Game: Hamilton Tiger-Cats @ Edmonton Elks
Time: 9:00 p.m.
Odds: Tiger-Cats -2.5, Elks +2.5
Total: 43
This week, the Edmonton Elks will host the Hamilton Tiger-Cats at Commonwealth Stadium in Thursday night CFL action. Despite their first victory last week over Ottawa, Hamilton enters week six as one of the league’s worst teams. This season, Matthew Shiltz has been Hamilton’s top quarterback, completing 57 of 87 passes for 696 yards and two touchdowns. Bo Levi Mitchell has played in just two games for the Tiger-Cats this season, but he has already completed 33 passes for 361 yards and one touchdown.
This season, running back James Butler has 202 yards and two touchdowns on 49 carries over four games to lead the running game. Shiltz has run the ball 11 times for 56 yards in three games. D’haquille Williams has been the top target for the Hamilton offense, racking up 303 yards on 17 catches over the course of four games. In four games, Terry Godwin II has hauled in 14 passes for 123 yards on 14 catches, while Tim White has contributed 265 yards on 17 catches.
The Tiger-Cats still only average 19.5 points per game. Somehow, the Elks are even worse. Following a one-point loss to Saskatchewan a week ago, Edmonton enters Week 6 as the worst team in the CFL with a winless record through the first five games.
Under center for Edmonton, Taylor Cornelius has been the team’s best passer, completing 60.6% of his passes for 666 yards and two touchdowns. Despite only appearing in two games, Jarrett Doege has also spent some time at the quarterback position, completing 28 passes for 386 yards and three touchdowns.
Kevin Brown has provided the majority of the ground game for Edmonton, amassing 209 yards on 46 carries to lead the team. Cornelius has gained 108 yards and a score on 15 carries. The only genuine threat in Edmonton’s passing game is Steven Dunbar Jr., who leads the team with 245 yards on 20 receptions.
It’s hard to win games when your offense produces just 12.4 points per game. The Hamilton defense is nearly as bad as Edmonton’s offense. The Tiger-Cats allow 31.4 points per game this season. They had allowed 28 or more points in each of their first four games before beating Ottawa 21-13 last week.
Neither team is strong against the spread. Hamilton is 1-4 ATS in its last five games. Edmonton is 1-5 ATS in its last six. Hamilton is 2-7 ATS in its last nine road games. Edmonton is 1-10 ATS in its last 11 at home.
With both teams struggling on offense, it’s no surprise that both teams trend Under in game totals. The Under has cashed in four of Hamilton’s last six games. The Tiger-Cats have scored 17 or fewer points in three of their five games so far this year.
It’s the same for Edmonton. The Under is 5-1 in the Elks’ last six games. Minus the 31 points scored in a loss to Toronto, the Elks have scored 13, 0, 7, and 11 points. Edmonton has also lost 19 straight games at home.
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