Bo Levi Mitchell makes his highly-anticipated return to McMahon Stadium on Friday as the Hamilton Tiger-Cats face the Calgary Stampeders. Oddsmakers are expecting a close game with the Ticats installed as slim 1-point road faves, and my CFL picks for this Week 1 expect them to prevail.
See why I'm backing Mitchell in his old stomping grounds with my Tiger-Cats vs. Stampeders predictions for June 7.
Tiger-Cats vs Stampeders prediction
My best bet
Hamilton Tiger-Cats -1 (+100 at bet365)
My analysis
Bo Levi Mitchell was a two-time CFL MOP who led the Calgary Stampeders to a pair of Grey Cup victories in 2014 and 2018. However, after a few injury-plagued seasons, the veteran quarterback was traded to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats at the end of the 2022 campaign. His injury woes continued with the Ticats and he played in just six games last year before career backup Mathew Shiltz started over him in the playoffs.
Calgary QB Jake Maier tutored under Mitchell and was good enough to push him out, but he struggled with consistency and decision-making as the No. 1 QB last season. Both passers are healthy and looked sharp during the preseason, but it's tough to put much faith in either. While the big narrative in this game is the matchup between the two gunslingers, the contest will more likely come down to the supporting casts.
The Ticats have superior weapons, with one of the league's best receivers in Tim White, as well as star running back James Butler. They are also better in the trenches thanks to a strong interior offensive line and a defensive line that has been bolstered by the signings of Brandon Barlow and Dewayne Hendrix.
On the other hand, the Stamps have issues when it comes to blocking off the edge, and they don't have nearly as much talent on their D-line. This is a Calgary franchise that needs to rebuild and hasn't benefitted from home-field advantage lately. Back the Ticats on the small spread here.
Tiger-Cats vs Stampeders same-game parlay (SGP)
Tiger-Cats -1.5
Dedrick Mills Over 57.5 rushing yards
Kiondre Smith Over 42.5 receiving yards
Dedrick Mills has been biding his time backing up Ka'Deem Carey for the last few years, and he's now the lead back in Calgary. Mills rushed for more than 80 yards in four games last year, and it seemed like almost every time he was handed the starting role, he excelled.
The 27-year-old is just entering his prime, and as the former RB at Nebraska, he's one of the most talented backs in the league. The O/U on his rushing yards looks too low against a Ticats side that lost its best tackler Simoni Lawrence to retirement during the offseason.
Kiondre Smith broke out as a sophomore last year, hauling in 56 catches for 701 yards. The ratio-breaking receiver saw his role grow at the end of the season when he had 50+ receiving yards in four of his last five games — headlined by a 156-yard performance against Toronto in Week 16.
Smith was Hamilton's second-most targeted receiver down the stretch, and with defenses focused on stopping Tim White, there should be openings for him to make plays.
Learn how to bet a same-game parlay with these helpful tips and strategies.
Tiger-Cats vs Stampeders odds
Tiger-Cats vs Stampeders live odds
Tiger-Cats vs Stampeders opening odds
- Spread: Hamilton -1 (-110) | Montreal +1 (-110)
- Moneyline: Hamilton -115 | Calgary -105
- Over/Under: Over 47 (-110) | Under 47 (-110)
Tiger-Cats vs Stampeders spread and Over/Under analysis
- Bet365 has set Hamilton's win total at 8.5 (Over at -115) while Calgary's win total is set at 6.5 (Over at -130).
- The Stamps won just three of their final 11 games last season but went 6-5 ATS during that span.
- Mitchell was hindered by a leg injury during training camp but showed no ill effects in Hamilton's first preseason game, completing 10-16 passes for 139 yards.
- The Ticats are 4-2 SU and 5-1 ATS in the last six meetings and beat the Stamps 22-15 last year in Hamilton.
Tiger-Cats vs Stampeders trend
The Stampeders are 9-20 ATS in their last 29 games at home. Find more CFL betting trends for Tiger-Cats vs. Stampeders.
Tiger-Cats vs Stampeders game info
| Location: | McMahon Stadium, Calgary, AB |
| Date: | Friday, 6-7-2024 |
| Kick-off: | 9:00 p.m. ET |
| TV: | TSN |
Tiger-Cats vs Stampeders key injuries
Tiger-Cats: James Butler RB (Questionable), Carthell Flowers-Lloyd DB (Out), Jordan Murray OT (Out), Jamal Peters CB (Out).
Stampeders: Malik Henry WR (Out).
Find our latest CFL injury reports.
Tiger-Cats vs Stampeders weather
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