Posted at 11:00 AM EST. Odds are subject to change.

Hamilton +145 over Winnipeg

8:30 PM EST. The Hamilton Tiger-Cats opened the season with a disappointing overtime loss in Montreal, but there was plenty to like beneath the final score. Hamilton led for most of the night, moved the ball effectively through the air and looked every bit like the offensive powerhouse that topped the East Division a season ago. Bo Levi Mitchell threw for more than 300 yards despite facing one of the CFL's toughest defenses, and the Tiger-Cats were one or two plays away from beginning the year with a statement road victory. Instead of focusing on the loss, bettors should focus on the fact that Hamilton largely controlled the game for three quarters against one of the league's elite teams.

The market continues to give Winnipeg plenty of respect based on past accomplishments, but this is not the same Blue Bombers team that dominated the CFL for years. Winnipeg remains dangerous at home, but its margin for error has narrowed considerably. Hamilton's offense is built to challenge defenses vertically and force opponents into uncomfortable situations, and that is exactly the type of attack capable of exposing any weaknesses in Winnipeg's secondary. The Tiger-Cats averaged over 29 points per game last season and finished atop the East because they could score in bunches, a trait that makes them extremely attractive as an underdog.

There is also a situational edge working in Hamilton's favor. Teams coming off heartbreaking losses often provide value when the betting market overreacts to the result rather than the performance. The Tiger-Cats have already shown they can compete with the CFL's best, and they now catch a Winnipeg team that is expected to win simply because of its reputation and home field. At plus money, bettors are being asked to back the more desperate team with one of the league's most explosive offenses. Everyone can't say enough good things about Winnipeg and how they will dominate the cats. The odds makers are begging you to take the Bombers by making this number so low and appealing. In what projects to be a highly competitive game, taking the price on Hamilton to win outright is the right side. The Tiger-Cats have the quarterback, the playmakers and the offensive firepower to leave Winnipeg with a statement victory. Win or lose we like this bet!

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