RedBlacks vs. Tiger-Cats Prediction: CFL Week 5 Point Spread, Odds
The Ti-Cats enjoyed a much-needed bye last week after being outclassed in 38-12 loss to the visiting Montreal Alouettes in Week 3, and have now fallen to defeat by double-digits margin in each of their three straight up losses to open the season. The RedBlacks visit “The Hammer” on the heels of their first win of the campaign, a decisive 26-7 victory over the woeful Edmonton Elks that marked just their second outright win in 10 overall outings since Labour Day.
The Tiger-Cats have faded to 2-point favourites since opening at -3 on the CFL odds. Ottawa is pegged as a +109 moneyline underdog, while the total has climbed slightly from 43.5 to 44.
CFL Odds and Betting
Saturday night’s matchup marks the first of three regular season meetings between these CFL East Division rivals. The Ti-Cats have dominated in head-to-head action, taking seven straight from Ottawa, and have averaged 30 points per game in four straight home victories over the RedBlacks.
Hamilton has also limited the RedBlacks to 12 or fewer points four times during their 7-0 run, lifting the UNDER to 5-2 over that stretch. However, last season’s dates between these teams have been hard fought affairs, with the Tiger-Cats claiming victory by an average margin of just four points while sweeping the three-game season series.
Ottawa RedBlacks
Last week’s date with the Elks proved to be a tonic for an anemic RedBlacks. After Nick Arbuckle failed to drive the Ottawa offense to the end zone in the first two games of the season, the RedBlacks’ starting quarterback to start the season found himself sidelined in favour of Tyrie Adams, who generated 185 yards on 14-of-20 passing with one touchdown to power Ottawa to victory in his first career start.
However, the win came at great cost, with the team announcing this week that Adams will be lost for the season due to a serious knee injury. With Arbuckle struggling and Adams on the shelf, veteran Jeremiah Masoli will make his first start since suffering a season-ending knee injury a year ago.
Hamilton Tiger-Cats
The Tiger-Cats also find themselves dealing with injury woes under centre in the early going of the season. Signed as a free agent in the offseason, Bo Levi Mitchell brought a long injury history to Hamilton, which he has built on with a lower-body ailment that landed him on the six-game injured list after turning in a pair of forgettable starts to kick off the season.
That has left the Ti-Cats offence in the hands of Matthew Shiltz, who was kept out of the end zone in his first start two weeks ago, compiling 345 yards and tossing two picks while completing just 25 of 47 pass attempts. With Shiltz enjoying tempered confidence, it could be a busy day for rusher James Butler, who tallied 60 yards and scored once versus Toronto, and leads the squad with 140 rushing yards and two touchdowns.
Who Will Win RedBlacks vs. Tiger-Cats?
With both these teams facing quarterback issues, this contest is likely to be battled on the ground, with defence emerging as the deciding factor. That should give an edge to the RedBlacks, who have surrendered just 17.3 points per game this season, and are now led by Masoli, who will be highly motivated in this clash with his former teammates.
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