-
Edgar Chaput
RedBlacks vs. Lions Prediction: CFL Week 13 Point Spread, Odds
In Week 12 the BC Lions improved on recent performances but could not prevent the Ottawa Redblacks in their quest for a perfect home record in 2024. Bob Dyce’s group prevailed in a 34-27 nailbiter. The result improved the RedBlacks to an impressive 7-2-1 on the season, which helps in their quest to overtake the Alouettes in the East Division. The defeat dropped the Lions to 5-6 and third place in the West.
Our CFL odds think the host Lions will rekindle with their winning ways. They’re pegged as -2.5 favourites.
CFL Odds and Betting
Last week’s victory about the Lions was the first in eight tries for the Redblacks. They hadn’t vanquished BC since the 2018 regular season. The last time Ottawa won in Vancouver was as far back as October 2017.
As the weeks go along, it seems more and more evident that the Redblacks should be taken seriously. In addition to being 7-2-1 in the standings, they’re 7-3 versus the spread and have covered five of their last six games. Ottawa rides a six-game outright winning streak, with two of those coming on the road. Their only two defeats this season were on their travels, however.
BC should be in dire straights – and in many ways are – but they can thank the West Division for being so topsy turvy this season. Despite a 5-6 straight up tally and five consecutive defeats, the Lions are still within striking distance of first place. That won’t reassure betters, who are frowning at a 4-7 ATS record. BC has not covered a single time when they straight up lost this season, in addition to not covering in one victory.
Ottawa RedBlacks
At this stage it doesn’t seem to matter who plays at quarterback for the Ottawa. They’ll find a way to win.
Jeremiah Masoli served as a backup in Week 12 while Dru Brown was healthy again and sent back into the lions’ den, no pun intended. The hosts took a while to find their rhythm, trailing 11-3 early in the second quarter and 17-9 just before halftime. But this club refuses to quit, outscoring the visitors 22-10 in the second half.
It was, in a sense, a night of highs and lows for Ottawa. Unfortunately, WR Jaelon Acklin left the contest in the fourth quarter after suffering a bruising back injury (it seems unlikely he’ll play this week). On the flip side, rookie Nick Mardner came out of nowhere to catch three passes for 95 yards and two majors. Brown had his second-best game of the campaign with 390 yards and a 75.7 completion percentage.
Put another feather in the Redblacks’ cap this season and make the final 34-27 in their favour.
BC Lions
One supposes that if a side is going to suffer a five-game losing streak, it might as well be in the summer rather than later in the season.
Be that as it may, the Lions look lost. A decent first half (17-12 advantage at the whistle) disintegrated during the remaining 30 minutes of play. Word in the media is that regular starting quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. is feeling better every day and might play soon. What a turnaround that would be, from welcoming the prodigal son Nathan Rourke back into the locker room to desperately wanting the guy who was there in the first place.
Rourke was decent but unspectacular (21-for-33, 234 yards, 0 TDs, 1 INT) and cooled off in the second half. RB William Stanback once again had a good day at the office, finishing a yard short of the century mark. That’s three consecutive games where he’s hit 80 yards or more.
The defence has collapsed since late July, giving up 25 points or more in four of the last five matches. Speaking of defence, another popular Lion came back this week, as DL Mathieu Betts signed a one-year deal. He was cut by the Detroit Lions a few weeks ago.