Tiger-Cats vs. Roughriders Prediction: CFL Week 18 Point Spread, Odds
The Saskatchewan Roughriders are riding a four-game losing streak following a 33-26 loss in B.C. in Week 17, but they still have a chance to grab a postseason spot as they prepare to host the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on Saturday. The Ti-Cats enter Week 18 with a playoff spot already locked up thanks to 22-15 home win against Calgary last week.
Saskatchewan opened as a 5.5-point favourite to win on the CFL odds.
CFL Odds and Betting
These teams split a pair of games last year, with the home team coming out on top in each matchup. Overall, Saskatchewan has taken seven of the last 10 head-to-heads, although they’ve only covered the spread three times in that stretch. The series has generally been low scoring over the last few years, with the total going Under in six straight games and eight of the last 10.
Hamilton has been a bit better on the road this season, going 4-3 straight up compared to 3-5 SU at home. They are 7-8 against the spread overall, including 4-3 ATS on the road. Don’t bank on a high scoring contest as the total has gone Under in seven of the Tiger-Cats’ last 10 games.
It’s been a difficult year for the Riders, but they’re likely happy to be back home where they are 4-3 SU compared to 2-6 SU on the road. They’ve been a below average cover option, going 7-8 ATS overall, including 3-4 ATS at home. Poor defensive play is a key reason why the Over has hit in Saskatchewan’s last five games.
Hamilton Tiger-Cats
It was a big return for quarterback Matthew Shiltz last week as he connected with Tim White for a 70-yard touchdown on his first pass attempt since suffering a hip injury in Week 6. Shiltz finished the game with 225 passing yards, two TDs and an interception. He added another 30 yards on the ground. Shitlz came on as a replacement for rookie Taylor Powell, who completed just two of six pass attempts for 14 yards.
The Ti-Cats are heating up at the right time. Hamilton has won four of their last six games and now sit 4-2 against West Division opponents. Not only have they locked up a playoff spot, they already know who their opponent will be. The Tiger-Cats will face Montreal, with only home field advantage left to be determined. As it stands, Hamilton will be the road team in the conference semi-final, but if they keep pace with the Alouettes over the next two games and beat the Als in the regular season finale, they could still secure home field advantage.
Saskatchewan Roughriders
Jacob Dolegala put up 409 passing yards last week in B.C., but he failed to throw a touchdown pass while being picked off twice. It was the third straight game Dolegala threw an interception and the second straight game he threw multiple picks. The offensive struggles weren’t all on Dolegala as dropped passes were a big issue, despite Kian Schaffer-Baker finishing with 104 receiving yards and Jerreth Sterns putting up 102 yards.
Saskatchewan punched in three TDs on the ground last week, although no player averaged more than 2.3 yards per carry. That lack of run power has been an issue all season as the Riders sit last in the CFL in average rushing yards per game (80.8) and average rushing yards per carry (4.4). Things haven’t been helped with the absence of running back Jamal Morrow, who has missed the last two games with a knee injury. Morrow has carried the ball 157 times this season for a team-high 680 rushing yards and two TDs. He also has 28 receptions for 284 yards and another score.