Hamilton Tiger-Cats at Winnipeg Blue Bombers (+3, 55)Hamilton was dealt a reality check, losing 31-20 to the Calgary Stampeders in Week 7 following a three-game winning streak that saw the TiCats extend a four-game ATS run.
Heavy rain kept both teams from getting on the scoreboard early in the game and Hamilton was outworked by former QB Kevin Glenn and a scrappy Stamps team looking for its first road win of the season.
Now, the Tiger-Cats turn their attention to a Blue Bombers squad that is trying to climb out of the league’s basement. Winnipeg followed its first win of the year with a 36-26 loss to Montreal in Week 6 and had the bye week to ready itself for Thursday’s home date with Hamilton.
The Bombers are making a switch at QB, giving the nod to Joey Elliott over Alex Brink for Week 8. Elliot hasn’t started a CFL game since 2010 but head coach Paul LaPolice is confident in Elliot. LaPolice has come under fire after the 1-5 start but told the media he isn’t worried about job security.
“I’m preparing to win a football game,” LaPolice told the Winnipeg Sun. “We’re one-third through our season, we’ve had some challenges for our first third of the season. There’s still 12 football games to play. Nobody in the CFL has established themselves as elite. We’re certainly not happy (with how) we’re playing and we need to get better and I think we will. I’m concerned about winning a football game.
“Sometimes, I think people gloom and doom very much. Things out of my control are out of my control. We’ve got a lot of football left to be played.”
LaPolice will also match wits with one of his former staff, Hamilton’s defensive coordinator Casey Creehan. Creehan, who served two years under LaPolice, has helped the TiCats improve against the pass, ranking third in the CFL. Hamilton will attack Winnipeg’s untested arm early and often.
TRENDS:* Over is 6-1 in the last seven meetings in Winnipeg.
* Under is 5-2 in the last seven meetings.
* Tiger-Cats are 6-1 ATS in their last seven games following a loss.
* Blue Bombers are 9-1 ATS in their last 10 Thursday games.