British Columbia (3-1) at Hamilton (0-4)
When: Sunday, July 7th 2024
Where: Tim Hortons Field,
Hamilton, Ontario
Time: 7:00 ET | TV: CBSN
Opening Odds: B.C. -5.5/53.5
The Hamilton Tiger-Cats seek their first victory of the season when they host the British Columbia Lions on Sunday night to conclude Week 5 action in the CFL. Not only has Hamilton failed to cover the spread this season, but they have lost seven games in a row SU dating back to the 2023 campaign. For the second time in three weeks, the Ti-Cats blew a fourth quarter lead and lost to the Ottawa RedBlacks 24-22 last week on a walk-off field goal.
The Lions have rebounded nicely since a Week 1 loss to the Toronto Argonauts by winning their last three games. In that stretch, B.C. is allowing just 20.7 points a game and have put together some great fourth-quarter rallies. The Lions will travel East as a 4.5-point favorite with a total of 53.5.
Hamilton has dropped two of the last three meetings with B.C., but have gone 2-0-1 against the spread over that stretch and are 4-1 SU the last five times the Lions have come to Tim Hortons Field. However, that one loss came in October of last season, 33-30, and started the Ti-Cats current seven-game losing streak.
BRITISH COLUMBIA LIONS
Quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. put together another solid outing last week in the win over Edmonton. The 31-year-old completed 27-of-38 passes for 331 yards and one score, and 33 yards rushing. Adams, who was named the CFL Player of the month, enters Sunday’s game as the league leader with 1,369 passing yards and has seven touchdown passes while tossing just one interception. Wide receiver Alexander Hollins leads the league with 457 receiving yards, while William Stanback is fourth in the CFL with 229 yards rushing.
HAMILTON TIGER-CATS
The Hamilton passing game has been solid so far in 2024, but it’s not translating into many points – or wins. Bo Levi Mitchell has thrown for 1,297 yards and a league-high eight touchdowns. However, he also shares the league lead with five interceptions. The ground game has been awful this season, ranking seventh in yards and have averaged just 42.7 over the last three weeks. Shemar Bridges is having a fine first year in the CFL with 28 receptions for 309 yards and three touchdowns.
Prediction:
B.C.’s offense is on a roll right now with Adams leading the charge and should have no problem scoring points in this matchup. Hamilton just doesn’t know how to win games right now, blowing two, fourth-quarter leads in the last three weeks. I say the Lions win by at least a touchdown.
