Ottawa Redblacks vs Hamilton Tiger-Cats Picks and Predictions for Saturday October 24 2026
Ottawa finally won a football game. Sixteen losses, one after another, and then the REDBLACKS somehow beat Toronto 40-39 last Friday. Bryson Barnes threw the winning touchdown with nine seconds left. I imagine there were a few people in Ottawa who had forgotten what celebrating a win felt like.
Now the REDBLACKS head to Hamilton for the final game of the season. The Tiger-Cats have been waiting around since their bye, and neither team is going to the playoffs. This is the kind of game where you find out who still wants to play football and who’s already thinking about the offseason.
Ottawa visits Hamilton Stadium on Saturday, October 24, 2026. Kickoff is at 3:00 PM ET on TSN and CFL+. Hamilton is favored by 4.5 points, with the total at 58.5. Both teams have been giving up points, so the oddsmakers aren’t expecting much defense. That’s probably a fair assessment. Get in on all the action with our free CFL picks.
Ottawa Redblacks Finally Have Something To Celebrate
Ottawa is 1-16 after beating Toronto 40-39. The REDBLACKS had lost every game before Friday, and some of those losses were ugly. But the players kept showing up, and they finally got rewarded. Barnes made his first CFL start and threw the game-winning touchdown to Ayden Eberhardt with nine seconds remaining. That’s a pretty good way to introduce yourself to the league. Ottawa’s season is still a disaster, but at least the players won’t have to spend the winter hearing about going winless.
Sign Up Get $30 Premium Picks Credit + Exclusive Offers
Subscribe Now
The REDBLACKS average 24.3 points and 344.1 yards per game. Those numbers aren’t great, but the offense has been better than the record suggests. Ottawa throws for 302.4 yards a contest, and there’s enough talent to move the ball. The defense is another story. The REDBLACKS allow 37.5 points and 462.8 yards per game, both the worst marks in the CFL. Opponents have been throwing for 346.5 yards a game against them. That’s an awful lot of open receivers. Hamilton should have opportunities Saturday if its quarterback gets time to throw.
Barnes gave Ottawa a spark against Toronto, and his ability to run adds something the offense hasn’t always had. He already has nine rushing touchdowns this season, which makes him dangerous near the goal line. Eberhardt’s winning catch was the biggest play of Ottawa’s season, and the receivers finally had a game where their production turned into a victory. The REDBLACKS have nothing to lose now. I’d expect Barnes to get another chance to show what he can do, although the final lineup still needs to be confirmed.
Hamilton Tiger-Cats Would Like To End This Season
Hamilton is 5-12 and coming off a bye. The Tiger-Cats lost 27-12 to Edmonton in their last game, and that pretty much summed up the season. The offense couldn’t get much going, the defense spent too much time on the field, and another game slipped away. Hamilton has been eliminated from the playoffs, so Saturday is about finishing with a little pride. That’s not much to play for, but it’s better than nothing.
The Tiger-Cats average 24 points and 333.4 yards per game. That’s the worst total offense in the league. Hamilton has struggled to throw the ball, averaging 256.6 passing yards, and the running game hasn’t been much better. The defense allows 29.5 points and 363.4 yards. That’s actually a lot better than Ottawa’s defense, particularly against the pass. Hamilton leads the league in passing yards allowed at 273.3 per game. Against Barnes, the Tiger-Cats need to keep him in the pocket and make him beat them with his arm.
Bo Levi Mitchell has been limited to four appearances by injury. His quarterback rating sits at 132.7, but Hamilton has spent much of the season without him. Zander Horvath has rushed for 891 yards and scored 18 rushing touchdowns, leading the CFL in that category. That’s the player Ottawa needs to worry about. Hamilton should be able to run the ball against a defense allowing more than 130 rushing yards a game. If the Tiger-Cats get Horvath going early, they can make this a long afternoon for Ottawa.
Ottawa Redblacks vs Hamilton Tiger-Cats Picks and Predictions
Ottawa Redblacks +4.5 (-105)
I’ll take Ottawa and the 4.5 points. I know the REDBLACKS are 1-16, and betting on them isn’t exactly something I’d recommend for a peaceful Saturday afternoon. But they just beat Toronto, Barnes gave the offense some life, and Hamilton hasn’t been playing good football either. The Tiger-Cats are 5-12 and coming off a bye with nothing at stake. Ottawa has a young quarterback trying to prove he belongs. That matters to me. Hamilton could win this game, especially if Horvath gets rolling, but I think Ottawa keeps it close. Give me the points.
Over 58.5 Points (-110)
I’m taking over 58.5. Ottawa allows 37.5 points a game. That’s an enormous number, and Hamilton should be able to move the ball against that defense. The REDBLACKS just scored 40 against Toronto, and Barnes has given them a little more variety offensively. Hamilton hasn’t been great at scoring, but Ottawa’s defense has made plenty of struggling offenses look better than they are. The danger is that both teams come out flat in a game with no playoff implications. That happens in the final week. But I think the quarterbacks will have enough opportunities to make plays. Hamilton 32, Ottawa 30.
Final Picks: Ottawa Redblacks +4.5 (-105) and Over 58.5 Points (-110)
This preview was completed October 20, 2026. Starting quarterbacks, injuries, betting lines, and game-day weather may change before kickoff.
Up To $1500 in Bonus Bets Paid Back if your First Bet Does Not Win
New Users – Get $350 in Bonus Bets when you wager $5 for 7 days
New DraftKings Customers: Bet $5, Get $200 + 3 Months of NBA League Pass!
