Stampeders vs Lions Prediction, Preview, Odds & Picks Nov. 06
Quarterback Duel Headlines Stampeders-Lions
Buckle up as we are in for a treat. Nathan Rourke will lead his British Columbia (BC) Lions against Jake Maier’s Calgary Stampeders in a battle to decide the Winnipeg Blue Bombers’ opponent. This CFL Divisional SemiFinals match slightly favors the Lions per the CFL football odds though Calgary opened as the favorites. That’s likely Rourke’s influence.
Let’s check the latest Canadian Football odds, stats, injury reports, and Canadian Football lines for Stampeders vs Lions. We’ve plenty of Canadian Football betting odds for you to consider.
Maier Could Restart Stampeders’ Dynasty
When Maier took over Bo Levi Mitchell in Week 11, it was a passing of the torch not unlike when Mitchell inherited the team from Henry Burris. Maier has since led Calgary to a 7-3 record and leads the CFL in completion percentage while second in many major passing categories among QBs with at least 12 games played.
Dubbed the “Maier of Calgary,” his play at quarterback has allowed the Stampeders to resemble the team that was a consistent Grey Cup threat in the John Hufnagel era. This is a team with arguably as talented a roster as Winnipeg’s and its 11 All-Star selections, five on offense, prove it.
The Stampeders also have road savviness going for them: the team is 7-2 on the road and 8-1 against the spread (ATS). That is the best mark in the CFL. They won in British Columbia late in September and are worth betting online even with Rourke back with the Lions.
I Am A Lion, Hear Me Rourke
We’ve mentioned Rourke four times now and that is for good reason. The Canadian signal-caller was unstoppable in his first nine games. The Lions were 8-1 prior to Rourke getting hurt in Week 11. Had he not gone down, he may have won the Most Outstanding Player Award. In fact, Rourke is still second in the league in touchdowns (25) with just 10 games.
Ahead of Sunday’s divisional semi-final clash between the Lions and Stampeders, @MiltStegallTSN explains what he likes about the matchup between young quarterbacks Nathan Rourke and Jake Maier: https://t.co/yyR78Nonzbpic.twitter.com/QeFcl3XhpL
— CFL on TSN (@CFLonTSN) November 3, 2022
It’s also crucial that Rourke got into a game prior to the postseason even if it was a loss to the Blue Bombers. He looked solid in his limited snaps completing 7-of-11 passes for 68 yards. Dominique Rhymes continues his breakout season for the Lions while the availability of Lucky Whitehead could be an X-Factor for the team.
On defense, the Lions feature three All-Stars on the secondary led by Gary Peters and Marcus Sayles who have nine of the team’s 20 interceptions (second in the CFL). This team also allows the second-fewest points (20.7) against offenses.
Stampeders vs Lions Head-to-Head
The road team won all three meetings between Calgary and British Columbia this season. The Lions won two of the three games though both came by fewer than a field goal. The total has gone over in four of their last five games in BC.
Stampeders vs Lions Game Information
- Game: Stampeders (12-5-0) vs Lions (12-5-0)
- Day/Time: Sunday, Nov. 6, 4:30 p.m. ET
- Location: BC Place Stadium, Vancouver
- Stampeders vs Lions Live stream: NFL Game Pass
Stampeders vs Lions Betting Lines
The odds in this chart are based on the time of publication. They are subject to change.
Stampeders vs Lions Prediction
The Stampeders have a better team altogether. This team is also better on the road and BC is just 5-4 ATS at home this season. However, as we’ve alluded many times, we can’t go against Rourke. The young quarterback is special and only the Bombers have been able to beat him. Thus, bet him and the Lions on the sportsbook.
The BC Lions are listed at -145 in our “Vegas CFL lines.” This means that if you wager $100 on the Lions, you have a chance to win $69. The Calgary Stampeders are +125, offering a chance to win $125 on a $100 wager.
The implied probability attached to the betting lines gives the Lions a 59.18% chance to win, with the Stampeders at 44.44%.
