Posted at 10:00 AM EST. Odds are subject to change.

Hamilton +7½ -110 over BC

7:00 PM EST. Hamilton is catching a very generous number here, and this is exactly the type of matchup where taking the points makes sense. The Tiger-Cats have certainly had their problems, but they remain a competitive football team that has shown the ability to make games uncomfortable for opponents. BC is coming off an impressive performance, yet that also creates a situation where the Lions are being asked to repeat a level of execution that is difficult to sustain from one week to the next.

The quarterback situation gives BC an obvious advantage on paper, but Hamilton doesn't need to win this game through the air. The Ticats can lean on their running game, shorten the contest and keep the Lions from turning this into the wide-open affair BC enjoyed last week. A physical game favors the underdog because every possession becomes more valuable, and Hamilton has enough defensive ability to make BC earn everything.

Another reason to take the points is the way these teams match up. Hamilton has already shown it can move the football against this Lions club, and there is no reason to expect BC to suddenly dominate from start to finish. The Lions are gaining confidence, but they are still a team capable of inconsistency, particularly when an opponent forces them to operate in long-yardage situations. Hamilton's defense has the personnel to keep this within striking distance.

The Tiger-Cats don't need to win outright for this wager to cash, and that's the key to the handicap. BC deserves to be favored at home, but the number is asking too much from a team that has yet to establish consistent week-to-week reliability. Hamilton should keep this competitive deep into the fourth quarter, making the points too valuable to pass up. Take the Tiger-Cats plus the points and expect another divisional battle that comes down to the final possessions.

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