of last year. Week 19 marks the first time in two years that these clubs play in Hamilton.
While the Lions benefit from a strong 11-5 record in the West Division, trusting them to cover spreads has incurred risk. BC is only 8-7-1 ATS this season. Furthermore, the club has failed to handle three of its past four spreads and five of its past seven. The smooth sailing of June and July is long distant in the rear-view mirror.
Hamilton’s season has been something of a roller coaster, as attested by their identical 8-8 records both in the East Division and against the spread. The Tiger-Cats are experiencing the opposite trajectory of BC insofar as they have covered four of their last five opportunities. In fact, only two opportunities out of seven weren’t covered and both came against the Toronto Argonauts, who are beating everybody these days.
BC Lions
There is little doubt that head coach Rick Campbell and the BC Lions were left kicking themselves after Friday night’s result. At home to their biggest rivals this year, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, with temporary first place in the division on the line.
For well over three quarters things were looking great. Nine minutes into the fourth quarter BC kicked a field goal to increase its advantage to 26-16. QB Vernon Adams Jr. was hitting his targets for big plays (Dominique Rhymes caught five passes for 107 yards) and the Lions’ defence had come to play, with Mathieu Betts earning his CFL-leading 16th sack of the season. Everything was rosy.
And then, with barely five minutes to go, the Blue Bombers, led by Zach Collaros, reminded everyone why they’ve represented the West three years in a row at the Grey Cup. They scored a touchdown and a field goal to level the terms and then made a game-saving tackle as time expired in regulation. BC could not match Winnipeg in overtime and fell 34-26. Because of the situation, the opponent, and how the game had played out earlier, this was the ultimate “coulda, shoulda, woulda.”
Hamilton Tiger-Cats
Whether or not the Hamilton Tiger-Cats leap-frog over Montreal for second place in the East – which would grant home field for a playoff game – remains to be seen. That said, if they play as they did against the Roughriders in Week 18, especially with QB Bo Levi Mitchell back under centre, they have a chance to beat anybody.
It wasn’t much of a contest, with Hamilton thoroughly outclassing Saskatchewan in every facet of the game. Notwithstanding some annoying fumbles, it was a near-perfect performance. Even then, the turnovers didn’t cause any significant damage to the outcome given the 38-13 final score. Mitchell looked good during his one quarter of action, going 4-for-6, 129 yards and a TD. The forgotten Matthew Shiltz, who is the real number two QB on the roster, then went 16-19, 271 yards and two scores through the air. RB James Butler continued his fine campaign with 107 yards on 25 carries.
The Tiger-Cats nearly doubled the Roughriders in yards per play averaging 9.8. to their opponents’ 5.7. All in all, an excellent performance, although a hungry Lions team will pose a bigger challenge.