<p>As the popular saying goes, one man’s trash is another man’s treasure. And while Nathan Rourke may have been cast aside by the NFL, he is one of the CFL’s marquee players. And his return to the league last season helped set the dominoes in motion to lead to tomorrow’s Stampeders vs. Lions showdown in the West Semi-Final (6:30 p.m. ET, CFL+).</p>
<p>When Rourke left the CFL to pursue his NFL dreams, Vernon Adams Jr. took over as BC’s starting quarterback. And when Rourke returned to Vancouver a year and a half later after signing for and being let go by the Jaguars, Patriots, Giants, and Falcons, there was only one eventual outcome, especially given that Rourke returned as the CFL’s highest-paid quarterback.</p>
<p>While the BC brass branded Rourke as the main man going forward, Adams was shipped to Calgary last November.</p>
<p>These kinds of moves don’t always work out for both sides, but they have in this situation, and not just because they made this season’s Stampeders vs. Lions matchups must-see TV.</p>
<p>After winning 11 games across 2023 and 2024, Calgary went 11-7 this season and are back in the playoffs after missing out last season.</p>
<p>BC, meanwhile, finished with the same record, but because of a head-to-head sweep against the Stampeders, the Lions took the tiebreaker for second place and will therefore host tomorrow’s West Semi-Final.</p>
<p>In each of their previous two postseason appearances, Calgary lost at BC in this round. Will the third time be the charm in more than one way? Read on for our Stampeders vs. Lions prediction and picks. Also, get the best betting value from top online sportsbooks such as BetOnline.</p>
<h2><a href="https://affiliates.bettingnews.com/register/betonline" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Calgary Stampeders vs. BC Lions Odds</a></h2>
<div class="su-table su-table-responsive su-table-alternate">
<table class="table table-bordered">
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Team</th>
<th>Spread</th>
<th>Moneyline</th>
<th>Over/Under</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<th scope="row">Calgary Stampeders</th>
<td>+5 (-110)</td>
<td>+200</td>
<td>Over 54.5 (-110)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th scope="row">BC Lions</th>
<td>-5 (-110)</td>
<td>-240</td>
<td>Under 54.5 (-110)</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</div>
<h2>Stampeders vs. Lions Prediction and Picks</h2>
<h3>Prediction: Lions to win</h3>
<p>Entering the 2025 Grey Cup playoffs, no team is as hot as the Lions. They ended the regular season with six successive wins, and though BC (+350) is fourth behind Saskatchewan (+240), Montreal (+325), and Hamilton (+340) in the latest <a href="/articles/cfl/grey-cup-2025-odds/">Grey Cup winner odds</a>, many rival fans will be hoping they don’t advance this week.</p>
<p>Their six-game streak featured two dominant wins over the Stampeders, who were overmatched vs. the Lions in both Calgary (a 52-23 loss in Week 16) and Vancouver (a 38-24 loss in Week 18).</p>
<p>After the loss at BC Place, the Stampeders, who at one time were hot on the heels of the Roughriders in the West Division race, were at risk of falling into the crossover spot.</p>
<p>They won their final three games to avoid that, but so did the Lions. So, instead of a trip to Montreal for the <a href="/articles/cfl/blue-bombers-vs-alouettes-east-semi-final-prediction-picks-2025-11-01/">East Semi-Final</a> (which the Blue Bombers have instead), Calgary instead must travel to Vancouver. That does not seem like much of a reward given BC&#8217;s form.</p>
<p>Calgary’s defense was its strength in many games, but that unit was overwhelmed by that BC offense twice. Can it take some lessons from those losses?</p>
<p>By the same token, while there are still some reasonable questions about whether the Lions can be serviceable enough on defense to win the three games required to bring home the franchise’s first Grey Cup since 2011, they made life hard for Adams in both previous Stampeders vs. Lions matchups. Can he shake off those first two showings against his former team? He may, but it won’t be enough.</p>
<p>The postseason is a new season with new opportunities, and beating a team three times in one season is a tough task. But BC should do just that.</p>
<h3>Stampeders vs. Lions Picks</h3>
<h4>1) <a href="https://affiliates.bettingnews.com/register/betonline/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Lions -5 (-110 at BetOnline)</a></h4>
<p>Will the Lions stomp the Stampeders for a third straight time? That may not happen, but only three of BC’s regular season wins were by five or fewer points, and their only home win that wasn’t by double digits was, somewhat surprisingly, a 27-22 win over the Toronto Argonauts in Week 17.</p>
<p>There’s only so much stock you can put into regular season results when the postseason comes, but if BC wins, it should be by at least a touchdown or more.</p>
<h4>2) <a href="https://affiliates.bettingnews.com/register/luckyrebel/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">BC Lions Team Total Over 29.5 Points (-134 at Lucky Rebel)</a></h4>
<p>Along with what transpired in the first two Stampeders vs. Lions matchups this season, BC has largely balled out in the friendly confines.</p>
<p>On the way to winning six of nine home games, the Lions hit the 30-point mark six times, five in wins and the other in a 37-33 loss to the Tiger-Cats in Week 8. And after scoring 30+ points just twice in their first seven games, the Lions scored 30+ points nine times in their last 11 games.</p>
<h4>3) <a href="https://affiliates.bettingnews.com/register/bovada/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Keon Hatcher (BC Lions) Over 87.5 Receiving Yards (-115 at Bovada)</a></h4>
<p>Hatcher, who led the CFL with 1,688 receiving yards, tied for the league lead in catches (102), and tied for second in touchdown catches (nine), put up big numbers in both previous Stampeders vs. Lions matchups.</p>
<p>In the Week 16 win in Calgary, he had eight catches (from eight targets) for 147 yards. And in the Week 18 win at BC Place, he had seven catches (from 10 targets) for 112 yards and two touchdowns.</p>
<p>Overall, Hatcher had 88+ receiving yards 10 times in 18 regular season games, including six times in nine home games (and one game with 87 yards, in Week 17 vs. Toronto). Look for Rourke’s top target to produce again against Calgary.</p>
<h2>Other CFL Betting Information</h2>
<p>At Betting News, you can find CFL predictions and expert picks each week for matchups like Stampeders vs. Lions.</p>
<p>Also, if you are north of the border and want to know where you can bet on Redblacks vs. Tiger-Cats and other CFL odds, check out our reviews of the <a href="/canada-sportsbooks/">best Canadian online sportsbooks</a>.</p>
<p>Bookmark the site to keep up with our CFL content and be sure to check out our social media channels for even more CFL betting insight, as well as our takes and tips for the <a href="/nfl/">NFL</a> and <a href="/ncaaf/">college football</a>.</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://twitter.com/YourBettingNews">Betting News on “X”/Twitter</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.twitch.tv/bettingnews">Betting News on Twitch</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@yourbettingnews?lang=en">Betting News on TikTok</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/@YourBettingNews">Betting News on YouTube</a></li>
</ul>


BC Lions quarterback Nathan Rourke celebrates - Calgary Stampeders vs. BC Lions CFL West Semi-Final Prediction & Picks (Nov. 1, 2025)

Stampeders vs. Lions CFL West Semi-Final Prediction & Picks (11/1): Will the Third Time Be the Charm for Calgary?

Montreal Alouettes quarterback Davis Alexander - Montreal Alouettes vs. Saskatchewan Roughriders 2025 Grey Cup Prediction & Picks (11/16/2025)

Alouettes vs. Roughriders 2025 Grey Cup Predictions & Picks: Who Will Win in Winnipeg?

Saskatchewan Roughriders quarterback Trevor Harris - BC Lions vs. Saskatchewan Roughriders CFL West Final Prediction & Picks (Nov. 8, 2025)

Lions vs. Roughriders CFL West Final Prediction & Picks (11/8): Who Will Reach the Grey Cup for the First Time This Decade?

Hamilton Tiger-Cats quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell - Montreal Alouettes vs. Hamilton Tiger-Cats CFL East Final Prediction & Picks (Nov. 8, 2025)

Alouettes vs. Tiger-Cats CFL East Final Prediction & Picks (11/8): Who Will Book the First Grey Cup Ticket?

Montreal Alouettes quarterback Davis Alexander - Winnipeg Blue Bombers vs. Montreal Alouettes CFL East Semi-Final Prediction & Picks (Nov. 1, 2025)

Stampeders vs. Lions CFL West Semi-Final Prediction & Picks (11/1): Will the Third Time Be the Charm for Calgary?

Eddie Griffin

More CFL News

Alouettes vs. Roughriders 2025 Grey Cup Predictions & Picks: Who Will Win in Winnipeg?

Lions vs. Roughriders CFL West Final Prediction & Picks (11/8): Who Will Reach the Grey Cup for the First Time This Decade?

Alouettes vs. Tiger-Cats CFL East Final Prediction & Picks (11/8): Who Will Book the First Grey Cup Ticket?

Blue Bombers vs. Alouettes CFL East Semi-Final Prediction & Picks (11/1): A Dandy Dozen for Alexander?