Home field advantage for semifinal may be on the line in West Division showdown

SETTING THE SCENE

The Saskatchewan Roughriders (9-6) and Edmonton Eskimos (105) both clinched playoff positions on Monday, but in different ways. The Riders, who were hammered 40-9 by the host Montreal Alouettes on Monday, advanced to the post-season thanks to the Eskimos beating the Winnipeg Blue Bombers 41-9. The Riders needed a win or a Blue Bombers loss to lock up a playoff spot. The Eskimos also wrapped up a playoff berth with the win in Edmonton. The Riders and Eskimos are to meet again on Nov. 8, the final regular-season game of the 2014 season for both teams, at Mosaic Stadium. The two games between the Riders and Eskimos could decide homefield advantage for the West Division semifinal.

THREE PLAYERS TO WATCH

RIDERS

Anthony Allen: Allen heads into the weekend as the CFL’s rushing leader (849 yards) and has been Saskatchewan’s most productive offensive player as of late.

Josh Bartel: Saskatchewan’s coverage teams were improved against the Alouettes thanks to Bartel’s net average of 35.9 yards on 10 punts in his first game back after being sidelined by an injured right hamstring.

Dan Clark: Clark is expected to make his second consecutive start at left guard with Brendon LaBatte sidelined because of an undisclosed injury.

ESKIMOS

Dexter McCoil: The first-year linebacker has scored three defensive touchdowns, including a 77-yard fumble return for a major against the Blue Bombers.

Odell Willis: The former Riders defensive end has six sacks and four forced fumbles in his last four games and heads into the weekend second in the CFL with 13 sacks, one behind Saskatchewan’s John Chick.

Adarius Bowman: Heading into the weekend, the veteran slotback led the league in receptions (101) and receiving yards (1,241) and is tied for second in touchdown receptions (six).

BOLD PREDICTION

Allen rushes for more than 100 yards and two touchdowns as the Riders remain committed to their running attack.

THE RIDERS WILL WIN IF …

They contain running back John White and quarterback Mike Reilly, who helped the Eskimos rush for 299 yards in a 24-0 win on Sept. 26.

THE ESKIMOS WILL WIN IF …

They carry over the momentum they picked up while running over the Blue Bombers on Thanksgiving Monday.

THE BIG MATCHUP

Saskatchewan left tackle Levy Adcock versus Edmonton defensive end Odell Willis: Adcock is expected to make his third start at left tackle, replacing the struggling Xavier Fulton. Adcock faces one of his biggest challenges in Willis, who is making a strong push for the most-outstanding-defensive-player award. Willis told the Edmonton media that they will be coming after quarterback Kerry Joseph, who is making his first start re-signing with the Riders on Oct. 9. That means there is even more pressure on Adcock to protect Joseph’s blindside from Willis, who had two sacks and two forced fumbles against the Blue Bombers last week.

KEY STATISTIC

In the Riders’ last seven games, Chick has been limited to two sacks and the Riders have a 3-4 record over that span. Willis has recorded eight sacks and Edmonton is 4-3 through those seven games.