The 2023 CFL season kicks off on Thursday with the BC Lions visiting the Calgary Stampeders. Kickoff is scheduled for 9 p.m. ET at McMahon Stadium (CBS Sports Network/TSN). Below, we analyze FanDuel Sportsbook’s lines around the Lions vs. Stampeders odds, and make our expert CFL picks and predictions.
Both BC and Calgary finished 12-6 last season behind the West champion Winnipeg Blue Bombers (13-5). The Lions beat the Stampeders 30-16 the first weekend of the postseason before losing to the Blue Bombers in a Division Final.
The Stampeders have lost in the 1st round of the playoffs 3 years in a row.
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Lions at Stampeders odds
Odds provided by FanDuel Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 12:59 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Lions +125 (bet $100 to win $125) | Stampeders -150 (bet $150 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Lions +3.5 (-125) | Stampeders -3.5 (+105)
- Over/Under (O/U): 50.5 (O: -115 | U: -105)
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Lions at Stampeders key injuries
Lions
- DB Siriman Bagayogo (undisclosed) out
- DL Francis Bemiy (undisclosed) out
- K Keiran Burnham (undisclosed) out
- WR Keon Hatcher (foot) out
- DB Mike Jones (undisclosed) out
- OL Phil Norman (undisclosed) out
- LB Maxime Rouyer (hamstring) out
- OL Chris Schleuger (undisclosed) out
Stampeders
- DB Daniel Amoako (knee) out
- OL Caleb Benenoch (arm) out
- OL Joshua Coker (ankle) out
- DB Natrell Jamerson (knee) game-time decision
- RB Dedrick Mills (illness) out
- WR Jalen Philpot (hamstring) out
- WR John Rysen (undisclosed) out
- DB Nick Statz (foot) out
- DB Nick Taylor (hamstring) out
- OL Zack Williams (arm) out
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Lions at Stampeders picks and predictions
Prediction
Lions 26, Stampeders 18
Moneyline
The Lions beat the Stampeders twice in the regular season and once in the playoffs last year.
Before the playoff matchup, the road team had won 7 consecutive games in the matchup. The road team has won 8 of the last 10 meetings of the 2 teams.
The Lions are the healthier team in the opener.
BET LIONS (+125).
Against the spread
The outright winner in the matchup has covered the spread in 3 straight meetings and in 8 of the last 10.
In 2022, the Lions were 11-7 ATS in the regular season while the Stamps were 9-8-1 ATS.
Because we like the underdog Lions to win outright, you get much better odds on the moneyline than on an ATS wager.
PASS.
Over/Under
BC was 8-9-1 O/U during last year’s regular season. Calgary was 11-7 O/U.
The Over/Under split 5-5 in their last 10 meetings and was 2-2 in their 4 matchups last season.
Being that this is the season opener, expect the defenses to be a little ahead of offenses.
BET UNDER 50.5 (-105).
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For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.
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