CFL Betting: CFL Bets and Parlays for West Division Semi-Finals
The West Division Semi-Final features the third meeting between the Stampeders and Lions after B.C. won each of the first two meetings by double digits. Calgary is a 5.5-point road underdog for the postseason clash, and we'll examine what betting scenarios stand out on FanDuel Sportsbook
Calgary Stampeders at B.C. Lions (Saturday, Nov. 1, 5:30 p.m ET)
As just alluded to, this regular-season series was dominated by the Lions, as B.C. toppled Calgary by a combined 43 points in both games. What's more the Lions made the life of Stamps quarterback Vernon Adams, who put together a successful season overall, absolutely miserable, picking him five times and sacking him eight times in those contests.
It was the diametric opposite for MOP odds-on favorite Nathan Rourke, who tore through Calgary for a combined six touchdown passes and 745 passing yards in the two games, throwing just a pair of picks and adding 65 rushing yards and another three scores on the ground.
While Calgary will naturally enter this matchup with plenty of optimism as the "new season" of the playoffs begins, it still figures to be an uphill battle given the film the Lions have on slowing down their division rival. B.C. has an opportunistic defense that recorded 45 sacks and 19 interceptions overall, and they have already more than corroborated their ability to pad their numbers in both categories at Adams' expense.
Calgary always has a good chance to run a balanced attack behind standout lead back Dedrick Mills, who put together a stellar season in which he rushed for a career-high 1,409 yards and scored 11 rushing TDs. However, B.C. did a relatively good job limiting teams on the ground during the season, surrendering the second-lowest yards per carry (5.0) and keeping Mills to a respectable (by the running back's lofty standards) 157 combined rushing yards in two meetings.
The homefield edge should also loom large here, and I ultimately envision a Lions win, even if it's by a narrow margin than the 5.5-point spread implies. Therefore, I like a pair of SGPs, that combine a moneyline bet with a solid day for Rourke and another with a strong performance for his top wideout Keon Hatcher, who put together a career-best 102-1,688-9 receiving line this season and posted 147- and 112-yard efforts on a total of 15 catches in the two games against Calgary.
Finally, as a bonus bet, a prop for a three-TD day through the air at minimum for Rourke at a nice price is a fun shot to take if your bankroll supports it, considering his body of work against the Stamps this season and the fact he accomplished the feat on five occasions overall, including once against the Stamps.
CFL Picks for Stampeders at Lions
- SGP: Lions moneyline and Nathan Rourke 275+ passing yards (-127 on FanDuel Sportsbook)
- SGP: Lions moneyline and Keon Hatcher 70+ receiving yards (-110 on FanDuel Sportsbook)
- Nathan Rourke 3+ passing TDs (+215 on FanDuel Sportsbook)
CFL West Division Semi-Final Best Bets Recap
- SGP: Lions moneyline and Nathan Rourke 275+ passing yards (-127 on FanDuel Sportsbook)
- SGP: Lions moneyline and Keon Hatcher 70+ receiving yards (-110 on FanDuel Sportsbook)
- Nathan Rourke 3+ passing TDs (+215 on FanDuel Sportsbook)
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