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Oskeim previews Saturday’s CFL game between the Calgary Stampeders and Hamilton Tiger-Cats. Oskeim recommends taking the points with Hamilton as part of today’s football betting advice column.
While quarterback Johnny Manziel has been attracting a lot of media attention after signing with Hamilton just before training camp, head coach June Jones is expected to start Jeremiah Masoli under center for the Tiger-Cats season-opener at Calgary.
After starting the 2017 campaign with eight consecutive losses, Jones replaced starting quarterback Zach Collaros with Masoli. The 29-year-old helped Hamilton win six of its remaining ten games, throwing for 3,177 yards and fifteen touchdowns with a 64 percent completion percentage.
The Tiger-Cats resurrection in the second-half of last season was based on two key factors: (1) June Jones replaced Kent Austin as head coach, and (2) Jones made Masoli his starting quarterback for the final ten games of the regular season.
Now entering his sixth season with Hamilton, many expect another solid year from Masoli, who has been hyper-focused on retaining the starting job since Manziel’s arrival in Montreal. Masoli led all CFL quarterbacks in passing yards after September 1 with 3,032.
For all the hype surrounding Manziel, it’s important to note that the former Heisman Trophy winner and NFL-bust has said all of the right things both on and off the field. “We’re all behind Jeremiah starting tomorrow,” Manziel said. “More than anything, I want a win for this team. It’s more than me. It’s more than just one individual. It’s a team effort and it takes every body we have on this roster to go out and games.”
More importantly, Jones has had a full off-season and training camp to implement his system. Jones has also been able to hire his preferred staff, including new defensive coordinator and former NFL head coach Jerry Glanville. I also like the fact that Hamilton and its plethora of veterans are anxious to avenge last season’s humiliating 60-1 loss in Calgary on July 29.
Hamilton will have one of the most potent attacks in the CFL this season under Jones and quarterback coach Dan Morrison, who both like to throw the ball downfield. The Tiger-Cats finished 2017 with three 1,000-yard receivers – Brandon Banks, Luke Tasker and Jalen Saunders – all of whom return for an encore this season.
Of all the teams that missed the playoffs last season, the Tiger-Cats are my choice to finish 2018 with the most wins. And, in the event Masoli struggles early, Manziel has looked comfortable with Jones’ offensive schemes.
Indeed, the former first-round draft pick of the Cleveland Brown completed 21 of 32 passes for 168 yards and a touchdown for the Ticats in a pair of preseason games.
From a technical standpoint, Calgary applies to a very negative 3-25 ATS system that invests against certain favorites of 3.5 to 10 points that had a poor pass defense the prior season. Let’s also note that CFL underdogs (or pick) are a profitable 46-16 ATS in the first month of the regular-season, including 32-8 ATS when getting points on the road.
Road underdogs of 3.5 to 10 points coming off a losing season are 41-16 ATS, including 23-5 ATS versus non-conference foes.
Finally, Hamilton is a perfect 6-0 ATS in its last six road affairs and 5-2 ATS in its previous seven trips to Calgary. Grab the generous points with the Tiger-Cats and invest with confidence.
Oskeim Sports’ Football Betting Advice for Saturday, June 16:
- Hamilton Tiger-Cats (+8) (-110) over Calgary Stampeders
- B.C Lions (-8) (-105) over Montreal Alouettes
Note: Montreal is a money-burning 2-6 ATS in its last eight regular-season openers, 0-6 ATS in its last six road affairs and 3-13 ATS in its previous sixteen games overall. The Alouettes are also a woeful 9-28 ATS in the last 37 meetings in this series, including 5-16 ATS away from home.
Take the B.C. Lions as part of Saturday’s football betting advice column.