CFL Picks: Playoffs are Here! Can Hamilton Stay Hot?

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Chris Wassel

Last Updated: Nov 4, 2022

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CFL Picks: Playoffs are Here! Can Hamilton Stay Hot?

After 21 weeks of the 2022 CFL season, the playoffs get underway on Sunday afternoon.

The CFL playoff matchups are set. Two teams will try to advance to the Division Finals set for next week from Toronto and Winnipeg, respectively.

CFL Betting Advice: Going Against The Spread!

It has been a nice season for Canadian Sports Bettors, but now this is the second season. This is truly win or go home. The Montreal Alouettes and Hamilton Tiger-Cats

Here is the ATS Table as the playoffs approach.

Team	Straight Up	ATS	ATS Units	Over/Under
BC	12-6	11-7	+3.3	9-9
Calgary	12-6	10-8	+1.2	11-7
Hamilton	8-10	7-11	-5.1	11-7
Montreal	9-9	10-8	+1.2	10-8

Ontario Sports Bettors and their bottom lines should be pumped for this weekend. Here is the Divisional Semifinal Schedule.

This Week’s Schedule with Moneylines (All Times Eastern)

Hamilton Tiger-Cats (2.32) at Montreal Alouettes (1.63), Sunday, 1 p.m.
Calgary Stampeders (2.20) at British Columbia Lions (1.70), Sunday, 4:30 p.m.

Can Hamilton Win Five In A Row?

Hamilton Tiger-Cats at Montreal Alouettes

For Canadian sports bettors, this will be a crazy weekend to wager on the CFL. Things are always different when the playoffs start. Results can vary quite a bit. Can Dane Evans turn it on like in previous seasons? Evans has been inconsistent all season but has been much better for Hamilton in the last four weeks. Not surprisingly, the Tiger-Cats have won four straight games.

Canada sports betting players know Montreal has the more precise, err, consistent quarterback. Trevor Harris can make plays when things break down, but Harris relies more on precision and accuracy. Sometimes, that works better in the playoffs.

Meanwhile, the Alouettes finally figured out Toronto in the season's final week. That got them to the .500 mark. Now, Montreal has that three-headed running back attack headlined by William Stanback. When he is healthy, few are better.

Again, when it comes to receiving corps, Montreal has a slight advantage here too. Eugene Lewis could see 15-20 targets in this game. Hamilton’s Tim White now has 250 yards receiving in two games versus Montreal. However, Lewis is just a more significant difference-maker.

The problem with Montreal is that Hamilton has an advantage on defense, especially regarding the line of scrimmage. That is huge come playoff time. Expect the game to be close, but there is something about the Tiger-Cats here. Hamilton has won seven of their last 11. They are the hotter team. Take the road underdogs here at 2.32.

It’s All Up To Rourke, Or Else!

Calgary Stampeders at British Columbia Lions

Yes, Nathan Rourke played three weeks ahead of schedule in Week 21. The problem was Rourke showed a good deal of rust. Two deep balls, in particular, were troubling. Jake Meier, the Calgary signal-caller, is less rusty, but the running game is the key for the Stampeders.

If Rourke gets his touch back, then look out! This season's games were extremely close (decided by less than a field goal). There has been much offense on both sides as well. Calgary enjoys a slight advantage as far as the line of scrimmage. British Columbia has the edge at running back and wide receiver.

This has the makings of being an “instant classic” of sorts. The Lions’ first playoff home game since 2016 shapes up to be quite the memorable one. As good as Rourke was before his injury, the feeling is that Calgary has been here 17 times in a row. That means something. Take Calgary to win outright Sunday.