BC Lions vs Calgary Stampeders Picks and Predictions for Thursday, August 13, 2026

By: Kim Smith Published 08/12/2026, 08:56 PM ET

The BC Lions travel to face the Calgary Stampeders at McMahon Stadium in Calgary, Alberta, on Thursday, August 13, 2026. Kickoff is scheduled for 9:00 p.m. ET, with television coverage available on CBS Sports Network in the United States and TSN and RDS2 in Canada. Calgary is a 5.5-point favorite, while the total is set at 64.5 points. Bettors can also check out our free CFL picks throughout the season.

BC Arrives with Back-to-Back Victories

The BC Lions enter this West Division matchup at 3-5 overall after winning their last two games. BC defeated the Winnipeg Blue Bombers 35-19 on the road before returning home and edging the Hamilton Tiger-Cats 27-24. The Lions are 3-2 over their last five games, with their other victory during that stretch coming against Winnipeg.

BC’s recent improvement has largely come through its rushing attack. The Lions accumulated a franchise-record 377 rushing yards against Winnipeg, giving the offense another way to generate explosive plays without placing the entire burden on the passing game. That balance could be important against a Calgary defense that has already seen this BC offense once this season.

The Lions must be more consistent than they were during their first meeting with Calgary. BC fell behind early and eventually lost 41-33 despite scoring 16 points in the fourth quarter. The Lions showed that they could move the ball against the Stampeders, but allowing 41 points left them with too much ground to recover. BC has allowed only 43 combined points during its current two-game winning streak, which represents a significant improvement from that first matchup.

Calgary Returns Home After a Narrow Loss

Calgary comes into Thursday’s game at 4-5 following a 33-30 road loss against the Toronto Argonauts. The Stampeders had previously recorded consecutive convincing victories, defeating Winnipeg 52-30 and Hamilton 44-20. Calgary is 2-3 across its last five games, with both losses during that span coming by seven points or fewer.

The Stampeders have demonstrated considerably more offensive consistency than their overall record suggests. They have scored at least 30 points in six consecutive games, including four performances with 40 or more points. Calgary’s ability to create explosive plays and finish drives has helped the team average 39.2 points during that six-game stretch.

Defense remains the concern for Calgary. The Stampeders surrendered 37 and 38 points in consecutive losses to Montreal before allowing 30 against Winnipeg and 33 against Toronto. Calgary has compensated with one of the league’s most productive offenses, but consistently giving up points makes it difficult to trust the Stampeders as a substantial favorite. Their 41-33 victory over BC in June also landed comfortably above Thursday’s posted total.

BC Lions vs Calgary Stampeders Injury Report

BC will be without fullback Jacob Bond, linebacker Maxime Rouyer and offensive lineman Brandon Yates. Calgary receiver Reggie Begelton has been ruled out, while offensive lineman Bryce Bell carries a questionable designation. The Lions’ offensive-line absences are worth monitoring because BC’s improved rushing production has been central to its recent turnaround.