The visiting Hamilton Tiger-Cats hope that their recent successes are signs that they can truly turn 2024 around. They have ground to make up in the East Division, but the blow they dealt the Toronto Argonauts last week with a 33-31 road win was another positive step. The vibes are not as rosy for the BC Lions. They come off a bye, but before that was a 33-17 beatdown suffered at the hands of the Argos, incidentally.

Our CFL odds feel that BC will defend its home turd, pegging them as -7 favourites.

CFL Odds and Betting

Looking at the results of recent head-to-head meetings between the Ticats and Lions offers a window into how much things have changed since earlier in the year. BC has taken three of the last four têtes-à-têtes, including a 44-28 demolishing in July. But that was a different time, a time when BC looked unstoppable, and Hamilton floundered. Fun fact: The Tiger-Cats have won two of the past three meetings in Vancouver.

Hamilton are 5-9 straight-up and still have their work cut out for them. Even so, the club is riding a three-game winning streak, not to mention a run of four covered spreads. The ATS record is only 6-8 but given that it was 2-8 not long ago, betters may want to consider trusting them. The Ticats have also dealt with three of their last four spreads away from home.

The 7-7 straight-up record speaks for itself. It’s genuinely difficult to know what to make of the Lions these days. Things are worse ATS, what with a 6-8 tally. Looking at their season thus far, only one game saw straight-up and ATS results diverge and it was back in June. Every other outright win has translated to a cover and vice versa.

Hamilton Tiger-Cats

Who knows where the 2024 season will take the Tiger-Cats. There isn’t much time left and they still dwell at the bottom of the East Division. However, thrilling nights like last week’s 33-31 win in Toronto serve as a lasting memory.

There were nine lead changes throughout the night. Best of all, four of them came in the final period, three with under four minutes to go. It was a wildly difficult match to predict, with twists and turns aplenty. QB Bo Levi Mitchell was clean for the third time in his last four outings (31-for-40, 362 yards, one TD). WRs Shemar Bridges (82 yards, six catches) and Kiondre Smith (79 yards, five catches) had memorable nights.

But ultimately, kicker Marc Liegghio was the x-factor. He hit all six of his attempts, including a 48-yarder as time expired.

BC Lions

Maybe the Argonauts thought they would have it easy over the Tiger-Cats in Week 16 after what they did to the BC Lions in Week 15.

That’s a bit of an odd way to start the Lions section of this game preview, but it bears consideration. BC laid an egg at home a fortnight ago. Worse, it was off two wins that suggested maybe Nathan Rourke has found his rhythm, and the Lions were ready to roar again. Apparently not.

The hosts had 13 first downs to the visitors’ 27! Rourke was 6-for-12 for 100 yards and a rushing TD in the first half. He was kept on the bench after the break in favour of Vernon Adams Jr, who didn’t look great after weeks away from action (4-for-7, 75 yards, one INT). RB William Stanback, so reliable thus far in 2024, was neutralized (six carries, 21 yards).

On the topic of ground games, BC was gashed for 165 yards, with none other than QB Chad Kelly committing the most damage (56 yards).

Who Will Win Tiger-Cats vs. Lions?