Stampeders vs. Lions Prediction, Expert Picks & Odds: Shootout in Western Showdown
Week 1 of the CFL season didn't go as planned for the B.C. Lions as they look to bounce back against the Calgary Stampeders in their home opener, and we're looking at our top Stampeders vs. Lions predictions based on the best CFL odds.
The B.C. Lions (0-1) remain among the top teams in the Grey Cup odds race despite being upset on the road in Week 1. Now they'll have a chance to get back on track at home from BC Place on Saturday at 7 p.m. ET (TSN/RDS, CFL+) against the Calgary Stampeders (1-0).
The Lions enter the game as an 8-point favorite against a Stamps team that flexed its offensive muscle during a 32-24 Week 1 victory over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. If British Columbia. wants to win, it will need Vernon Adams Jr. to live up to the hype as the CFL Most Outstanding Player odds favorite.
Here are our best Stampeders vs. Lions predictions for CFL Week 2.
Stampeders vs. Lions prediction
Odds via our best sports betting sites; pick confidence based on a 1-to-5-star scale.
Over 50.5 ⭐⭐⭐
Heading into Week 1, the Lions looked ready to pounce on a Toronto Argonauts team that was without starting QB Chad Kelly and lost All-Star running back A.J. Ouellette in free agency. Instead, Argos backup Cameron Dukes picked apart the Lions' defense, with the unit giving up 35 points and 374 total yards. Those struggles could continue against the Stamps.
The defensive issues overshadowed Adams throwing for 363 yards and a pair of TDs while adding 25 yards on the ground. Even without All-Star Keon Hatcher, Adams was able to hang 27 points on the Argos thanks to Justin McInnis and Alexander Hollins combining for 193 receiving yards. Despite the loss, the Lions look like they boast one of the league's best offenses after putting up the second-most total yards in Week 1 (423).
Meanwhile, Calgary didn't flinch in its win as an underdog against the Tiger-Cats in Week 1. The Stamps put up 32 and Jake Maier was as efficient as it gets through the air while going 21-for-26 with 252 passing yards and two scores. His ability to spread the ball around was impressive (four pass-catchers finished with 40-plus yards). Maier looks to have leveled up in his second full season running Dave Dickenson's offense as the QB1.
However, much like British Columbia, the Stampeders' defense struggled while its offense was shining. The Stamps gave up the most yards in the league during Week 1, with Hamilton putting up 468. With both these QBs humming, and their teams playing defense like Luka Doncic in the NBA Finals, I'm expecting a high-scoring shootout between the two.
The odds imply a 52.61% probability the Over hits, according to our odds converter, with a $10 bet paying out $19.01.
Best odds: -111 via Betway
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Stampeders vs. Lions first team to score
Lions (-172)
Given how each team's offense looked in Week 1, and how terribly out of sorts the defenses were, this market could be all about which side starts with the football. Making it even tougher to bet is that these teams both boast top-notch kickers. The Lions' Sean Whyte was 25-for-28 on kicks over 40 yards in 2023, while Calgary's Rene Paredes was 6-for-7 from 50-plus yards, making him the league's most accurate long-range kicker.
This is a volatile market no doubt, but I'm leaning toward the Lions scoring first thanks to the big-play ability of Adams and his receivers. Between McInnis, Hollins, Jevon Cottoy, and Travis Fulgham, it may only take a handful of plays for BC to get in scoring range.
Stampeders vs. Lions odds
Stampeders vs. Lions odds via Betway as of Thursday at 12:30 p.m. ET.
| Teams | Moneyline | Spread | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lions | N/A | -8 (-111) | Over: 50.5 (-111) |
| Stampeders | N/A | +8 (-111) | Under: 50.5 (-111) |
The Lions are one of the league's three best teams on paper, thanks in large part to Adams. They lost outright to the Argos as a 5.5-point favorite, largely due to their defensive struggles in Week 1. That's why it's hard to feel confident banking on them covering this 8-point spread, especially with how well Calgary played last week. The Lions are only 8-10-1 against the spread dating back to last season.
While the spread is tough, this total is a different story with how poorly both these defenses looked in Week 1. We've seen how explosive the Lions are with a healthy Adams, and Maier appears to have full control of Dickenson's offense now. Both teams helped to cash the Over during Week 1, and British Columbia is 12-6-1 betting the Over since last season.
Stampeders vs. Lions game info
- When: Saturday, June 15
- Where: BC Place, Vancouver, B.C.
- How to watch: TSN/RDS, CFL+
- Weather: 54 degrees, 3-mph winds, 60% chance of precipitation (retractable roof)
- Favorite: Lions -8 (-111 via Betway)
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