Hamilton’s first win of the season last week ruined our chance for a ‘Battle of the Winless’ this week against the Elks. Technically, they are still winless, as the Tiger-Cats have yet to win on the road, and the Elks have yet to win at home. Luckily for those who love titles, tonight’s game is still the ‘Toilet Bowl’. Both teams are at the bottom of the league in more ways than just the standings. Kick-off is at 7:00 pm EST.
The Ti-Cats beat their freeway rivals, the Argos, 27-24 last week, but after having a 27-11 lead, they were dying to give that win away. Edmonton’s first game with their new coach left a lot to be desired. From the quarterback complaining about something different every week to the non-existent running game, this season keeps going from bad to worse.
We’re fresh off a win last night, so let’s go make some money.
Hamilton Tiger-Cats vs. Edmonton Elks Odds
Team |
Spread |
Total |
MoneyLine |
| Hamilton | +3 (-108) | Over 51.5 (-108) | +145 |
| Edmonton | -3 (-112) | Under 51.5 (-112) | -175 |
**Odds Subject to Change** |
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Hamilton Tiger-Cats vs. Edmonton Elks Match Details
- Fixture: Hamilton @ Edmonton
-
Date and Time: July 28, 7:00 pm EST
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Location: Edmonton, Alberta
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Weather: Sunny, 77 Degrees, Wind 5 MPH
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Field Type: Turf
Apex Tale of the Tape
| Hamilton | vs. | Edmonton |
| 1-5 | Record | 0-6 |
| 25.2 | Points Per Game | 24.3 |
| 62.2 | Rushing Yards Per Game | 61.7 |
| 325.5 | Passing Yards Per Game | 284.5 |
| 55.5 | Offensive Plays Per Game | 55.3 |
| 43.8 | 2nd Down Conversion | 51.1 |
| 32.2 | Points Allowed | 28.7 |
| 11 | Sacks | 13 |
| 2 | Interceptions | 6 |
| 88 | Rushing Yards Allowed | 94.2 |
| 301 | Passing Yards Allowed | 309.3 |
| -5 | Turnover Ratio | 0 |
| 28:56 | Time of Possession Per Game | 28:23 |
Key Stats
Hamilton Tiger-Cats (1-5)
After starting the season 0-5, the Ti-Cats finally broke the unwanted streak, beating the Argos at home 27-24 last week. On the surface, a win is a good thing. However, if it wasn’t for a questionable penalty against the Argos in the dying seconds, Toronto was in a position to tie the game and maybe win. That being said, there is no reason for Hamilton to be as big of an underdog as they are, especially against an 0-6 team, even if it is on the road.
QB Bo Levi Mitchell has thrown for 300+ yards in all but two of his six starts this season, one of them having 295 and the other 270. He is second in the CFL in yards and touchdowns, racking up 1,941 and 12, respectively.
Receiver Shemar Bridges is fourth in the CFL with 400 yards and is tied for fourth in touchdowns with 3. Bridges had an off week last week, recording only one catch on three targets. That was his first game with less than seven targets and only his second game with less than 70 yards.
Defensively, this team plays soft and cannot be trusted. Their 32.3 points against per game is last in the CFL, and their passing defense is seventh. They do have 11 sacks, which is tied for fifth, but they have only picked the ball off twice, which is last.
Edmonton Elks (0-6)
This Elks team went from losing one-score games, right on the cusp of winning, to a disaster that makes them a bad bet. While scoring hasn’t been the problem, they are coming off their worst offensive display of the season, scoring only 14 points last week against the Redblacks.
QB McLeod Bethel-Thompson has been running his mouth about bad scheduling and bad refs, and for the most part, his play has been decent enough to give him a pass. That was not the case last week, as he threw for only 206 yards and one interception, by far his lowest totals of the year. He is third in the CFL in passing yards with 1,703, but his numbers have been declining steadily since Week 3.
The Elks have not been using the running game to their advantage, gaining only 61.7 yards per game, which is worst in the CFL. RB Kevin Brown has only 201 yards on 48 carries this season. To put that in perspective, three quarterbacks are behind him by 35 yards or fewer.
Prediction
The Elks have lost every game this season by one score. No matter how many points they score, their defense always allows more. Considering the Ti-Cats are getting points, we have no problem recommending taking them here. We’re not stopping there, as we love the moneyline play in this spot. Yes, Edmonton eventually has to win, and even if the odds do smell fishy, the Elks have to prove they can win before we put our hard-earned money on it.
Over 51.5 is the play as well, considering both of these offenses can move the ball, and both of these defenses are at the bottom of the league in points allowed.
Mitchell has thrown for over 315.5 yards in three of his six starts this season. While this number is high, the last time the Elks were at home, they allowed 480 yards to a much lesser QB in Dru Brown. Take the over at -115.
Mitchell is second in the CFL with 12 touchdown passes, three of them going to Bridges. With a down week last week, I expect a bounce back performance from Bridges tonight. Take him to get into the endzone for the Elks at +110.
Final Pick
Hamilton Tiger-Cats ML (+145), Over 51.5 (-108)
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