Stampeders (8-5) vs Lions (9-4)
Headline: First Place in the West on the Line Saturday – Stamps Visit Lions
The BC Lions return to action on Saturday as the top team in the CFL. But they have some company at the top – the Calgary Stampeders have won five of their last six games and are within one game their Western rivals. The teams clash in a most important Saturday night tilt with the winner heading home the Best in the West.
It should be an interesting battle with a pair of Canadian running backs likely having a huge say in the outcome.
Calgary Stampeders (8-5) vs. BC Lions (9-4)
Date/Time: Saturday, October 6, 2012, 10:00 PM ET
Venue: BC Place Stadium
Broadcast: TSN
Stamps vs. Lions Betting Lines from Bodog (Bovada if in USA)
Spread: Lions -4 1/2 (-110)
Moneyline: OFF
Over/Under: 49 points
The Calgary Stampeders enter this week as the hottest team in the CFL with wins in five of their last six games including a 39-15 decision over the Eskimos last week. It took some time for this team to adjust to life without Drew Tate and with Kevin Glenn but now that they have done so, they have become a threat to the Lions’ perch at the top.
Kevin Glenn has come off the bench and stabilized a team that looked like they could slip into a funk without Drew Tate. He is 7-2 as the Stamps starter and has passed for 3100 yards and 18 touchdowns since taking over the starting role – very impressive. He is that consummate veteran that always finds a way to get it done.
However, Calgary’s success can be tied directly to the play of Jon Cornish who has rumbled for 1127 yards this season (fifth best all-time already for Canadians at the position). He went for 180 yards last week and two touchdowns. If you don’t slow Cornish, the Stamps have a pretty good chance of winning.
Calgary’s defense has been “bend, not break” this season – third in both rush defense and pass defending. They have done a good job this season of minimizing damage and letting the offense do the rest.
The BC Lions lost more than their game last week in Saskatchewan; they lost Arland Bruce and Geroy Simon in the first quarter of that game. Without two main weapons, Travis Lulayalmost guided the second half comeback but the Lions fell short and now find themselves in a fight for top spot in the West.
With Andrew Harris and the table of receivers, BC should be able to generate some offense
BC hopes to get their playmakers back this week – they will certainly need them against a scorching Stampeders team. Travis Lulay has to hope for a good start this week. The team has been plagued by slow starts as of late – they only scored a single point in the first half last week! Lulay had an uncharacteristically poor outing last week without Bruce and Simon – 232 yards and two interceptions and two TDs. He will be looking for a bounce back this week.
With Andrew Harris and the table of receivers, BC should be able to generate some offense this week against Calgary. As said, they need a better start of they will be forced to play uphill the whole game.
BC’s defense has been terrific this season and Adam Bighill has been a difference maker. Bighill earned his second straight CFL Defensive Player of the Week award as he registered a club-record 13 tackles. BC owns the #1 rush defense, the #1 pass defense and they surrender a league low 19.15 points per game.
Dave’s Won’t Cost You Anything Free CFL Betting Prediction
Trends To Consider
- Calgary is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games when playing on the road against British Columbia
- Calgary is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games
- The total has gone OVER in 4 of Calgary’s last 5 games when playing on the road against British Columbia
- The total has gone OVER in 18 of Calgary’s last 24 games on the road
- British Columbia is 12-1 SU in its last 13 games at home
- British Columbia is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games when playing Calgary
- The total has gone OVER in 4 of British Columbia’s last 5 games when playing at home against Calgary
This is a tough game to call. BC is money at home except against Calgary for some reason. BC has some health concerns on offense which could be the difference as well. It all adds up to another wake up call for the Lions on Saturday. Calgary behind Kevin Glenn is a solid team and at very least they should keep this game very close.
Pick: Calgary Stampeders +4 1/2
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