The Lions and Elks run it back just two weeks after BC stunned Edmonton — and this one's got real playoff-race stakes.
This Week's CFL Schedule
BC Lions at Edmonton Elks
When | Friday, July 17 at 9:00 PM ET |
Where | Commonwealth Stadium, Edmonton |
TV | TSN, CBS Sports Network |
Stream | Watch live on CFL+ |
Line | Edmonton Elks -3 | O/U 61 |
Edmonton sits atop the West at 4-1, but the one blemish on that record came courtesy of these same Lions, who torched them 36-24 back in Week 5. BC is banged up and just 1-3 over its last four, yet somehow rides a one-game win streak into this one after finally putting together a complete performance against this exact opponent.
Edmonton has bounced back in a big way since that loss, hanging 40 points on Ottawa last week behind a run game that just won't quit. This is as much a measuring-stick game for the Elks as anything — win it, and they've settled the score and put real distance between themselves and the rest of the West. Lose it again, and suddenly the Lions own their number.
Players to Watch:
Justin Rankin (Edmonton Elks, RB) — Leads the league with 513 rushing yards and 6 touchdowns, and he's the engine that makes this Elks offense go.
Cody Fajardo (Edmonton Elks, QB) — Threw for 1,499 yards and 8 scores this season; he'll need a cleaner outing than the last meeting with BC.
Nathan Rourke (BC Lions, QB) — Completing better than 71% of his throws this year, and he's the one guy who's already shown he can move the ball on this Edmonton defense.
Injury Watch:
Joe Robustelli (Edmonton Elks, WR) — Doubtful with a hamstring injury, and now on the six-game injury list after Wednesday's roster move.
David Beard (Edmonton Elks, OL) — Out, shifted to the six-game injury list, thinning out Edmonton's protection up front.
Jordan Williams (Edmonton Elks, DL) — Out, also moved to six-game injury, a blow to Edmonton's pass rush.
Patrice Rene (BC Lions, DB) — Out with a thigh issue, part of a secondary that's already without Cristophe Beaulieu and Garry Peters.
Nate Demontagnac (BC Lions, WR) — Out with a shoulder injury, trimming BC's receiving corps.
Pick: Edmonton Elks 27-23. BC got the last laugh at home, but Edmonton's 3-1 against the spread this year and gets Justin Rankin and this run game back at Commonwealth, where BC's banged-up secondary — missing Beaulieu, Peters and now Rene — should have real trouble slowing it down.
CFL Standings
Team | W | L | PF | PA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Edmonton Elks | 4 | 1 | 148 | 121 |
Saskatchewan Roughriders | 4 | 1 | 170 | 133 |
Montreal Alouettes | 4 | 1 | 170 | 154 |
Winnipeg Blue Bombers | 3 | 2 | 119 | 122 |
2 | 3 | 194 | 176 | |
Hamilton Tiger-Cats | 2 | 3 | 125 | 136 |
Toronto Argonauts | 2 | 3 | 171 | 183 |
BC Lions | 1 | 3 | 123 | 137 |
Ottawa Redblacks | 0 | 5 | 119 | 177 |
Quick Hits
Edmonton added DL Gavin Meyer off the practice roster this week while shipping Beard, Williams and Robustelli to the six-game injury list — a lot of roster churn ahead of a statement game.
BC got some good news on the health front, activating Kieran Poissant, TJ Lee and Levi Bell off injury designations, giving Rourke a bit more firepower and depth heading into Edmonton.
Fantasy managers should lock in Justin Rankin — he's the CFL's leading rusher and BC's front seven has been leaky against the run.
Edmonton's over/under trend has run under in three of five games, but the total sits at 61 here — betting the under makes sense if Edmonton leans on Rankin and slows the clock.
Standings | Full Schedule | League Leaders
Who wins this week? Drop your picks in the comments.