BC Lions and Edmonton Eskimos Open 2017 CFL Season

Dirty June 24, 2017

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Eskimos and Lions Lead the Wild West in 2017

The Edmonton Eskimos and the British Columbia Lions will meet at BC Place on Saturday in Edmonton. Both teams are chomping at the bit to get the season started. Both teams missed the 2016 CFL Grey Cup by one game.

The Lions lost to the Calgary Stampeders in the Western Final. The Eskimos fell to the eventual Grey Cup Champion Ottawa REDBLACKS in the other division final when they crossed over to the East. The disappointment of being so close to playing on the CFL’s biggest stage has no doubt lingered in through the offseason. Both teams will have the opportunity to start 2017 off and continue their pursuit of the Grey Cup.

Oddsmakers opened the BC Lions as 2.5 point favorites, but bettors have bet it up to see them as 4.5-point favorites. The total now at 61 after opening up at 58.

Lions and Eskimos Offenses are Still Intact

BC’s offensive core from the 2016 season has remained intact. Quarterback Jonathon Jennings had a breakout 2016 campaign. Jennings ranked third in touchdown passes with 27, and passing yards with 5,226. He is flanked by last year’s touchdown leader Emmanuel Arceneaux. He also has the equally dangerous Bryan Burnham. Together they formed the second-most illustrious duo of the 2016 campaign.

Edmonton will once again be a threat in the West with the help of star pivot Mike Reilly. The Central Washington alum, and 2015 Grey Cup MVP, leads an impressive offense. The Eskimos weapons include returnees Adarius Bowman, 2nd year man Brandon Zylstra, and former Argo Vidal Hazelton.

D’haquille ‘Duke’ Williams will also be making his Eskimos regular season debut on Saturday. The former Auburn Tiger star looked impressive during the pre-season. He rackedup 129 yards on three catches. Williams has the potential to fill the huge void that was left by Derel Walker. Walker is currently with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Name	Record	ATS	Offense	Defense	Diff	ATS Home	ATS Away	OU Record	OU Home	OU Away
Edmonton	11-9	8-10-2	29.80	27.60	2.2	3-6	5-4-2	11-9	6-3	5-6
British Columbia	13-7	13-7	29.60	26.35	3.25	6-4	7-3	11-9	6-4	5-5

Yards Per Point

Name	Offense	Defense	Differential
EDM	14.31	14.15	0.16
BC	14.24	14.32	-0.08

Yards Per Pass

Name	Offense	Defense	Differential
EDM	12.34	12.08	0.26
BC	13.01	11.73	1.28

Yards Per Rush

Name	Offense	Defense	Differential
EDM	5.22	5.00	0.22
BC	5.72	5.03	0.69

Edmonton Eskimos

Name	Record	Home	Away	ATS	ATS Home	ATS Away	Offense	Defense	Diff
Overall	11-9	5-4	6-5	8-10-2	3-6	5-4-2	29.80	27.60	2.20
vs Conf	5-5	3-2	2-3	2-7-1	1-4	1-3-1	28.20	29.30	-1.10
Last 3	2-1	1-0	1-1	1-1-1	1-0	0-1-1	29.33	24.33	5.00

British Columbia Lions

Name	Record	Home	Away	ATS	ATS Home	ATS Away	Offense	Defense	Diff
Overall	13-7	7-3	6-4	13-7	6-4	7-3	29.60	26.35	3.25
vs Conf	6-6	4-2	2-4	6-6	3-3	3-3	28.67	28.92	-0.25
Last 3	2-1	2-0	0-1	1-2	1-1	0-1	29.33	30.33	-1.00

Title	Stat	Rank	Stat	Rank
Away Team Overall Scoring vs Home Team Overall Defense	29.80	2	26.35	4
Away Team Road Passing vs Home Team Home Passing Defense	289.09	6	297.50	6
Away Team Road Rushing vs Home Team Home Rushing Defense	111.27	1	71.50	2
Home Team Overall Scoring vs Away Team Overall Defense	29.60	3	27.60	5
Home Team Home Passing vs Away Team Road Passing Defense	283.50	5	258.82	1
Home Team Home Rushing vs Away Team Road Rushing Defense	136.40	1	102.64	6

Name	Record	ATS	OU	Score	Rush	YPR	PA	CP	PY	TY	TO +/-
Edmonton	5-5	3-7	5-5	24.70	114.90	5.27	33.20	65.96	258.40	380.10	1.60
British Columbia	5-5	7-3	5-5	24.10	109.60	5.27	26.80	61.94	218.00	334.10	1.60

Date	Away	Home	Score	Line	Total	OU Result	ARY	APY	ATY	ATT	HRY
Oct 22, 2016	EDM	BC	25-32	86	250	347	1	164	254	437	0
Sep 23, 2016	BC	EDM	23-27	69	265	347	2	137	278	437	1
Oct 17, 2015	BC	EDM	23-26	25	219	254	3	158	323	490	4
Sep 26, 2015	BC	EDM	23-29	37	261	318	2	95	201	314	1
Aug 6, 2015	EDM	BC	23-26	106	254	368	2	128	192	323	2
Nov 1, 2014	BC	EDM	3-37	66	95	161	1	241	318	559	2
Jun 28, 2014	EDM	BC	27-20	83	232	315	1	54	251	305	5
Oct 25, 2013	EDM	BC	29-43	60	388	448	2	220	201	421	0
Jul 20, 2013	EDM	BC	21-31	102	243	345	1	136	284	420	1
Jul 13, 2013	BC	EDM	17-3	197	158	355	0	81	97	178	1

Edmonton Eskimos 0-0
Edmonton is 6-2 SU in its last 8 games
Edmonton is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games on the road
Edmonton is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games when playing British Columbia
Edmonton is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games when playing British Columbia
Edmonton is 1-5 ATS in its last 6 games when playing on the road against British Columbia
Edmonton is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games when playing on the road against British Columbia
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Edmonton’s last 6 games when playing on the road against British Columbia

British Columbia Lions 0-0
British Columbia is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone OVER in 6 of British Columbia’s last 8 games
British Columbia is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games at home
British Columbia is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 5 of British Columbia’s last 6 games at home
British Columbia is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games when playing Edmonton
British Columbia is 2-5 SU in its last 7 games when playing Edmonton
British Columbia is 5-1 ATS in its last 6 games when playing at home against Edmonton
British Columbia is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games when playing at home against Edmonton
The total has gone OVER in 4 of British Columbia’s last 6 games when playing at home against Edmonton

Edmonton Eskimos

Date	Opponent	score	Result	line	ATS Result	offensive rush yards	offensive passing yards	offensive total yards	defensive rush yards	defensive passing yards	defensive total yards	turnovers	Location
Nov 20, 2016	OTT	23-35	L	-2.5/53	L/O	66	331	406	179	239	425	-3	A
Nov 13, 2016	HAM	24-21	W	-3/56	P/U	180	141	332	41	269	323	-2	A
Nov 5, 2016	TOR	41-17	W	-3.5/50	W/O	143	369	512	117	225	369	0	H
Oct 28, 2016	HAM	29-26	W	2.5/57	W/U	159	224	398	59	273	332	0	A
Oct 22, 2016	BC	25-32	L	2.5/58	L/U	86	250	347	164	254	437	1	A

British Columbia Lions

Date	Opponent	score	Result	line	ATS Result	offensive rush yards	offensive passing yards	offensive total yards	defensive rush yards	defensive passing yards	defensive total yards	turnovers	Location
Nov 20, 2016	CAL	15-42	L	7.5/54	L/O	81	278	373	166	365	531	0	A
Nov 13, 2016	WIN	32-31	W	-5/55.5	L/O	193	312	522	69	390	459	2	H
Nov 5, 2016	SAS	41-18	W	-15/51	W/O	182	315	519	74	193	274	2	H
Oct 29, 2016	SAS	24-6	W	-5/53	W/U	146	241	387	53	138	256	0	A
Oct 22, 2016	EDM	32-25	W	-2.5/58	W/U	164	254	437	86	250	347	-1	H