Hamilton (50.5) vs. BC Lions (-12)

Where: BC Place (Vancouver)
When: July 10th 2009
CFL Game Stats: www.atsdatabase.com
Where to bet: Bookmaker Sportsbook

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Ron’s Preview: The Hamilton Tiger Cats didn’t kick off Canada Day in the fashion the organization had hope, as they let Argos build a 20-0 first quarter lead and running back Jamal Robertson run all over them in the first quarter, which pretty much set the Ticats back the entire game. Quinton Porter didn’t look that bad in his first game of the season, but it’s a tough spot for a QB to play catch up when your team cant’ run the ball. Porter threw for 229 yards and went 26 for 40 with 2 touchdown passes and 2 interceptions.

The Lions lost 28-24 vs. the Roughriders last Friday, but the story of the game was turnovers, 15 of them by both the Lions and Riders! Former Tarheels QB Darian Durant threw for 313 yards and completed 18 of 32 passes (3 interceptions) and fumbled the ball 4 times. However, it’s week 1 of the CFL season, if these two teams continue to turn the ball over, it could be a long season for both teams. Plus, having one of the best running games in the league last season, it will be interesting to see how the Lions run the ball vs. the Ticats. Starting running back and special team specialist, Ian Smart, left the game in the second half with a groin injury and the Lions brought in former Argos running back Tyler Ebell.

The Tiger Cats head into BC place and they sport a 2-11 straight up (SU) record and they are 6-7-0 against the spread, with the UNDER being 9-4-0 in this building. The last time the Tiger Cats won a football game in Vancouver was June 18th 2004, as they barely won 38-36.

The Lions have been non-division bashers in their last 40 games vs. Eastern division foes, as they are 34-6 SU vs. Eastern teams, and they are 9-1 SU at home vs. Hamilton with the UNDER being 8-2-0.

Get more stats matchups on this game at www.atsdatabase.com.

Ron’s CFL Prediction

CFL Expert Ron Raymond has won 9 years in a row betting on CFL Football and is looking to make it 10 years in a row after the 2009 season. Ron Raymond’s 5* CFL BEST BET GAMES OF THE WEEK have hit for over 65% the last 9 years!

CFL Prediction Results Week 1

If there’s one sport I’m better at making picks, it’s the NHL hockey and CFL Football. I grew up in Ottawa, Ontario Canada and grew up a Canadiens fan and a Ottawa Rough Rider and BC Lions fan. I have a love for sports, but a passion for NHL and CFL Football.

The CFL started this week and as you can see below, I’m 3-0 thus far with my picks and I have one more selection to go to complete Week1.

If you’re interested in receive my CFL Football picks for the remainder of the year, I charge $99 for my entire picks package, you get Week 1 picks right up until the Grey Cup. I have a documented record of hitting 64% of my CFL picks since the year 2000, my 5* CFL BEST BET GAME OF THE WEEK record is 87-49-2. You can purchase my CFL Membership package at Phoenix Sports.

Here are my CFL Picks from the first 3 games of Week 1 of the 2009 CFL Football season.

Ron’s CFL Prediction

Ron's PICK: Toronto vs. Hamilton UNDER 52.5

The Tiger Cats enter their season opener without having naming their starting QB and that’s not good news for Hamilton fans. The Tiger Cats had over 1 month of training camp and 2 exhibition games and Marcel Bellefeuille was still undecided who his starting Pivot would be against the Argos on Canada day. The Argos have made some huge changes during the off season, they’ve revamped their defense, got a bit younger, brought in a new head coach and got a huge pre season win last week against the Tiger Cats. The reason I say this is a huge win for the Argos, even though it was a pre season game, it gave the Argos life inside the club house, they believe in their new environment, and that’s important entering the 2009 season.

Kerry Joseph will be the teams starting QB on Wednesday, but look for head coach Bart Andrus to have a short leash if Joseph should stall the offense. The Tiger Cats look to be heading with Quinton Porter in their season opening and will have some question marks regarding their running game. If there’s one thing I respect about both of these franchises, they’ve always been decent defensively.

In fact, since 1996, any CFL team that is PK to -3 road favorite during week 1 of the CFL season, the UNDER is a perfect 7-0-0. Furthermore, any Road Favorite during week 1 of a season, the UNDER is 14-4-2 and the Road Favorite is 16-2 SU.

Ron’s Prediction: Toronto 24 Hamilton 14

Ron’s CFL Prediction

Ron's Pick Montreal Alouettes +7.5

The Montreal Alouettes couldn’t have asked for a better opponent to start the 2009 season, as Marc Trestman can now use his revenge card to against the Stampeders and the bookmakers are giving the Als a +3.5 point cushion to boot! Montreal was very impressive during the pre season; they beat Toronto in their own stadium with back up players and then hung on to win their final pre season game vs. a pesky Winning Blue Bombers unit.

The Stampeders have most of their 2008 CFL Grey Cup personnel in place and Henry Burris signed a 4 year deal to stay in Calgary for the next 4 years. The Stampeders are 7-4 SU and ATS in their season openers since 1996, but the Alouettes are a perfect 6-0 on the road in week 1 and 12-2 SU overall.

Furthermore, the UNDER is 9-3-0 for Home Favorites of -3.5 or less during Week 1 home games, while the UNDER is a perfect 6-0-0 for -3.5 point Home Favorites vs. Non-Division games before playing the Bombers.

Nevertheless, the Alouettes are a nice football team, they are well coached by Marc Trestman and getting Anthony Calvillo as a +3.5 point dog gives us more value. Play the Alouettes considering the club has a history of being money during week 1 of past CFL games.

Ron’s Prediction: Montreal 28 Calgary 24

Ron’s CFL Prediction

Ron's pick: Winnipeg Blue Bombers +10.0

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers went 1-1 in the pre season and what really impressed me in those first 2 games was not their win over Hamilton, but the lost vs. Montreal! Winnipeg brought their A-Game attitude to Montreal and gave the Alouettes a good test in front of their fans. Plus, the Bombers have a new Running Back in Lavarus Giles from Jackson State University and he could be this years Rookie of the year, should he continue the way he played during the pre season. In fact, the Bombers coaching staffs must believe in him tremendously, because they released veteran running back Joe Smith to make room for Giles.

The bookmakers have made the Eskimos a -10 point favorite in this game and considering they scored 76 points in their first 2 pre season games, this is your classic trap line play of the week. What’s the first impression a regular CFL Football fan will say when he sees the Bombers playing on the road at Edmonton? The Eskimos will kill them at home and will win by 3 touchdowns. This is exactly what we want, because the value we are getting with the Bombers is great for a week 1 game, because everybody is starting from new, meaning bookmakers and players.

In fact, going back to 1996, any CFL Football team that was a +10 or more points Road Underdog during week 1 to 4, were 22-14-0 ATS. Furthermore, any CFL team that was a +10 or more Road Underdog during Week 1 to 4 and played the Calgary Stampeders the following week, was 5-0-0 ATS. When ANY +10.0 Points or more Road Underdog had the Stampeders on deck during any time of the year, were 14-5-0 ATS.

Ron’s Prediction: Edmonton 34 Winnipeg 31