CFL Picks and Parlays Today (8/13): Round 2 of Lions vs. Stampeders

In a matchup of the two teams in the bottom of the West Division on Thursday night, the Calgary Stampeders (4-5) host the BC Lions (3-5). In Week 4, the Stampeders beat the Lions on the road in a 41-33 shootout.

While BC is at the bottom of the West, they have some key players back and have won two in a row. Calgary is coming off a loss after winning two in a row.

Canadian sportsbooks have the Stampeders as 5.5-point favorites, with the total sitting at 64.5.

They’re Back! 

In their last game, the Lions were at home in a 27-24 win over Hamilton, where 2025 Most Outstanding Player QB Nathan Rourke came back after missing two games, and top WR Jevon Cottoy was back after being injured in the season opener.

Both players had big games, with Rourke going 22-for-39 for 370 yards with two touchdowns and a pick, and Cotty had 109 receiving yards. In the win, WR Justin McInnis led the way with 159 receiving yards, including an 82-yard TD catch, and RB Zander Horvath rushed for 62 yards and a score.

Top Defense Gets it Done 

The Lions’ defence leads the CFL, giving up an average of 345.5 yards per game, and their D got it done in the win over Hamilton. They held them to only 258 yards, and they shone against the run, giving up only 26 rushing yards, an average of 2.6 yards per carry.

Offense Can’t Come Through This Time 

The Stampeders lead the league, averaging 39.1 ppg, and after scoring 44 and 52 points in two wins, they scored only 30 points in a 33-30 road loss to Toronto in their last game.

Vernon Adams Jr., who leads the league in passing TDs (21) and ranks fifth in passing yards (2.400) had a game to forget going 12 for 24 for a, by far, season low 159 yards with no TDs and two interceptions and took four sacks. The team had a good run game with Dedrick Mills, who leads the CFL in rushing yards, rushing for 79 yards, and Adams Jr. rushing for 25, but the pass game stalled with the picks and sacks.

Calgary lost the game despite forcing five turnovers, including picking off Toronto QB Chad Kelly four times.

Defense vs. Offense 

This game pits the top defense of the Lions against the top offense of the Stampeders. Calgary needs to bounce back after their offense struggled in last week’s loss, and they cannot rely on their defense, as that unit ranks second-to-last in the league in opponents’ ppg (33 ppg) and opponents’ yards per game (428.3).

The Run Game is Key for the Lions 

The Lions rushed for 77 yards in the last game after setting a franchise record with 377 rushing yards in the previous game. They need to set the tone with the run in this game against a Stampeders team that gave up 105 rushing yards in their last game. When these teams met in Week 4 Rourke was huge, passing for 462 yards with three TD but BC only rushed for 32 yards in the loss.

Lions vs. Stamps Prediction: Lions +5.5 

The Lions have the momentum, winning two in a row, and Roarke is back under center. The Stampeders are coming off a loss in which their top-ranked offense struggled with turnovers and giving up sacks. Bouncing back will be tough on that side of the ball facing BC and their top-ranked defense. At home, Calgary will play better than last week, but the Lions will give them a fight, and while they may not win, they will at least cover the spread.

CFL Parlay Picks Today

Here is a parlay with good value at Sports Interaction:

• Xander Horvath to score a TD (-150) – Horvath has four rushing TDs over the last two games.
• Dedrick Mills to score a TD (-125) – Mills does not have a rushing TD in the last two games, but two in the two games before that, and will punch one through in this game.
• First half Under 32.5 points (-117) – Look for both teams to try to establish the run in the first half, leading to a lower score before halftime.

This parlay has total odds of +456, so a $100 bet would pay out $556.43 for a profit of $456.43.