Tiger-Cats vs. Elks Prediction: CFL Week 8 Point Spread, Odds
The Elks return home after dropping a 20-14 decision in Ottawa last week that extends their current losing streak to 10 games including six defeats so far this season. The Tiger-Cats visit Edmonton after eking out their first victory over the season last week, a 27-24 win over the visiting Toronto Argonauts, but are winless in their past five road contests.5
Home-field advantage has helped lift the Elks to 3.5-point favourites on the CFL Week 8 odds. The Ti-Cats are pegged as a +150 bet on the CFL moneyline while the total for Sunday’s matchup is listed at 52.5.
CFL Week 8 Odds and Betting
Sunday evening’s matchup marks the first of two meetings between these teams this season. After dominating the Elks during a six-game head-to-head win streak, the Ti-Cats have now dropped two of three to Edmonton but have picked up two points in six of their past seven visits to Commonwealth Stadium. Clashes between these squads have often developed into lopsided affairs with just one of their past six contests getting settled by a single score. High scoring has been commonplace when these teams meet, with the total topping 50 in six of their past seven matchups.
Hamilton Tiger-Cats
The Tiger-Cats were lucky to escape with their first win of the season last week versus the Argos. Hamilton stormed out of the gate and took advantage of Argo mistakes while claiming an early 17-0 lead, but struggled to contain a fourth-quarter rally by Toronto that turned that contest into a nailbiter. The win came as a relief to quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell, who has been prolific at times in his return under center. Mitchell has topped 300 passing yards in four of six outings to date and racked up 12 scoring passes. However, he has also tossed six picks that did little to help this team overcome a brutal start to the campaign. James Butler was the lone ball carrier for Hamilton last week, scampering for 50 yards and one score. That marked his best outing since running for 119 yards in Week 1 versus Calgary and adds value to the -115 odds of Butler topping 47.5 rushing yards against an Elks defence that has allowed an average of 94.2 rushing yards so far this season.
Edmonton Elks
Another year, another lengthy losing streak in Edmonton. This once proud franchise has become a shell of its former self, and it is tough to see their latest slide turning around anytime soon. But to their credit, the Elks have managed to keep things close, with all six of their defeats this season coming by an average margin of just 4.33 points. However, the Elks need far more production from quarterback McLeod Bethel-Thompson if they are to snap out of their current funk. Bethel-Thompson mustered just 206 passing yards and failed to find the end zone while tossing his sixth interception of the season in last week’s loss in Ottawa. The Edmonton ground game was also largely ineffective, producing just 40 yards and no scores and could once again struggle against a Ti-Cats rush defence that ranks third in the league while surrendering just 528 yards to date.