Stampeders and Lions kick off playoffs

Home field wasn’t an advantage this season when the B.C. Lions and Calgary Stampeders squared off.

In each of the three regular-season meetings, the road team emerged victorious as B.C. won the season series 2-1. In fact, the road team has won the past seven meetings between these two clubs.

The last time Calgary or B.C. beat the other at home was June 29, 2019, when the Stampeders won 36-32 at McMahon Stadium.

On Sunday, the Stampeders (12-6) visit the Lions (12-6) in the West Division semifinal. The winner will take on the defending Grey Cupchampion Winnipeg Blue Bombers (15-3) at IG Field in the conference final Nov. 13.

Also on Sunday, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats (8-10) are in Montreal to meet the Alouettes (9-9) in the East Division semifinal. That victor will visit the Toronto Argonauts (11-7) in the division final Nov. 13 at BMO Field.

B.C. captured the season series with Calgary by winning the first two meetings by a combined three points. The Lions outscored the Stampeders 20-7 in the fourth quarter of the opener, rallying for the 41-40 victory at McMahon Stadium on Aug. 13 as Victoria’s Nathan Rourke finished 39-of-52 passing for 488 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions while also rushing for two TDs.

Then, on Sept. 17, James Butler’s 18-yard TD run in overtime and Antonio Pipkin’s two-point convert helped the Lions earn a 31-29 victory in Calgary. After B.C. scored, Jake Maier found Jalen Philpot on a four-yard touchdown pass, but

Maier’s two-point throw to Reggie Begelton was incomplete.

The two teams finished their season series the following week in Vancouver, with Calgary securing a 25-11 victory.

This will mark the first playoff meeting between the two teams since 2015, when Calgary hosted B.C. in the West Division semifinal, winning 35-9.

The Lions, appear to be getting healthier. Rourke returned to start in last week’s 24-9 loss to Winnipeg.

The Lions’ receiving corps — which features three 1,000-yard performers in Dominique Rhymes, Keon Hatcher and Lucky Whitehead — should be bolstered by wideout Bryan Burnham’s return from a wrist injury.

The Stampeders counter with a CFL-best ground game (135.3 yards per game) that’s anchored by league rushing leader Ka’Deem Carey (1,088 yards, 6.6-yard average, 10 TDs).

Pick Calgary

Also on Sunday, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats are in Montreal to meet the Alouettes in the East Division semifinal

Hamilton Tiger-Cats versus Montreal Alouettes (Sunday afternoon)

At Montreal, Hamilton (8-10) has won four straight and five of its past six, the only blemish being a 23-16 loss to the Als. QB Dane Evans will start but, in July, former Alouette Matt Shiltz played a huge role in his squad’s only head-to-head win of the series. The Ticats have been plagued by turnovers all season and are 2-7 on the road. The Als will host their first home playoff game since 2019 and receiver Eugene Lewis — the East’s outstanding player nominee — has 22 catches for 305 yards and three TDs in three games against Hamilton.

Pick Hamilton

Last week 3-1

CP’s overall regular-season record 59-22