CFL Betting: Hoser Battles Continue

READ MORE: BC Lions, CFL Betting, Edmonton Eskimos

7:00 p.m.

Edmonton Eskimos (SU: 5-1, ATS: 4-2)

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BC Lions (SU: 5-0, ATS: 3-2)

BEST LINE: BC LIONS - 3

The Edmonton Eskimos look to dull the Lions’ roar when they travel to BC Place Stadium to play against the undefeated Lions in what is unquestionably the game of the week in the CFL (and will probably be more exciting than tomorrow’s American Bowl in Tokyo). Usually dominant, the Eskimos struggled last week in their 36-30 non-covering win against the hapless Tiger Cats of Hamilton while BC won at home last game as a 9.5-point favorite against the Stampeders, 40-27. The total sailed over the 54.5 point mark. The Eskimos are 5-1 on the season, while the Lions are still undefeated, boasting a 5-0 mark.

The unbeaten Lions will take on conference rival as both teams put their five game winning streaks on the line. Both teams have identical 10 point seasons and sport top-notch quarterbacks who control very high-powered passing attacks. The edge goes to the Lions in this game since it is at home and they also have a quality rushing attack that features Antonio Warren, who has run for four touchdowns and is averaging an impressive 5.6 yards per carry. This game also showcases two of the CFL’s top pass rushers in Lions defensive end Brent Johnson and Edmonton defensive lineman Rashad Jeanty. Both are tied with Ottawa’s Anthony Collier for the league lead in sacks, with six. BC QB Dave Dickenson was just named the Rogers’ Offensive Player of the Month. Sacramento State product Ricky Ray will take the helm for the Eskimos, but he’ll be dealing with a depleted line-up as receivers Ed Hervey, and Andrew Nowacki nurse injuries.

B.C. is 3-0 at home but just 1-0 against West Division competition. Edmonton is 2-1 on the road and 2-0 against conference rivals.

PICK! BC LIONS - 3

CFL YTD 4-3

CFL Breakdown: It’s Autumn in Canada

READ MORE: CFL, Edmonton Eskimos, Impaler, Ottawa Renegades

Has baseball been beating you up this summer as well? We’ve had steaks on our shiners all summer. And it’s much too hot to have spoiled meat on our face. So we’ve decided to embrace the chilly mountain embrace of our continental bunk buddies Canada and start paying a little more attention to their football season. Our season is coming soon, don’t worry, but for now we have the football league with the oddly named teams and the weird goal posts. After the jump, let Oddjack guest line crank Impaler throw down the mallet on tonight’s frosty battle between the Ottawa Renegades and the Edmonton Eskimos.

Edmonton Eskimos (3-1 ATS, 3-1 SU) v Ottawa Renegades (3-1 ATS, 2-2 SU)

COLD MARCH OF THE RENEGADES

The turnaround for Joe Paopao’s Renegades this CFL season came when Ottawa eliminated a 23-point deficit against Montreal on July 1 to win in overtime 32-29. With the stellar play of QB Kerry Joseph and featuring one of the CFL’s most exciting running backs, Josh Ranek, the Renegades look to avenge their 41-16-blowout loss at Edmonton in the first game of the season. However, they might find their top rated (2nd best with 147.5 ypg) ground game much tougher against the Eskimos than they did last week against Calgary. Another interesting trend to note is that the Renegades are 16-7-0 ATS in their last 23 home games.

DEFENSE BUILDS IGLOOS

Edmonton brings one of the stingiest defenses in the league to Frank Clair Stadium on Thursday night. Danny Maciocia’s Eskimos are giving up an average of 198 total yards with 165.8 yards passing per game. The Eskimos have the league’s highest sack total at 16. Perhaps Edmonton was caught looking ahead to this match-up in their match with the Blue Bombers last week. The Eskimos were installed as a prohibitive 18-point favorite in that game and needed a last minute field goal to win 14-12. The 26 points secured the under total of 53. When these two teams met earlier this year, the Eskimos easily covered the 11.5 spread in their season opener and the over 55 point total cashed.

YOU MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO COUNT THIS HIGH

Tonight’s match-up has been set at 55.5. This game will be high scoring because the sides match-up well against each other’s weaknesses. On the Eskimos side of the ball it is against their run game where the average 62.3 yards a game-this should force the Sacramento State product QB Ricky Ray to toss the ball downfield quite a bit. Meanwhile, Ottawa is weak against the pass (despite a league leading 5 INTS) and should allow more than a few aerial TDs.

EXHALE

We look to the Eskimos to return to form and cover the 5.5 points on the road. The point total should also soar over the 55 points.

Game On: Esk vs. Renegades [Edmonton Sun]