Roughriders vs. Stampeders Prediction: CFL Week 9 Point Spread, Odds
Saturday evening is approaching must-win territory for the 2-5 Calgary Stampeders who welcome the 5-2 Saskatchewan Roughriders to Alberta. Calgary is hoping their bye week allowed Bo Levi Mitchell to get right, because the two-time MOP’s been anything but himself this season. Mitchell’s thrown two touchdowns and seven interceptions in four starts and now faces a Saskatchewan secondary that punishes quarterbacks who perform at low quality.
A win for the Riders would keep them in the top two in the West, and on Winnipeg’s tail. Calgary could get out of the West’s basement with a dub and stay in the playoff hunt.
Kickoff at McMahon Stadium is set for 7 p.m. EST.
CFL Odds and Betting
Saturday’s the first meeting between the Riders and Stamps this season, and the first of three straight games versus Calgary for Saskatchewan. Calgary’s got the better of the recent matchups, winning 11 of the 14 past against Saskatchewan.
When it comes to covering, that’s a different story. The Stamps have covered in two of their last six against Saskatchewan and in just three of their last 15 games overall. This season Calgary’s 1-3 at home ATS with the total hitting both the over and under twice.
Saturday evening, the Riders are 3.5-point road favourites to win on the CFL odds, with the total at 48.5.
Saskatchewan Roughriders
Saskatchewan’s finding a surprising identity through the ground, leading the league in carries and possessing the league’s top run defence in total yards against and yards against per rush. Quarterback Cody Fajardo adds to their offensive running attack as a dual threat under centre, but Calgary’s currently ranked dead last in passing yards against per game.
It almost feels as if Saskatchewan is waiting to air it out on offence. Kyran Moore is 12th in the CFL in receiving yards but leads the league with 43 catches. It’s just that they’re typically shorter plays designed to get him the ball in space. Kian Schaffer-Baker is another name to watch, as the Canadian rookie has 24 catches and 293 yards in five appearances.
Calgary Stampeders
At one point a perennial top-tier team gets plucked of too much talent (free agency, NFL, etc.) and that time may have arrived for Dave Dickenson’s club. Calgary’s a below-average scoring team, are second to Ottawa in yards against, and have struggles both in creating turnovers and hanging onto the ball. Leading receiver Kamar Jorden is also dealing with a hamstring injury and did not practice Tuesday. Jorden’s 539 yards rank second among all pass-catchers this season.
It’s shaping up to be a pick your poison kind of game when it comes to both defending Jason Maas’ offence and going up against Saskatchewan’s defensive unit — which is why the Riders will likely cruise barring a MOP-like performance from Mitchell.
SSK
CGY