Week 2 of the 2021 CFL season kicks off on Thursday night with a clash between the BC Lions and the Calgary Stampeders.
Both teams will be looking for their first win of the season after close losses last weekend, and CFL betting odds have the Stamps installed as 6.5-point home favorites with the Over/Under at 48.5.
Here are our best free CFL picks and predictions for the Lions vs. Stampeders on Thursday, August 12.
Lions vs Stampeders game info
• Location: McMahon Stadium, Calgary, AB
• Date: Thursday, August 12, 2021
• Time: 9:30 p.m. ET
• TV: TSN
Lions vs Stampeders odds
Odds via the Covers Line, an average comprised of odds from multiple sportsbooks.
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Lions at Stampeders betting preview
Weather
Key injuries
Lions: Mike Reilly QB (Questionable).
Stampeders: Richie Leonard DB (Questionable), Cory Greenwood LB (Questionable).
Find our latest CFL injury reports.
Betting trend to know
The Stampeders are 0-8-1 ATS in their last 9 games overall. Find more CFL betting trends for Lions vs. Stampeders.
Against the spread (ATS) pick
The Lions entered this season with low expectations, with the O/U on their win total installed at just 5.5. But they rallied back from a 31-point deficit to cover the spread as 6.5-point underdogs against Saskatchewan in Week 1.
There were some positive takeaways from that 33-29 loss, with rookie national quarterback Nathan Rourke shaking off a poor first half to play well in the fourth quarter. But the real key to their comeback was franchise QB Mike Reilly, who is battling an elbow injury, but played in the third quarter and sparked the Lions to life by completing 17 of 24 passes for 203 yards.
Reilly led the CFL in passing yards for three straight years from 2016-2018 and was the league's biggest offseason acquisition prior to the 2019 campaign. However, he had a tough time finding his rhythm in 2019 behind a porous line that surrendered 58 sacks.
That said, they played much better down the stretch after offensive line coach Kelly Bates returned to the club. They also added All-Star offensive tackle Ryker Matthews in the offseason, while interior linemen Peter Godber and Sukh Chungh are healthy after missing most of 2019.
That improved offensive line allowed just two sacks against the Roughriders vaunted defense in Week 1 and should get the job done against a Calgary defense that generated just one sack against Toronto, and lost their two best pass rushers from 2019.
The Stampeders opened their season by letting a 20-12 fourth quarter lead against the Argos slip through their fingers and lost by a final score of 23-20.
The Stamps have been a perennial contender, with eight consecutive seasons of at least 12 wins, but they've lost a ton of talent over the last couple of years and oddsmakers have been overestimating them recently.
Calgary is just 0-8-1 ATS in its last nine games and hasn't covered the spread since September 7, 2019. With the Lions going 3-1-1 ATS in their previous five contests as an underdog grab them and the points.
PREDICTION: BC Lions +6.5 (-110)
Over/Under pick
All indications are that Rourke will start for BC in Week 2 but we wouldn't be surprised if Reilly got some reps. Regardless of who is under center, as long as they have time to throw, they should be able to make some noise.
The Lions have one of the league's best receiving corps, featuring Bryan Burnham, Dominique Rhymes, Lucky Whitehead, and Lemar Durant. The Stamps surrendered 354 passing yards against Toronto and could be eviscerated through the air again.
The Stampeders lost their two best receivers from 2019 in Reggie Begelton and Eric Rogers. However, wideout Kamar Jordan looks fully recovered from a torn ACL and they should have more balance on offense with Ka'Deem Carey (a former two-time All-American at Arizona) returning at RB with a bigger role. And, as long as Bo Levi Mitchell is slinging the ball, they will be able to put up points.
The Lions began to blitz in the second half of their game against Saskatchewan and had success but they were absolutely shredded on the first three drives of the game.
There are also question marks about Calgary's defense after they lost a trio of key players (Tre Roberson, Nate Holley, and Wynton McManis) to the NFL. Take the Over on Thursday.
PREDICTION: Over 48.5 (-115)
Lions vs Stampeders betting card
- BC Lions +6.5 (-110)
- Over 48.5 (-115)
Picks made on 8/10/2021 at 1 p.m. ET
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