The BC Lions (0-1) visit the Calgary Stampeders (0-1) Thursday to begin Week 2 of the 2021 CFL season. Kickoff will be at 9:30 p.m. ET at McMahon Stadium. Below, we look at the Lions at Stampeders odds and lines and make our best CFL picks, predictions and bets.
Both teams took a loss last week in their first games in nearly two years. The Lions fell 33-29 on the road against the Saskatchewan Roughriders in the CFL’s highest-scoring game of Week 1. The Stamps were upset at home 23-20 by the Toronto Argonauts.
Calgary and BC finished second and fifth, respectively, in the West Division in 2019. The Stampeders lost 35-14 to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the West Semifinal.
Lions at Stampeders odds, spread and lines
Odds via Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 11:50 a.m. ET.
- Money line: Lions +230 (bet $100 to win $230) | Stampeders -350 (bet $350 to win $100)
- Against the spread/ATS: Lions +6.5 (-105) | Stampeders -6.5 (-133)
- Total: 47.5 (O: -105 | U: -133)
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Lions at Stampeders odds, lines, predictions and picks
Prediction
Stampeders 29, Lions 20
Money line
The Stampeders (-350) are a safe bet to win and avoid falling to 0-2 on their home field; however, we can’t bet the chalky money line with the risk far outweighing the reward.
Stampeders QB Bo Levi Mitchell went 23-for-35 with 1 touchdown against 1 interception and didn’t take a sack last week against the Argos. He should have little problem against a Lions defense that gave up 33 points in the season opener.
Additionally, the Lions will be starting rookie QB Nathan Rourke in place of the injured Mike Reilly. Rourke went 10-for-18 for 194 yards with 2 TDs and 2 INTs in the season-opening loss to the ‘Riders.
Against the spread
Hand the STAMPEDERS -6.5 (-133) a major edge in the quarterback battle and home-field advantage, and back them to win by at least 7 points.
Calgary beat BC in both head-to-head meetings in 2019.
Over/Under
Back the OVER 47.5 (-133) with the line dropping 2 points from opening at 49.5 Thursday morning.
The Lions defense was torched in Week 1. Should Mitchell be as well protected as he was in the opener he’ll lead multiple scoring drives.
Rourke also looked adequate in his first CFL action last week. Calgary registered just one sack against Toronto and will need to get considerably more pressure to rattle the rookie.
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