CFL Picks and Parlays for Today (8-15): Tiger-Cats Look to Stop Bleeding Facing Roughriders

On Saturday night in a cross-division matchup, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats (3-6) host the Saskatchewan Roughriders (6-2).

The Roughriders have won two in a row and sit atop the West Division. The Tiger-Cats have lost their last three games and sit in third place in the East Division. In Week 6 at Saskatchewan, the Roughriders laid a 38-7 beatdown on the Tiger-Cats.

Canadian sportsbooks have Saskatchewan as a 7.5-point road favorite with the total sitting at 62.5.

Have Not Done Much Without the Leader 

Hamilton has struggled on offense since losing quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell. Since he was lost to an injury in the fourth game, the Tiger-Cats now rank dead last in the CFL in yards per game (321.2) and second to last in scoring (23.4 ppg).

Quarterback Carousel 

Since Mitchell went down, three quarterbacks have seen time under center. Harrison Frost was brought in mid-season and got the start in the last game in a 27-24 loss to the BC Lions. He will likely get the start tonight, and in the last game he was decent, going 20/33 for 239 yards, one TD, and one pick.

In the last game, three Hamilton players had at least 48 receiving yards, but the run game was nonexistent with only 26 rushing yards.

Hamilton’s Defense has a Tall Task

While the Tiger-Cats’ offense is struggling, their defense also has a big test tonight against a Roughriders team that ranks second in the league in scoring (32.4 ppg) and is balanced, averaging over 300 passing yards per game and over 100 rushing yards per game.

Riding Roughshod over Winless Team 

In their last game, the Roughriders were at home and beat the winless Ottawa RedBlacks 42-20. Saskatchewan outscored Ottawa 29-14 in the second half and racked up 401 passing yards and 139 rushing yards.

Trevor Harris was 30/38 for 401 yards with two TDs and one INT, Thomas Bertrand-Hudon rushed for 63 yards, and Tommy Stevens rushed for 45 yards and three TDs. The WR duo of KeeSean Johnson and Johnny Johnson III combined for 250 receiving yards and a score.

Harris ranks second in the CFL in QBR and touchdowns.

CFL Pick: Roughriders (-7.5, Sports Interaction)  

The Roughriders are atop the West Division and winners of two in a row while the Tigers-Cats have dropped their last three games. The Hamilton offense has struggled since losing Mitchell, as they have lacked good play under center. On the other side of the coin, Harris passed for over 400 yards in the last game and has been solid all season. In the 38-7 blowout win over Hamilton earlier this season, Harris passed for a season-low 211 yards and had two INTs, and Saskatchewan still won easily.

Harris and the Roughriders offense will not be stopped in this game, and they will remain perfect on the road, winning and covering and sending the Tiger-Cats to their fourth straight loss.

CFL Parlay

Here is a three-leg same-game parlay with good value at Sports Interaction:

• Keiondre Smith Over 54.5 receiving yards (-115) – Smith leads the Tiger-Cats in receiving yards, had 66 yards in the game before the last one and 56 in the loss to the Roughriders earlier this season.
• Under 56.5 points (-117) – The Tiger-Cats only scored seven points in the loss this season to the Roughriders, and the total has gone Under in five of their last six games.
• Tommy Stevens Over 35.5 rushing yards (-115) – Stevens rushed for 45 yards in the last game and had a season-high 54 yards against Hamilton in Week 6.

This parlay has total odds of +548, so a $100 bet would pay out $648.27 for a profit of $548.27.