OTTAWA REDBLACKS AT BC LIONS FREE PICK

OTTAWA REDBLACKS AT BC LIONS FREE PICK

The Prariefox
Date: September 16, 7:00 pm
Location: BC Place
TV: TSN

Betting Odds

Point Spread: BC -9.5
Total: 46.5

The Redblacks are a +9.5 road dog when they travel to take on the Lions on Saturday night. Get the Prariefox analysis and projected point spread winner.

Week 15 has the floundering 3-9 Redblacks visiting the up-and-down 8-4 Lions. Ottawa is in the midst of a six-game losing streak and desperate for a win to stay in the playoff race. BC is coming off the bye-week and has their own playoff ambitions, as first place in the West is still up for grabs.

The Lions have dominated the series lately, going 8-2 ATS in their last ten against Ottawa, and have beaten the Redblacks by more than ten points six times within that span. Their last meeting was September 30, 2022, in BC Place, where the Lions won comfortably 19-34, covering the -5.5 spread.

Ottawa has a new head coach this season and is fielding a third-string quarterback (QB) in Dustin Crum, but despite the challenges, they have competed in almost every game this year. The Redblacks have been hanging around until the end of most of their games this season, as six of their last eight games have been decided by four or fewer points.

This week, I'm a little concerned about their motivation level. Looking at the playoff picture, they really needed to win their last game against Hamilton, which they didn't. It was another heartbreaker as Ottawa's last possession ended with a sack-induced fumble, recovered by the Ti-cat's Ted Laurent. Hamilton kneeled out the clock and finished of the Redblacks 27-24.

Their playoff hopes are dim, but they do have two winnable games remaining versus Montreal and could still, theoretically, make the playoffs if any team ahead of them falters and they win out.

BC, on the other hand, is returning home after winning their last game 34-25 in Montreal before the bye-week. The Lions have had some hiccups along the way to their 8-4 record, including an embarrassing 30- 13 home loss to the then 3-7 Ti-cats Week 12, as well as the 14-50 beat down they took in Winnipeg week
9.

Vernon Adams played well in his last start against Montreal, throwing for 306 yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions. Adams also scrambled for 54 yards on four carries in that game. Even though Ottawa is third in the league at stopping the run, they are dead last in the league at stopping the pass.

If Adams and the Lions get their passing attack going as they can, they could do some serious damage to Ottawa on
the scoreboard.

The injury reports for both teams are fairly light; Ottawa's defensive back Abdul Kanneh and running back Jackson Bennett did not practice, and their game status is uncertain. BC is also relatively healthy, reporting one player who did not practice, linebacker Boseko Lokombo. His game status is also uncertain.

Ottawa at BC Point Spread Pick

The Redblacks play a lot of close games, and despite their fading playoff hopes, I expect them to show up, but Ottawa is in a tough spot here. They're on the road, coming off an emotional loss, facing a team they haven't beaten away from home in five years. The Lions have the history, the air attack, and had the extra week to prepare. Also, BC tends to either win handily or lose entirely, and I don't see them losing this one.

Free Pick: Take the BC Lions -9.5
Get $60 Free Picks