Calgary Stampeders (58.5) vs. Edmonton Eskimos (-1)

• Where: Commonwealth Stadium
• When: August 13th 2009
• CFL Game Stats: www.atsdatabase.com
• Where to bet: Bookmaker Sportsbook

Ron’s Preview: The Edmonton Eskimos had everything going for them in the first half vs. the Tiger Cats, and then the rain came and stole it all away! Well, maybe not literally, but it seem once the down pour started at Ivor Wynne last Saturday, the Eskimos couldn’t get any momentum going on offense. As for Calgary, the Stampeders bolted out quickly out of the gate vs. the Blue Bombers; they went up 23-3 at Halftime and barely hung on to win 31-23 at McMahon Stadium. Keep in mind, they only scored 8 points in the second half, which speaks volumes for the Bombers defense.

In hockey they would call this the Battle of Alberta, but it works for Football as well, as this is not only a division rivalry, but a provincial battle to boot! The Stampeders are 10-12-0 ATS and 8-14 SU vs. the Eskimos at Commonwealth since 1996 and the UNDER is 9-1-0 for the Stampeders when they are at home or on the road when the O/U is set at 54.5 or more in their last 10 games.

The way I see this game going on Thursday, the team who can keep their defense off the field the longest will win this game. In my view, there’s 3 elite QB’s in the CFL this season and two of them will be on the playing field this Thursday, with Calvillo being the third. Eskimos QB Ricky Ray seems to be back and when he’s throwing the deep ball, nobody is better or more accurate with that nice soft touch which he can drop in the basket from 50 yards away. In order for the Stampeders to win this game, they will need to run the ball 40% of the time and be successful at that, because they will not be able to afford too many two’s and outs! Tough game to predict, as 5 of the last 6 games Calgary has played in Edmonton, five of the six games were decided by 5 points or less.

*Note: These teams are going to hate each other in a month from now, as they are going to play each other 3 out of the next 4 games.

Ron’s Stampeders vs. Eskimos Prediction

Calgary 24
Edmonton 31

Calgary Stampeders

• Last game: win 23 - 31 vs Winnipeg Blue Bombers
• Current game: vs. Edmonton Eskimos at 9:00 PM
• Home Favorite: 2 Win -2 Lost (PF) 31.25 - (PA) 24
• Home Underdog: 0 Win -0 Lost (PF) N/A - (PA) N/A
• Road Favorite: 1 Win -1 Lost (PF) 39 - (PA) 26
• Road Underdog: 0 Win -0 Lost (PF )N/A - (PA) N/A
• Last 3 game: 2 Win 1 Lost (PF) 34 - (PA)19
• Last 5 game: 3 Win 2 Lost (PF) 35.2 - (PA)21.6
• Last 7 game: 3 Win 3 Lost (PF) 33.83 - (PA)24.67

Situations

• Coming off a Home win as a Favorite (WPG)
• Coming off a 1 game over
• Coming off a game scored 31 points or more
• Allowed scored 24 points or less against
• Coming off a 2 game Home stand
• Coming off a 2 ATS lost

Edmonton Eskimos

• Last game: lost 21 - 28 vs Hamilton Tigercats
• Current game: vs. Calgary Stampeders at 9:00 PM
• Home Favorite: 1 Win -1 Lost (PF) 20.5 - (PA) 28.5
• Home Underdog: 1 Win -0 Lost (PF) 33 - (PA) 19
• Road Favorite: 0 Win -0 Lost (PF) N/A - (PA )N/A
• Road Underdog: 1 Win -2 Lost (PF) 25 - (PA) 37
• Last 3 game: 2 Win 1 Lost (PF) 30.67 - (PA) 26.67
• Last 5 game: 2 Win 3 Lost (PF) 26 - (PA) 34
• Last 7 game: 3 Win 3 Lost (PF) 24.83 - (PA) 31.17

Situations

• Coming off a Road loss as a Underdog (HAM)
• Coming off a 2 game under
• Coming off a game scored 21 points or less
• Allowed score 28 points or more against
• Coming off a 1 ATS lost

Team Trends - Edmonton Eskimos

When EDMONTON team played as a Home team - Coming off a 2 game under

• 16-4-0 (ATS)
• 18-2 (SU)
• 14-6-0 (O/U/P)

When ANY CFL team played as a Home team (EDMONTON) -After a non conference game -During Week 4 to 8 - Coming off a 2 game under

• 8-6-0 (ATS)
• 12-2 (SU)
• 5-9-0 (O/U/P)

Edmonton Eskimos (-1) vs. Hamilton Tiger Cats (52)

• Where: IVOR WYNNE STADIUM
• When: August 8th 2009
• CFL Game Stats: www.atsdatabase.com
• Where to bet: Bookmaker Sportsbook

Ron’s CFL Preview

Edmonton Eskimos Quarterback Ricky Ray started the year like a lamb, but he’s been roaring like a lion in his last 2 starts! The one thing I admire about Ricky Ray, there could be a hail storm rummaging the football field, but Ray will always have the same demeanor. Nothing phases this cat! If you look up “Calm, Cool and collected”, you will see a picture of Edmonton Eskimos QB Ricky Ray. Ray was outstanding last weekend in his 33-19 win over the Montreal Alouettes and the Eskimos have now played two great back to back football games.

If you recall vs. the game vs. Saskatchewan, the Eskimos were down 22-0 in the first half, then a punt return from Tristan Jackson turned that game around and they haven’t looked backwards since. It could be the punt return that turned their season around. However, they are up against a much improved Hamilton Tiger Cats football team and if you’ve been following CFL Football as long as I have, you are happy for the Hamilton Tiger Cats fans, because they’ve endured some pretty bad football for the last 5 years!

The Hamilton Tiger Cats are coming off a huge Home Underdog win over the BC Lions last week, as they won 30-18 and beat BC with the running game, as DeAndra Cobb ran for 167 yards and is the 5th leading rusher in the league. Plus, I’m glad head coach Marcel Bellefeuille didn’t’ pull the plug on his starting QB and is allowing him to grow in to the CFL game and to get his lumps in early as a pro.

The Tigers cats are a Home Underdog again this weekend, as the linemakers have made the Tiger Cats a +1 point dog vs. the Eskimos and they’ve relish this role of late, as they are 6-3-1 ATS in this spot. The Eskimos have been a funny Road Favorite team the last few years, they are 4-6 SU and 3-7-0 ATS in this spot in their last 10 attempts. The UNDER is 8-2-0 for the Ticats as a Home Dog in their last 10 games at Ivor Wynne Stadium and they are 4-6 SU and 5-5-0 ATS vs. Western Division teams L10. Plus, the UNDER is on a 6-0 run for Hamilton vs. Western Division foes at Ivor Wynne.

ATSDatabase.com System of the Game: When ANY CFL Team played as a Home team (HAM) - During the month of August -Vs Non Conference Opponent - Coming off a game scored 30 points or more - Allowed scored 20 points or less against; the Home Team (HAM) is 13-1 SU in this situation since 1996.