It was a warm summer night in Hamilton less than a year ago. The Lions were in town to kickoff week 10 on TSN. Two weeks prior, BC had hosted the Ticats in what was one of the most exciting games of the season to date. The Ticats came back in the second half for their sixth in a string of seven straight wins. Bo Levi Mitchell threw the game-winning touchdown with 16 seconds showing on the clock. It put the Ti-Cats up by four and didn’t leave enough time for Nathan Rourke to respond with a touchdown.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Larry O’Brien trophy were in attendance for the encore two weeks later. Greatness appreciates greatness, I remember writing. And in a rare instance when the sequel relegates the original to secondary status, this game was even better than the one in BC. Nathan Rourke threw for over 400 yards, including the go-ahead touchdown with 0:38 seconds on the clock. Bo had time to orchestrate a game-tying field goal drive before the Lions had the last laugh in OT.
At the time, it felt like these two great quarterbacks could be destined for another meeting in November, but it didn’t materialize. Which brings us to tonight. And, even with so much excitement about a soccer tournament, tonight’s matchup provides the perfect opportunity to dive into 3rd and 1. El juego bonito. Le beau jeu. The beautiful game. I’m talking about three down Football, which is always most beautiful art with the best artists holding the brush.
BC Lions at Hamilton Tiger-Cats
After finishing 6 yards apart for the CFl passing yards lead last season, Mitchell and Rourke have picked up where they left off. It’s a CFL quarterback class as good as any I can remember, but these two, along with Davis Alexander, are at the top. The total is 58.5 and I was tempted to take the Over. After all, their two most recent matchups, recapped above, had an average of 74.5 total points. But for the same reason that the line is moving in in favour of Hamilton, the Lions’ receiving corps is a mash unit at the moment. I have faith that Rourke will find a way to work with limited resources. James Butler should be able to run the ball. But their defence, especially the secondary, is also depleted. BC’s pass rush couldn’t get to Trevor Harris in last week’s loss, and Bo is getting the ball out as quickly as ever. Let’s also remember that even though the Tabbies are allowing almost 30 points a game so far, they were against the Als and the Bombers – two of the better offences in the league.
THE PICK: TIGER-CATS moneyline (-130)
PLAYER PROP: JAMES BUTLER OVER 90.5 rushing+receiving yards
The Lions running back had at least 85 rushing yards in each of last year’s meetings against his former team. Rourke said the Lions have to run the ball more. But even with more touches on the ground, Butler is always an option in the passing game, especially with this many receivers banged up.
Toronto Argonauts at Ottawa Redblacks
Will his former players be extra motivated against him? or will Ryan Dinwiddie get his first win on the Redblacks sideline? Well, judging by our short sample size, the Argos appear to be the better bet. Despite the score saying they lost by a touchdown last week to the Als, Toronto played the Grey Cup favourite a lot closer than that. Meanwhile, Jake Maier didn’t look any different with Dinwiddie, sometimes described as a quarterback whisperer, calling plays.
THE PICK: Argonauts moneyline
Saskatchewan Roughriders at Calgary Stampeders
With four games to choose from for the first time this season, I’ll stay away from the Alouettes and Elks. I’m tempted to take Edmonton +3.5. I like what they’re doing since last season. But why bet against Davis Alexander when I don’t have to? He doesn’t lose.
Meanwhile, the Riders continue to be undervalued in my humble opinion. They were the best team last season, they won the Grey Cup, and nothing about last week’s win over the Lions suggests they’ve taken a step back. The only thing they didn’t do last year was beat the Stamps, something that’s probably been stapled to their bulletin board all week, or longer.
THE PICK: Roughriders moneyline (-122)
