The Winnipeg Blue Bombers head to Vancouver to face the BC Lions in Week 9 of CFL action on Friday night.
CFL betting lines opened with the defending Grey Cup champion Blue Bombers as 3.5-point road favorites with the Over/Under at 53.
Here are our best free Blue Bombers vs Lions picks and predictions for Friday, October 1, with kickoff at 10 p.m. ET.
Blue Bombers vs Lions odds
Odds via the Covers Line, an average comprised of odds from multiple sportsbooks.
Compare CFL odds before betting to ensure you get the best number.
Check out the full line movement for this game.
Blue Bombers vs Lions picks
Picks made on 9/28/2021 at 2 p.m. ET.
Click on each pick to jump to the full analysis.
From Canada? Love your CFL? BetRegal — the Official Online Sport Gaming Partner of the CFL — and Covers have you covered! Our exclusive welcome offer means you will receive a 100% deposit match bonus up to $500 plus a $100 free bet. The free bet can be claimed by entering the bonus code COVERS100 upon registration. Claim Now
Blue Bombers vs Lions game info
• Location: BC Place, Vancouver, BC
• Date: Friday, October 1, 2021
• Time: 10:00 p.m. ET
• TV: TSN
Blue Bombers at Lions betting preview
Weather
Key injuries
Blue Bombers: Andrew Harris RB (Questionable), Willie Jefferson (Questionable), Jackson Jeffcoat (Questionable), Rasheed Bailey WR (Probable), Steven Richardson DT (Probable), Kyrie Wilson LB (Probable), Brandon Alexander DB (Questionable).
Lions: Michael Reilly QB (Questionable), Jesse Figueroa OL (Probable), Lemar Durant WR (Questionable), Chris Rainey WR (Out), Marcus Sayles DB (Out), Ryker Matthews OT (Out), Dominique Rhymes WR (Out).
Find our latest CFL injury reports.
Betting trend to know
The Blue Bombers are 5-1 ATS in their last six trips to BC Place. Find more CFL betting trends for Blue Bombers vs. Lions.
Blue Bombers vs Lions predictions
Winnipeg -3.5 (-110)
Let's get this out of the way before the preview: a slew of superstars are listed as questionable, including Lions quarterback Michael Reilly, Bombers running back Andrew Harris, and defensive end Willie Jefferson. However, those guys have been banged up all year and have usually toughed it out, so expect them to suit up.
The Lions played last Friday at home against the Roughriders and lost 31-24 to fall to 4-3 this season (5-2 ATS). That game was much closer than the final score indicates, with the Riders taking a one-point lead with a last-minute touchdown and PAT before tacking on a fumble return TD on the ensuing kickoff as time expired.
The Blue Bombers have the league's best record at 6-1 (5-2 ATS) and are coming off a bye week after defeating Edmonton by 15 points on the road in Week 7. Winnipeg has vaulted to the top of the CFL futures odds board as a +200 favorite to win the Grey Cup, which should be no surprise given how well they've played on both sides of the ball.
Zach Collaros leads a highly efficient passing attack while Harris is one of the top running backs in the league. But, it's the Blue Bombers defense that has really shined, with Winnipeg forcing a league-best 18 turnovers and holding opposing passers to just 6.9 yards per pass attempt.
The focal point of BC's offense is Reilly who leads the league in passing yards (1,870), completion percentage (74.4), and efficiency rating (117.9). That said, the Bombers have proven that they can stifle even the top offenses in the league and shut down Riders QB Cody Fajardo in back-to-back weeks.
As impressive as the Bombers have been since their title run in 2019, oddsmakers don't seem to be giving them enough respect and they're now 11-2 ATS in their last 13 games. Meanwhile, the Lions are just 4-12 ATS in their previous 16 contests against West Division foes. With the spread opening at a reasonable -3.5, look for the Blue Bombers to slow down BC's passing game enough for them to win and cover.
Under 53 (-110)
The first thing that might jump out at you when you look at the line for this contest is the Over/Under of 53. That's easily the highest total of the season so far, with no other games closing at higher than 49.5.
The Blue Bombers have scored more than 30 points in each of their last two games but it's their defense that has the biggest strength of this team. With Willie Jefferson and Jackson Jeffcoat bringing the heat from the edge and Adam Bighill making big plays sideline-to-sideline, Winnipeg is holding foes to a CFL-best 14 points per game.
BC has also played well defensively, showing vast improvement from the unit that was torched in 2019. The Lions are third in the CFL in scoring defense with 19.6 ppg and lead the league in interceptions.
Under trends are also prominent for both sides, with Winnipeg going below the total in seven of its last nine games while BC is 7-1 to the Under in its previous eight contests as an underdog. Back the Under again on Friday night.
Blue Bombers vs Lions betting card
- Winnipeg -3.5 (-110)
- Under 53 (-110)
Did you know that if you parlayed this week’s CFL Blue Bombers vs. Lions picks, you could win $26.45 on a $10 bet?
Use our CFL parlay calculator to create your own parlays and see their potential payouts.
Where can I bet on the CFL?
You can bet on CFL odds at most online and casino sportsbooks, including CFL moneylines, spreads, Over/Under totals, and CFL prop odds. Head over to our best-suggested sportsbooks for the top spots to bet on CFL odds in your area.
