Nathan Rourke is out again for BC, and Winnipeg is trying to shake off a 52-point beatdown as they open Week 9 on Thursday night.

This Week’s CFL Schedule

BC Lions at Winnipeg Blue Bombers

WhenThursday, July 30 at 8:30 PM ET
WherePrincess Auto Stadium, Winnipeg
TVTSN
StreamWatch live on CFL+
LineWinnipeg Blue Bombers -7 | O/U 54

This one looks lopsided on paper, and the numbers back it up. The BC Lions are 1-5, dead last in the West, and they’re still without Nathan Rourke under center. The Winnipeg Blue Bombers just got run over 52-30 by Calgary last week, so this is as much about the Bombers cleaning up their own mess as it is about exploiting a banged-up BC roster.

Winnipeg’s 4-3 and holding onto third in the West, but the defense has leaked 208 points against through seven games — that Calgary loss was the low point. BC comes in having dropped two straight, including a 12-26 setback against Toronto last week, and they’re 2-4 ATS on the year. Betting markets have Winnipeg as heavy home favorites, and it’s hard to argue against that with BC’s quarterback situation the way it is.

Players to Watch:

Brady Oliveira (Winnipeg, RB) — Third in the league with 554 rushing yards, but he’s questionable with a knee injury heading into Thursday.
Willie Jefferson (Winnipeg, DL) — The Bombers’ pass rush needs to get after whoever BC trots out at quarterback and set the tone early.
Mathieu Betts (BC, DL) — BC’s best defender needs a big night if the Lions have any shot at hanging around in this one.

Injury Watch:

Nathan Rourke (BC, QB) — Out, left shoulder. Still BC’s biggest problem week to week.
Stanley Berryhill III (BC, WR) — Out, thigh. Another weapon missing for whoever’s throwing the ball.
Brady Oliveira (Winnipeg, RB) — Questionable, knee. Worth watching pregame — Winnipeg’s ground game takes a hit if he’s limited.
Jarell Broxton, Stanley Bryant, Micah Vanterpool (Winnipeg, OL) — All questionable with knee issues, which could matter up front against BC’s pass rush.

Pick: Winnipeg Blue Bombers 27-13. BC’s offense without Rourke and Berryhill just doesn’t have enough juice to keep pace, and Winnipeg’s average of 4 overs in 7 games says the total could sneak past 54 even in a lopsided game — but the O-line questions up front make me lean toward the under holding up while the Bombers cover comfortably.

CFL Standings

TeamWLPFPA

Edmonton Elks61203172
Montreal Alouettes61239204
Saskatchewan Roughriders42204169
Winnipeg Blue Bombers43185208
Hamilton Tiger-Cats34167190
Calgary Stampeders34278244
Toronto Argonauts34220219
BC Lions15152182
Ottawa Redblacks06153213

Quick Hits

Winnipeg activated OL Micah Vanterpool off the six-game injury list, a needed boost for a line already dealing with Broxton and Bryant question marks.
BC had a wave of moves this week, adding OL Alex Berwick and RB Emani Bailey off the practice roster while extending Joshua Donovan and Garry Peters on the six-game injury list — a sign of just how thin this roster has gotten.
Fantasy players should monitor Brady Oliveira’s status closely before Thursday — if he’s limited, expect a bigger workload for Winnipeg’s backup ground game.
BC’s offense has scored the fewest points in the league at 152 through six games, and with Rourke and Berryhill both sidelined, that number isn’t likely to jump against a Winnipeg defense desperate to bounce back.

Standings | Full Schedule | League Leaders

Who wins this week? Drop your picks in the comments.