As the Ottawa Redblacks try to stop the bleeding on the season, they’ll have their hands full against a Hamilton Tiger-Cats team coming off a 23-17 Week 7 win against Calgary.  Ottawa does have one advantage, however, as they’ll be the more rested team.  The Redblacks have been off since a 45-13 pounding from BC in Week 6.

Hamilton is an 8.5-point favourite to win on the CFL odds, with a total of 43.5.

CFL Odds and Betting

The Tiger-Cats swept the season series between these teams in 2019, with the total going Under in both games.  Prior to 2019, Ottawa had won five straight games.

The Under has been a trend for Hamilton dating back to last season.  The total has gone Under in eight of the Ticats’ last nine games overall, including five of six this year.  Hamilton hasn’t hit the Over in any of their four road games in 2021.  They’ve been a better cover option, going 10-4-1 against the spread in their last 15 games.

The Redblacks haven’t improved much since 2019.  Ottawa has lost 15 of their last 16 games overall, with that lone win coming in Week 1 against Edmonton this year.  They’ve lost five straight home games and have hit the Over twice in 2021, once at home and once on the road.  Don’t bank on them to cover either.  The Redblacks are 1-8 ATS in their last nine games overall and 1-6 ATS in their last seven at home.

Hamilton Tiger-Cats

Quarterback David Watford did enough in his first career CFL start last week, a win over Calgary, to get the nod again in Week 8.  Watford started because of injuries to Dane Evans (lower-body) and Jeremiah Masoli (ribs), although Masoli was able to dress as his backup.  He was 19-for-22 passing, throwing for 149 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions.  Watford also led the team in rushing, picking up 35 yards on 10 carries.  Kicker Taylor Bertolet led the offence, hitting all five of his field goal attempts.

Hamilton’s defence should be a big factor against Ottawa after impressing last week against Calgary.  The Ticats were able to hold the Stamps to 279 total yards of offence as they completely shut down Calgary quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell.  Simoni Lawrence scored Hamilton’s only touchdown of the game, picking off a Mitchell pass for a 15-yard score.  Lawrence also had a team-high eight total tackles.

Aside from Evans’ and Masoli’s injuries, wide receiver Brandon Banks is also banged up.  The reigning Most Outstanding Player will miss his third straight game with a rib injury.

Ottawa RedBlacks

The Redblacks had a much needed week off in Week 7 after a blowout loss against the Lions in Week 6.  In his first start since 2019, quarterback Dominique Davis finished 30-for-51 passing, throwing for 333 yards with one touchdown and interception each.  Punter Richie Leone also tagged in for a series, connecting on a 29-yard trick play.  Timothy Flanders led the run-attack, picking up 40 yards on 15 carries.  Anthony Coombs led all receivers with a game-high 82 yards on eight catches.

The biggest news in Ottawa over the last couple of weeks happened off the field.  Last week, the Ticats announced the signing of former NFL quarterback Devlin Hodges to a three-year contract.  The 25-year-old played eight games for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2019, including six as a starter.  He threw for 1,063 yards with five touchdowns and eight interceptions during his stint in Pittsburgh.  Don’t expect to see him in the lineup on Wednesday, though.  Hodges is in the middle of his mandatory seven-day quarantine and Ottawa head coach Paul LaPolice has made it clear he will ease Hodges into the lineup as he adjusts to the CFL game.

As far as injury news, receiver/returner DeVonte Dedmon (calf) has been a full participant in practice after missing the BC game and will likely play against Hamilton.  Running back Justin Davis and offensive lineman Na’Ty Rodgers have both missed practice this week with knee injuries and are doubtful to play on Wednesday.

CFL Prediction: Who Will Win Tiger-Cats vs. RedBlacks?