The
2012 CFL regular season is only four weeks old and there is already a logjam
atop both divisions with a three-way tie in the East and a two-way tie in the
West. The following is a betting preview and prediction for Week 5’s Saturday
games.
Saturday, July 28
Hamilton Tiger-Cats vs. Saskatchewan
Roughriders
Hamilton has
been able to overcome a 0-2 start with back-to-back victories over Toronto and
Montreal both straight-up and against the spread. Last Saturday, it hammered
the Alouettes 39-24 as 2.5-point home favorites with the total going OVER the
60-point line. The total has now gone OVER in all four of this season’s games.
The Tiger-Cats, behind
quarterback Henry Burris, have put-up 127 points this
season.
Saskatchewan
lost for the first time this year in a thrilling 41-38 setback in overtime
against Calgary as a 3.5-point road underdog. It is now 3-1 SU and tied with
Edmonton for the lead in the West. The Roughriders remain perfect ATS at 4-0
and the total has gone 2-2 in their first four games. Darian Durant continues
to play well at quarterback with a completion percentage of 62.9 for 1,003
yards and six touchdowns. Running back Kory Sheets has the second-most rushing
yards in the league with 317.
The
Tiger-Cats are 23-9 ATS in their last 32 games as underdogs and the total has
stayed UNDER in six of their last eight games on the road. The Roughriders are
3-8 ATS in their last 11 games as favorites. The total has stayed UNDER in
their last six home games. Hamilton is just 3-12-1 ATS in its last 16 games in
Saskatchewan and 6-19-1 ATS in the last 26 meetings overall. Stick with the
Roughriders to bounce-back with a win at home that covers the four points.
Prediction: Saskatchewan 31 Hamilton 26
British Columbia Lions vs. Calgary
Stampeders
The
defending Grey Cup champs have lost their last two games to fall to 2-2 SU and
1-3 ATS. The Lions were stunned by Edmonton 27-14 last week as 8.5-point home
favorites after dropping a 23-20 decision to Saskatchewan as three-point road
favorites the week before. The total has stayed UNDER in three of the four
games. Quarterback Travis Lulay has thrown for 1,116 yards for six touchdowns,
which is the fourth-most yards in the CFL, but he has been picked off five
times. B.C. has outscored its opponents 106-102 through its first four games.
Calgary snapped
a two-game skid with its overtime win over the Roughriders last week. It is now
2-2 both SU and ATS with the total going OVER in its last three games. The
Stampeders lost quarterback Drew Tate for the season with a shoulder injury,
but have not skipped a beat with Kevin Glenn at the helm. He has completed 71
percent of his throws for 863 yards and six touchdowns. His favorite target has
been wide receiver Nik Lewis, who has caught 32 balls for 362 yards and six
TD’s.
The Lions are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 West
Division games and the total has stayed UNDER in four of their last five games in
the division. The Stampeders are 5-1 ATS in their last six games following an
ATS loss and 3-1-1 ATS in their last five games as home favorites. The total
has gone OVER in six of their last seven games. BC is just 3-11-1 ATS in the
last 15 meetings, but 3-1-1 ATS in its last five trips to Calgary. Look for the
Lions to come-out on top of this division rivalry with a much needed win on the
road.
Prediction: British Columbia 34 Calgary 31