BRITISH COLUMBIA (8 - 10) at HAMILTON (9 - 9)
Top Trends for this game.
HAMILTON is 13-5 ATS (+7.5 Units) in all games this season.
HAMILTON is 13-5 ATS (+7.5 Units) in all lined games this season.
HAMILTON is 8-2 ATS (+5.8 Units) off a division game this season.
HAMILTON is 12-5 ATS (+6.5 Units) in games played on turf this season.
HAMILTON is 7-1 ATS (+5.9 Units) in non-conference games this season.
BRITISH COLUMBIA is 13-3 ATS (+9.7 Units) as an underdog over the last 2 seasons.
BRITISH COLUMBIA is 6-0 ATS (+6.0 Units) as a road underdog of 3 points or less over the last 3 seasons.
BRITISH COLUMBIA is 46-26 ATS (+17.4 Units) in road games off a division game since 1996.
BRITISH COLUMBIA is 33-18 ATS (+13.2 Units) in road games revenging a loss versus opponent since 1996.
Head-to-Head Series History
HAMILTON is 4-2 against the spread versus BRITISH COLUMBIA over the last 3 seasons
BRITISH COLUMBIA is 4-2 straight up against HAMILTON over the last 3 seasons
5 of 6 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
EDMONTON (9 - 9) at CALGARY (10 - 7 - 1)
Top Trends for this game.
EDMONTON is 0-7 ATS (-7.7 Units) after 2 or more consecutive straight up wins over the last 2 seasons.
Head-to-Head Series History
CALGARY is 7-3 against the spread versus EDMONTON over the last 3 seasons
CALGARY is 7-3 straight up against EDMONTON over the last 3 seasons
6 of 10 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
BRITISH COLUMBIA vs. HAMILTON
British Columbia is 2-5 ATS in its last 7 games when playing Hamilton
British Columbia is 9-2 SU in its last 11 games when playing Hamilton
Hamilton is 6-3 ATS in its last 9 games when playing at home against British Columbia
Hamilton is 1-6 SU in its last 7 games when playing at home against British Columbia
EDMONTON vs. CALGARY
Edmonton is 2-5 ATS in its last 7 games
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Edmonton's last 7 games
Calgary is 5-1 ATS in its last 6 games when playing at home against Edmonton
Calgary is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games when playing at home against Edmonton
CFL First Round CFL Playoffs
BCLions (8-10) @ Hamilton (10-8)-- TiCats won their last three games, allowing 13.3 ppg; they're 6-2 in last eight home games, and covered four of last five tries as a favorite. Lions lost last three games, allowing 35.3 ppg, but they covered five of last six road games. Hamilton swept Lions this year, winning 31-28 at BC in Week 2 (+13), 30-18 here three weeks later (+2.5). BC covered six of its last eight games as the dog. Seven of last ten TiCat games stayed under the total.
Edmonton (9-9) @ Calgary (10-7-1)-- Stamps won three of four series games this year, losing 38-35 in Edmonton in Week 7 (+1), then winning next three meetings, by 32-8/35-34/30-7 scores. Eskimos are 4-5 on road, 5-2 vs spread in last seven games as underdog. Calgary is 5-0-1 in its last six home games; they're 4-7 vs spread in last 11 games as a favorite. Five of last seven Edmonton games stayed under the total; under is 8-2-1 in last eleven Stampeder games.
CFL Semifinals Preview and Picks
By Charles-André Marchand
B.C. Lions at Hamilton Tiger Cats (-3, 51)
The Lions are in Hamilton, ironically, because of the Tiger Cats who beat the Winnipeg Blue Bombers last week. With an 8-10 record, they finished fourth in the West but still could manage the crossover by going past Winnipeg to play the East Division semifinals. The Tiger Cats, with the second-best defence in the league, swept their two games series with B.C. earlier this season. Both teams have changed since, starting at the quarterback position. The TiCats had managed to win the turnovers battle with a differential of plus-7. The explosive DeAndra’ Cobb gained 267 yards rushing in those two games. The Lions defence has struggled when it came to stopping the run and that is not good news against these Cats. Casey Printers, a former TiCats, should be starting for the Lions, although, he’s still suffering from a thumb injury. If he should have to leave the game and be replaced by Zac Champion, that could be the end of the story for Wally Buono’s team.
Tiger Cats kicker Nick Setta, who missed last week’s game against Winnipeg with a leg injury, should be dressed and able to play. If Setta can’t complete the game, look for wide receiver Dave Stala, who practiced his kicks all week, to take over. Linebacker Markeith Knowlton missed three practices this week but according to head coach Marcel Bellefeuille, he will play Sunday. The Tiger Cats won their last three games of regular season while the Lions dropped their last three. They except a full house at Ivor Wynne Stadium and the 13th man will only be another plus to tip the scale in favour of the Tiger Cats.
Pick: Hamilton -3
Edmonton Eskimos at Calgary Stampeders (-6.5, 54)
The Eskimos played for .500 this season with a 9-9 record while the Stampeders had to settle for second place in their division despite a winning record of 10-7-1. Henry Burris didn’t have his best season and still he is the second-best passer in the league with 4831 yards. He also was one of the best in the business with 22 touchdown passes. The Eskimos defence didn’t seem to have many solutions against the passing game and Burris, who gained an average of 375 yards per game against them in their three regular season matchups, should take advantage of it once more. Expect him to throw a lot to Jeremaine Copland, who caught five TD passes in those three games in the Battle of Alberta.
The Stampeders will have to play this one without versatile fullback and receiver Teyo Johnson, who was stabbed while attending a rave party late Thursday night. His life is in no danger but the injury will be enough to keep him out of the lineup. He caught 18 passes for 172 yards and two touchdowns this season. He will be replaced by Rob Côté. Still, Calgary did win three of its last four games of the regular season against their rivals from Alberta and they won’t lack motivation at the idea of defending their Grey Cup in front of their home fans on November 29. Of course, one will argue that the Eskimos finished strong with three wins in their last four games. But we should keep in mind that two of these wins were against the Argonauts and last week’s victory against the Lions was against a B.C. team that had to give the ball to their fifth QB in the second half, Zach Champion.
Pick: Calgary -6.5
Last Week 2-2, season 41-30-1