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Thursday, July 30

British Columbia Lions (2-2 SU, 2-2 ATS) vs. Winnipeg Blue Bombers (2-3 SU, 2-2-1 ATS)

Point-spread: BC -5
Total: 50

Game Overview

The Lions two-game winning streak both straight-up and against the spread may have come to an end, but the bigger concern could be the fact that they blew a 21-point lead in that last minute loss to Toronto. BC came into last Saturday’s game ranked last in the CFL on defense in total yards allowed and it gave-up 340 passing yards alone against the Argonauts.

Winnipeg has not only lost its last two games SU, it may have lost its starting quarterback for the foreseeable future after Drew Willy left last week’s game following a hard hit in the third quarter. He is currently listed as questionable for Thursday with a leg injury. Brian Brohm took his place against Edmonton and he went 9-for-19 for just 71 yards while getting picked off twice.

Betting Trends

BC is just 1-3-1 ATS in its last five road games against Winnipeg and the total has stayed UNDER in 16 of the last 21 meetings overall.

Friday, July 31

Saskatchewan Roughriders (0-5 SU, 0-5 ATS) vs. Edmonton Eskimos (3-1 SU, 3-1 ATS)

Point-spread: Edmonton OFF
Total: OFF

Game Overview

The Roughriders are still looking for their first win of the new season both SU and ATS and they could be hard-pressed to get off the schneid this week with a defense that has allowed a CFL-high 165 points through their first five games. Offensively they are putting up an average of 28.6 points a game, but that production could take a hit if quarterback Kevin Glenn is unable to go this Friday.

Edmonton has taken the early lead in the West Division behind a stout defense that has only allowed an average of 14.5 points through its first four contests. James Franklin took over for Matt Nichols at quarterback in the third quarter of last week’s lopsided victory against Winnipeg. He only completed five of his eight attempts, but three of them were for touchdowns.

Betting Trends

The Eskimos have won four of the last five meetings SU and they have a 8-2 edge ATS in the last 10 games. The total has stayed UNDER in five of the last six games between these two West Division rivals.

Montreal Alouettes (2-2 SU, 2-1-1 ATS) vs. Calgary Stampeders (3-2 SU, 0-5 ATS)

Point-spread: Calgary -4½
Total: 49½

Game Overview

Montreal closed as an underdog in both of its SU victories this season including a 29-11 win against Calgary in Week 2 as a 9½-point underdog at home. The total has stayed UNDER in all four of its games this year. Quarterback Rakeem Cato has come off the bench to throw for 822 yards and four touchdowns while completing 72.2 percent of his 90 attempts.

The Stampeders were stunned by Ottawa in overtime despite a solid effort from quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell. He ended that game with 318 yards passing while completing six passes to wide receiver Eric Rogers for 124 yards and a score. Calgary running back Jon Cornish left that game with a thumb injury and he is expected to be out of the lineup until early September.

Betting Trends

Montreal has now won the last two meetings both SU and ATS after going 1-6 SU (0-7 ATS) in the previous seven games of this inter-division clash.

Monday, Aug. 3

Toronto Argonauts (3-1 SU, 4-0 ATS) vs. Hamilton Tiger-Cats (2-2 SU, 3-1 ATS)

Point-spread: Hamilton -3½
Total: 54½

Game Overview

Toronto has been one of the bigger surprises this season after missing the playoffs last year. It has averaged 29.5 points a game while holding opponents to 25.8 points on the other side of the ball. Trevor Harris continues to play well at quarterback for an injured Ricky Ray. In last week’s win against BC, he completed 30-of-40 attempts for 340 yards and two scores. He was also picked-off twice.

The Tiger-Cats got a big day from their quarterback Zach Collaros in last Sunday’s 10-point win. He threw for 284 yards and a score while adding another 32 yards on three runs. Collaros spread the ball around to six different receivers in his 19 completions. Hamilton has also been solid on defense; allowing an average of just 22 points through its first four games.

Betting Trends

The home team has won seven of the last nine meetings SU in the East Division tilt, but Hamilton has a 5-1 edge ATS in the last six games. The total has stayed UNDER in four of the last six meetings.

B.C. Lions at Winnipeg Blue Bombers (+4.5, 49.5)

The BC Lions look to shake off a disappointing Week 5 loss when they travel to Winnipeg to face the Blue Bombers on Thursday. The Lions let a 21-point lead slip away against the Toronto Argonauts before eventually falling 30-27, and missed an opportunity to grab a share of the West Division lead along with the Edmonton Eskimos.

On the bright side for BC, running back Andrew Harris is back to his pre-injury best after scoring three touchdowns against the Argos and hopes to lead the Lions to their fourth straight win over the Blue Bombers. Winnipeg is left to pick up the pieces after falling apart in the 32-3 loss to the Eskimos on Saturday. The Blue Bombers were outscored 28-0 in the second half, and to make matters worse, star quarterback Drew Willy was forced out of the game midway through the third quarter with a knee injury and his status for Thursday is unknown. Winnipeg has dropped three consecutive home games to BC, including a 28-23 loss last year, and hasn't beaten the Lions at Investors Group Field since July 28, 2011.

LINE HISTORY: Books opened the Lions as 5-point road faves but that has since moved to -4.5. The total opened at 50 and is down to 49.5.

INJURY REPORT: Lions - G Cody Husband (Questionable, undisclosed), DB Ryan Phillips (Questionable, hamstring), LB Jason Arakgi (Questionable, hamstring). Blue Bombers - QB Drew Willy (Probable, knee), DT Bryant Turner, Jr. (Questionable, hand).

ABOUT THE LIONS (2-2 SU, 0-2-1 ATS, 2-1 O/U): Travis Lulay started off 13-of-17 with one touchdown pass in the first half before slowing down considerably in the last two quarters to finish 18-for-32 for 165 yards and an interception while Harris accumulated 129 total yards against the Argonauts. "We let that one get away from us," Harris told reporters. "It just seemed like we stopped making plays." BC defensive back Ronnie Yell suffered a suspected MCL sprain in the fourth quarter and will miss Thursday's game.

ABOUT THE BLUE BOMBERS (2-3 SU, 2-3 ATS, 2-3 O/U): Willy was 7-of-17 for 81 yards before he was knocked out of the game and backup Brian Brohm fared no better by going 9-of-19 for 71 yards and two interceptions. "I have to make it my mission to play better," Brohm told reporters. "I need to go in, watch the film and get better and be ready to go." Wide receiver Nic Moore suffered a lower-body injury just before halftime while offensive lineman Devin Tyler and specials teams ace Graig Newman also exited the game with injuries and face a race against the clock to recover in time for Thursday.

TRENDS:

* Under is 16-5 in the last 21 meetings.
* Lions are 1-3-1 ATS in their last five meetings in Winnipeg.
* Lions are 0-5-2 ATS in their last seven games overall.
* Under is 5-2 in Blue Bombers last seven games in July.

CONSENSUS: This is split down the middle with 50 percent on each side.

Saskatchewan Roughriders at Edmonton Eskimos (-10, 48.5)

The Edmonton Eskimos look to extend their winning streak to four games when they host the Saskatchewan Roughriders on Friday. The Eskimos scored 28 points in the second half en route to a 32-3 victory over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers last Saturday to take sole possession of first place in the West Division.

Backup quarterback James Franklin replaced the ineffective Matt Nichols in the third quarter and led the team on three touchdown drives, but Edmonton coach Chris Jones was quick to dispel any notion of a quarterback controversy by naming Nichols the starter against the Roughriders. Saskatchewan remains the only winless team in the CFL following a 31-21 setback to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on Sunday. The Roughriders let another fourth-quarter lead slip away as the defence continues to self destruct down the stretch, and has given up at least 30 points in four of their five losses this season. Saskatchewan has dropped four of its last five meetings with Edmonton, including an 18-10 loss in the West semifinals last year, and hopes to turn its fortunes around quickly in order to avoid its first 0-6 start since 1978.

TV: 9 p.m. ET, TSN, ESPN2

LINE HISTORY: The Eskimos opened as 11.5-point favorites before being bet down to -10. The total has dropped from 49 to 48.5.

INJURY REPORT: Roughriders - LB Shea Emry (Ques-Neck) Eskimos - DT Gregory Alexandre (Ques-Undisclosed), DE Elie Ngoyi (Ques-Undisclosed)

ABOUT THE ROUGHRIDERS (0-5 SU, 0-3-1 ATS, 3-1 O/U): Kevin Glenn went 22-of-33 for 255 yards and one touchdown before sitting out the fourth quarter with a shoulder injury and his status for Friday's game is unknown. Brett Smith ran for a touchdown in relief of Glenn and Weston Dressler led all wide receivers with six catches for 74 yards. "Everyone is in this thing together and we truly believe in ourselves," Dressler told reporters. We just have to keep finding ways to get better and improving and finish these games."

ABOUT THE ESKIMOS (3-1 SU, 3-1 ATS, 1-3 O/U): Nichols was 17-of-25 for 196 yards before being pulled in favour of Franklin, who finished with three touchdown passes. "Matt Nichols has been the guy that has taken us the last three games and he's going to be our starting quarterback," Jones told reporters. "We're not going to change a lot when we're winning football games." Shakir Bell continues to make the most of his opportunity in Edmonton as the rookie running back gained 95 yards on 12 carries after rushing for 144 yards the previous week.

TRENDS:

*Roughriders are 3-13-1 ATS in their last 17 games overall.
*Eskimos are 7-0 ATS in their last 7 home games.
*Under is 4-0 in the last 4 meetings.
*Under is 14-2 in Eskimos last 16 games following a ATS win.

Montreal Alouettes at Calgary Stampeders (-5, 47.5)

The defending Grey Cup champion Calgary Stampeders begin life without star running back Jon Cornish as they try to avenge a Week 2 loss to Montreal when they host the Alouettes on Saturday. Cornish, the CFL's Most Outstanding Player in 2013, was placed on the six-game injury list with a broken thumb suffered in a 29-26 loss in Ottawa on July 24, leaving Calgary with a running back-by-committee situation.

Montreal's 29-11 victory over the Stampeders on July 3 served as a coming out party for rookie quarterback Rakeem Cato, who was 20-of-25 for 241 yards and three touchdowns in his first career start and has completed 72.2 percent of his passes while winning two of his three contests. Michael Sam, who became the first openly gay player drafted by an NFL team when the St. Louis Rams selected the defensive lineman in 2014 before releasing him, could make his Alouettes debut after signing a two-year contract prior to the season. "We would like to see (Sam) play, help us on special teams," Alouettes coach Tom Higgins told reporters. "We would like to see and get the answer everyone is looking for - can he play? There's only one way to answer that question, and that's to put him on the field. ..." Calgary is 3-0 at home this season - winning by a combined seven points - and has won five straight meetings with Montreal at McMahon Stadium by an average of 18.4 points.

LINE HISTORY: The Stamps were initially -4.5 before shifting to -5. The total has dropped from 48 to 47.5.

INJURY REPORT: Alouettes - DL Markell Carter (Ques-Undisclosed), WR Kyle Graves (Ques-Undisclosed), S James Tuck (Ques-Undisclosed) Stampeders - WR Joe West (Ques-Leg)

ABOUT THE ALOUETTES (2-2 SU, 3-1 ATS, 0-4 O/U): Cato isn't doing it alone as Montreal's offence also is highlighted by the league's receiving leader and No. 2 rusher. Slotback S.J. Green has recorded a CFL-best 341 yards on 20 receptions and a touchdown while running back Tyrell Sutton has registered 280 yards - second to Saskatchewan's Jerome Messam - and three TDs. The Alouettes also boast a pair of top performers on defence in linebacker Chip Cox, who has a league-high 27 tackles, and defensive end John Bowman, who shared the CFL lead with Edmonton's Marcus Howard in sacks with four prior to the Eskimos' game Friday against the Roughriders.

ABOUT THE STAMPEDERS (3-2 SU, 0-5 ATS, 1-4 O/U): Calgary's ground attack is expected to be handled by Matt Walter, top kick returner Tim Brown and Tory Harrison, who was elevated from the practice squad. Walter and Brown have combined for 45 yards on 12 carries this season as Cornish accounted for 325 of Calgary's 417 rushing yards. Bo Levi Mitchell was 23-of-41 for 318 yards and a touchdown against Ottawa and has completed 66 percent of his passes with three TDs and four interceptions in 2015.

TRENDS:

*Alouettes are 0-5 ATS in their last 5 meetings in Calgary.
*Stampeders are 0-6 ATS in their last 6 games overall.
*Under is 12-2 in Alouettes last 14 road games.
*Under is 4-0 in Stampeders last 4 home games.