Montreal (6-1) at Hamilton (2-5)
When: Friday, August 2nd 2024
Where: Tim Hortons Field,
Hamilton, Ontario
Time: 7:30 ET | TV: CFL+
Opening Odds: Montreal -3.5/50.5
The defending Grey Cup champion Montreal Alouettes will look to extend the league’s best record when they visit the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on Friday night at Tim Hortons Field. Montreal improved to 6-1 (4-3 ATS) with last week’s 20-16 victory over the West-leading Saskatchewan Roughriders. It was a nice bounce-back win after dropping their previous game to the Toronto Argonauts. It also ended a streak of three consecutive home games.
Hamilton sits at the bottom of the East Division, but looked terrific in last week’s 44-28 blowout victory over the Edmonton Elks. It was the second win in a row for the Ti-Cats, who dropped their first five games of the season and were also 0-5 ATS. Montreal has not been very kind to Hamilton lately, winning seven straight including last year’s 27-12 victory in the East Division semifinals. The Als have the second-shortest Grey Cup odds at +250, while Hamilton has the second-longest odds at +8000.
MONTREAL ALOUETTES
The Alouettes were down 13 points at halftime last week and decided to make a quarterback change. Montreal replaced backup Caleb Evans with third-stringer Davis Alexander, who guided the Als to 17 unanswered points and a comeback victory. Alexander completed 15-of-18 passes for 178 yards and two touchdowns in his first game action this season. Regular starter Cody Fajardo was removed from the six-game injured list and practiced Tuesday and could be back under center Friday.
Montreal enters Week 9 with the best defense in the league. They rank first in average total yards (333.6), passing yards (223.1), QBR (80.4) and points per game (21.7). You can run on the Als however, as they give up the second-most opponent rushing yards per game (110.4) and the second-most rushing yards per play (5.3). Montreal will go be right back home next week to host this same Hamilton squad.
HAMILTON TIGER-CATS
Bo Levi Mitchell led Hamilton to their highest point total of the season by throwing for 316 yards with a career-high five touchdowns. Mitchell is now second in the CFL in passing yards (2,257) and first in passing TDs (17). James Butler led all players last week with 98 rushing yards on 21 carries, while Tim White caught two TD passes.
Hamilton ranks dead last in points allowed per game at 31.6, but they make up for it on offense. The Ti-Cats are second in the CFL in total yards (393.0) and passing yards (324.1) per game and they are third in both QBR (104.1) and points per game (27.9).
Prediction:
I think Hamilton can hang in there with Montreal at home. The offense has been really good under the resurgence of Mitchell and the defense has improved slightly after an 0-5 start. Montreal’s offense has been shutdown the last two weeks and if Fajardo does play, he may be a bit rusty. I’ll take the points.
