The CFL
enters its second week of byes so, once again, there are just two games on this
week’s slate. The last place Stampeders, behind backup QB Kevin Glenn, take on the Tiger-Cats. Plus, the Roughriders take on the Eskimos in the frozen tundra of Edmonton.
Thursday, August 9
Calgary Stampeders vs. Hamilton
Tiger-Cats
Calgary
entered its bye week at 2-3 both straight-up and against the spread after a
34-8 loss to British Columbia as a one-point home underdog in Week 5. The total
stayed well UNDER the 58-point line, but had gone OVER in three of Calgary's previous
four games. The Stampeders are now in last place in the West with a 1-1 SU
record in the division. They will look to get back on track with Kevin Glenn at
the helm after quarterback Drew Tate was lost for the season with a shoulder
injury. Glenn has completed 70.3 percent of his passes, but has also been
picked off four times since assuming the starting role.
Hamilton
went into its bye week on a strong note with a thrilling 35-34 victory over
Saskatchewan as a 3.5-point road underdog. It is now 3-2 SU and a profitable
4-1 ATS. The total has gone OVER in all five games. The Tiger-Cats find
themselves in first place in the East Division behind an offense that is averaging
32.4 points a game. In order to stay there, they are going to have to tighten
up a defense that is giving-up just as many points.
The
Stampeders are 9-3 ATS in their last 12 games following a SU loss and 6-2-1 ATS
in their last eight games following a bye. The total has gone OVER in six of
their last eight games. The Tiger-Cats are 5-2 ATS in their last seven games in
August and the total has gone OVER in eight of their last 10 home games.
Calgary is 5-2 ATS in the last seven meetings and total has gone OVER in five
of those games. Expect another high scoring affair with the Stamps squeezing
out the win.
Pick: Calgary 35 Hamilton 31
Friday, August 10
Saskatchewan Roughriders vs. Edmonton
Eskimos
The
Roughriders went into their bye licking their wounds from that one point loss
to the T-Cats after dropping a 41-38 decision in overtime to Calgary the week
before as 3.5-point road underdogs. After opening the season with three
straight wins, they are now 3-2 SU (4-1 ATS) and in second place in the West.
The total has gone OVER in three of the five games. Saskatchewan’s defense that
has given up the second fewest points in the CFL but well over half of them
have been scored in its last two games.
Edmonton’s
23-22 loss to Winnipeg as a one-point road favorite dropped it to 3-2 both SU
and ATS heading into its bye week. The total has stayed UNDER in three of its
five games. The Eskimos boast the stingiest defense in the league; giving-up an
average of just 15.8 points a game. Early injuries have taken its toll on
offense with wide receiver Adarius Bowman lost for the season and lineman Joel
Bell and Greg Wojt out indefinitely with knee injuries.
Saskatchewan is 1-5 ATS in its last six games
following a SU loss and the total has stayed UNDER in its last five games
following a bye. The Eskimos are 5-2 ATS in their last seven games following an
ATS loss. The total has stayed UNDER in nine of their last 13 games at home.
Head-to-head, the Roughriders have lost five of the last seven meetings SU and
are 3-4 ATS. The total has stayed UNDER in 16 of the last 21 meetings in
Edmonton. Stick with Edmonton to extend its recent dominance over the
Roughriders with a win that easily covers the 1.5 point spread.
Pick: Edmonton 24 Saskatchewan 19