Tiger-Cats vs. Stampeders Prediction, Expert Picks & Odds: Bo Levi Mitchell Returns "Home"
The Hamilton Tiger-Cats visit the Calgary Stampeders on Friday Night Football in the second game of the 2024 CFL season, and we have you covered with our best Tiger-Cats vs. Stampeders predictions based on the best CFL odds.
Bo Levi Mitchell returns to Calgary after playing most of his venerable career with the Calgary Stampeders. He'll start for Hamilton Tiger-Cats, who enter the contest as 1-point favorites at McMahon Stadium in Calgary, Alberta. Kickoff is scheduled for 9 p.m. ET on TSN/RDS and CFL+.
While Hamilton may not be considered among the top contenders in the Grey Cup odds, Mitchell remains a top candidate in the CFL Most Outstanding Player odds, alongside star receiver Tim White. With Mitchell's wealth of experience and White's dynamic playmaking abilities, the Tiger-Cats are well-positioned to seize the opportunity presented by the Stampeders in the season opener.
Here are our best Tiger-Cats vs. Stampeders predictions for CFL Week 1 (odds via our best sports betting sites; pick confidence based on a 1-to-5-star scale).
Tiger-Cats vs. Stampeders prediction
Tiger-Cats -1 (-105 via Betway) ⭐⭐⭐
The Tiger-Cats will live and die by the health of Mitchell this season. Last year, they lost him six games into the season and had to lean on rookie Taylor Powell for most of the campaign. With Mitchell seemingly healthy, we highlighted Hamilton as a potential long shot in our Grey Cup predictions due to the talent around him.
The two-time Grey Cup MVP has one of the best receivers in the CFL in White. The 29-year-old has topped 1,200 receiving yards in back-to-back seasons and is among the league's best playmakers. He should give a Calgary defense that allowed the fourth-most points per game last season (26.2) fits.
To make things even tougher on Calgary's defense, Hamilton has one of the best running backs in the CFL. James Butler is coming off back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons and is always a threat to break a few tackles and make a house call. While Calgary's defense may be able to slow Hamilton's trio to some extent, their offense is the real issue.
The Stampeders bring back Jake Maier at QB, who didn't inspire much confidence last season after Calgary finished last in the league in yards per game (335.3). Obviously, receiver Reggie Begelton is one of the best in the business, but Hamilton shored up its defense with the additions of Jamal Peters, Brandon Barlow, and Dewayne Hendrix.
The Tiger-Cats are the better team on paper and the odds imply a 51.22% probability they'll cover with a $10 bet paying a $9.52 profit.
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Tiger-Cats vs. Stampeders first team to score
Stampeders (-115)
Two offenses that are hard to gauge based on last season's QB play makes this a tough market to bet into. However, it's important to note that the Stampeders have a kicker with one of the strongest legs in the league. So, while I'm backing the Tiger-Cats to win the game, give me Calgary to score first, especially with longer odds than Hamilton's -120 price.
Last season, Calgary kicker Rene Paredes led the league in field goals after going 52-for-60 (86.6%). More importantly, he was 6-for-7 from 50-plus yards, making him the most accurate kicker in the CFL from that far out. With Paredes' leg and Begelton's big play ability, I wouldn't be surprised to see the Stamps go up 3-0 quickly.
These odds imply a 53.49% probability Calgary scores first with a $10 bet paying out $18.70.
Tiger-Cats vs. Stampeders odds
Tiger-Cats vs. Stampeders odds via Betway as of Wednesday at 4:40 p.m. ET.
| Teams | Moneyline | Spread | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tiger-Cats | -115 | -1 (-105) | Over: 45.5 (-111) |
| Stampeders | -105 | +1 (-115) | Under: 45.5 (-111) |
By no means was Hamilton among the best teams in the CFL last season at 8-10, but it was certainly better than the 6-12 Stamps, despite losing Mitchell. That's why it's no surprise to see the Tiger-Cats as 1-point road favorites in what's essentially a pick'em. Getting -105 odds on Hamilton makes this an even better value, too, after the Tiger-Cats went 9-8-1 ATS last season.
The total is a little tougher to have a good feeling on. Early in the season I always lean toward the Under as it takes teams time to mesh, and that's especially true with teams that have had struggles at the QB position. Neither Hamilton nor Calgary was a particularly strong Over bet last season either. The Tiger-Cats were just 8-10 betting the Over while the Stampeders were 7-10-1.
Tiger-Cats vs. Stampeders game info
- When: Friday, June 7
- Where: McMahon Stadium, Calgary, Alberta
- How to watch: TSN/RDS, CFL+
- Weather: 73 degrees, 8-mph winds, 20% chance of precipitation
- Favorite: Tiger-Cats -1 (-105 via Betway)
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