Hamilton Tiger-Cats Game #9
Visiting Team: BC Lions (3-5, 4th in the West)
Home Team: Hamilton Tiger-Cats (6-2, 1st in the East)
Date and Time: Thursday, August 7th at 7:30 pm EDT
Game Location: Hamilton Stadium, Hamilton, Ontario
Where to Watch: In Canada, TSN/RD2 In US, CBS Sports Network International: CFL+'
DraftKings Betting Line: BC Lions (+3), Hamilton Tiger-Cats (-3), O/U 55.5 points
he Hamilton Tiger-Cats (6-2) come into Week 10 of the 2025 CFL season riding the momentum of a six-game winning streak that has allowed them to pull into 1st place in the East division. For the last two weeks, the Tiger-Cats have become known as the "Cardiac Cats," requiring fourth-quarter drives to cap off victories against the Edmonton Elks and BC Lions after losing for the majority of the game. Last week, the Tiger-Cats made a comeback on the road in Edmonton to defeat the Elks 28 to 24, and the week before, the Tiger-Cats pulled off a similar comeback victory against the BC Lions with a 37 to 33 win.
Since losing to the Tiger-Cats two weeks ago, the BC Lions (3-5) have had to keep the bitter taste of a loss after leading Hamilton for most of the game. In Week 9, the Lions had a bye week, which gave them a chance to get some much-needed rest and also figure out what happened against the Tiger-Cats. What they should have found out is that untimely turnovers and the inability to stop Hamilton's wide receivers, Kenny Lawler and Kiondre Smith, simultaneously.
The Hamilton Tiger-Cats (6-2) come into Week 10 of the 2025 CFL season riding the momentum of a six-game winning streak that has allowed them to pull into 1st place in the East division. featuring two strong offensive teams.
While looking at the CFL Injury Report for Week 10, it is easy to see that the Tiger-Cats will have to overcome numerous injuries to players in their offensive backfield. The most important player being ruled out of the Tiger-Cats is running back Ante Milanovic-Litre, who is still dealing with a hamstring injury. Predictably, the BC Lions are very healthy after coming off a bye week, and the only player that the Lions have ruled out is linebacker Isaiah Messam.
BC Lions Depth Chart
Hamilton Tiger-Cats Depth Chart
Key to Victory #1: Pressure BC Lions QB Nathan Rourke
The last time the Tiger-Cats met the BC Lions, Lions quarterback Nathan Rourke got off to a fast start. That fast start allowed the Lions to take an early lead and establish a dominant momentum in the game. Hamilton's defensive front seven failed to produce quarterback sacks against Rourke, and when Rourke has time to read his progressions, he can pick apart any defensive unit in the CFL. Defensively, the Tiger-Cats need to get their defensive line to step up and apply pressure to Rourke. If Hamilton has to blitz on the defensive side of the ball, they are setting up Rourke for another big game.
Key to Victory #2: Win on 1st Down
A significant part of pressuring Lions quarterback Nathan Rourke is the Tiger-Cats' defensive front seven's success on 1st down. Two weeks ago, Lions running back James Butler came out motivated to prove to Hamilton that they made a mistake by letting him go. Butler was dominating the game until the Tiger-Cats forced him to fumble the ball, which led to points for Hamilton. That fumble ended up being the turning point that the Tiger-Cats needed to spark a comeback and continue their winning streak. If the Tiger-Cats can do a better job of picking their shots to send pressure on first down when the Lions are looking to run the ball, they would put the Lions' offensive unit into a predictable second-and-long situation, which would benefit the Tiger-Cats' defensive backfield.
Key to Victory #3: Force Turnovers in Hamilton
It goes without saying that a major part of the Tiger-Cats' success this season is the ability of Hamilton's defensive unit to force turnovers. Those forced turnovers are a driving factor during the Tiger-Cats' current win streak. Forcing Butler to fumble the ball once again would be a major victory for Hamilton on the defensive side of the ball. Additionally, the Tiger-Cats secondary is one of the top units in the CFL, and this is a game where they need to perform at their best, attacking the Lions' passing game and BC quarterback Nathan Rourke.
Key to Victory #4: Keep Running Game Rolling
Another significant factor in the Tiger-Cats' recent success is their ability to strike a balance in their offensive attack by relying on the run game. Hamilton's success running the ball is somewhat surprising, given that the Tiger-Cats have been forced to deal with several injuries in their offensive backfield. The ability of a variety of Hamilton's running backs to find success is a direct reflection of how well the Tiger-Cats' offensive line is playing. It is critical for the Tiger-Cats to take advantage of their strong offensive line and continue to set themselves and quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell up for success by avoiding compromising situations.
Key to Victory #5: Spread the Ball Around Offensively
The Tiger-Cats had a slow start to the 2025 CFL season, losing their first two games of the year. What turned the season around was the chemistry between Bo Levi Mitchell and wide receiver Kenny Lawler. Recently, the Lions and Elks worked to double-cover Kenny Lawler, daring the Tiger-Cats to defeat them with weapons other than Lawler. In response to that strategy, wide receiver Kiondre Smith and Tim White have stepped up and have become dominant playmakers. That playmaking ability is a combination of Lawler drawing attention and the Tiger-Cats having a wealth of elite receivers. This week, it would benefit the Tiger-Cats for Mitchell to focus on spreading the ball around to all of his weapons, which could put Lawler in a position to reemerge as the Tiger-Cats' best offensive player.
Game Prediction:
Hamilton Tiger-Cats 32, BC Lions 27
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