Hamilton Tiger-Cats Game #1

Visiting Team: Hamilton Tiger-Cats (0-0)

Home Team: Calgary Stampeders (0-0)

Date and Time: Saturday, June 7th, 2025 at 7 pm EDT

Location: McMahon Stadium, Calgary, Alberta

Where to Watch: In Canada, TSN, CTV and In the US and International locations, CFL+

DraftKings Betting Line: Hamilton Tiger-Cats (-2.5), Calgary Stampeders (+2.5), O/U 53.5 points

For the second season in a row, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats are starting the CFL season on the road to face the Calgary Stampeders. On the surface, this is a battle between quarterbacks Bo Levi Mitchell and Vernon Adams Jr., both of whom spent time at Eastern Washington University during their college football careers. The reality is that if the quarterbacks were the determining factor for which team would win this game, then the Tiger-Cats would not have gone 7-11 in 2024, during Bo Levi Mitchell’s best season in several years.

For the last several seasons, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats have started slowly, which has made it challenging for them to qualify for the playoffs. Last year, the Tiger-Cats started the season with several losses and failed to win enough games in the second half, resulting in a 7-11 record. This season, the Tiger-Cats have a chance to start the 2025 season with a win on the road against the Calgary Stampeders. To pick up the first win of the season, Hamilton will need to play fundamentally sound football and come out of the gate executing at a high level.

The Calgary Stampeders are looking forward to another opportunity to help the Tiger-Cats start the season with a 0-1 record for yet another season. To do that, the Stampeders will need to demonstrate chemistry with quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. and his group of wide receivers. The team that can demonstrate chemistry on both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball will put itself in a position to start the 2025 season with a 1-0 record.

Hamilton Tiger-Cats Depth Chart

Calgary Stampeders Depth Chart

Key to Victory #1: Establish the Run Game

The Hamilton Tiger-Cats need to establish a running game early and often, utilizing running backs Greg Bell and Johnny Augustine. During the Tiger-Cat’s first pre-season game against the Toronto Argonauts, Hamilton demonstrated that they could win along the line of scrimmage on the offensive side of the ball. That will need to be a weekly trend for Hamilton if they intend to make a return to the playoffs in 2025 and have a chance to compete for an East Division championship.

Key to Victory #2: Protect Bo Levi Mitchell

An essential aspect of the Tiger-Cats offensive game plan is how well Hamilton can protect quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell. Running the ball is helpful for this purpose, and it will open the door for head coach Scott Milanovich to set up game situations that allow Bo Levi Mitchell to utilize his arm talent and produce big plays. In previous seasons, Mitchell has struggled to stay healthy when he has to run the ball consistently. For Hamilton to get the most out of their pocket passing quarterbacks, including Mitchell, the Tiger-Cats need to take pass protection seriously and keep their quarterback upright so that he can find ways to produce explosive plays.

Key to Victory #3: Use Play-Action for Explosive Plays

Traditionally, the Tiger-Cats passing game utilizes an eclectic mix of drop-back passing schemes, quick passes, and quick throws in the Screen game. A missing element to the Tiger-Cat’s offensive game plan is Hamilton’s ability to use play-action passing concepts to create big-play opportunities on the offensive side of the ball. Wide receivers Tim White and Kenny Lawler possess the speed needed to stretch the field vertically, and if Hamilton can effectively implement play-action passes off their running game, then the Tiger-Cats can put stress on the Stampeders’ defensive game plan both horizontally and vertically.

Key to Victory #4: Contain Calgary QB Vernon Adams Jr.

One significant difference between Tiger-Cats quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell and Calgary Stampeders quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. is Adams’s ability to move outside the pocket and extend plays. If Hamilton’s defensive line allows Adams to leave the pocket at will, then this will be a very long game for the Tiger-Cats defensive secondary. It is essential for Hamilton’s defensive line to simultaneously pressure Adams Jr. while maintaining outside leverage and forcing Adams Jr. to throw the ball, which has led to several mistakes by Adams Jr. over the last several seasons while playing for the BC Lions and Montreal Alouettes.

Key to Victory #5: Stop Calgary’s Run Game

If Hamilton’s defensive line can shut down Adams Jr.’s ability to run the ball with designed runs and scrambles, then the Tiger-Cats linebackers will need to shut down the Stampeders running game. Hamilton’s ability to make the Stampeders live by the pass will most likely create a pathway for forcing turnovers and setting up a short field for the Tiger-Cats offence. Last season, the Tiger-Cats’ defensive front failed to complete this task nearly every week, which made it difficult for them to find a way to win games. This season, all pre-season indicators suggest that Hamilton’s off-season personnel changes have enabled them to improve their run defence, which will lead to better scoring opportunities and ultimately give Hamilton a chance to secure a key victory over Calgary to start the 2025 CFL season..

Game Prediction:

Hamilton Tiger-Cats 35, Calgary Stampeders 31

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