Surging Lions will be tested
It seems the B.C. Lions have cured their road woes.
The Lions opened the season dropping their first five road games before snapping that dubious streak with a 32-14 win over the Montreal Alouettes on Sept. 14. Since then, B.C. has won two of its last three contests away from B.C. Place Stadium.
B.C. (9-7) will have its road mettle put to the test Saturday night when it visits Saskatchewan (11-6). The Roughriders’ rabid fans make Mosaic Stadium a very difficult place to play at the best of times, let alone with the hometown team still battling for home-field advantage in the West Division playoffs (depending on what the Calgary Stampeders do Friday night, that is).
The Lions have also punched their post-season ticket, although it’s still unclear exactly where they’ll finish in the standings. But B.C. comes in as one of the CFL’s hottest teams, having won three straight and six-of-seven games overall.
The Riders are no slouches, having won four of their last five games and eight of 10.
But the Lions also have a road win over Calgary to their credit, a 26-21 decision Oct. 13. B.C. clinched a playoff berth last weekend after rallying for a 4232 win over the Edmonton Eskimos.
Quarterback Travis Lulay threw four TD strikes in that game, three to DeVier Posey. And Tyrell Sutton ran for 97 yards on 16 carries after rushing for 106 yards in his Lions debut versus Calgary.
With both teams having stout defences, this would appear to be a very tight game.
In that scenario, Saskatchewan’s loud, enthusiastic fans should give the Riders an edge. Prediction: Saskatchewan. Calgary Stampeders at Winnipeg Blue Bombers (Friday night)
The Blue Bombers (9-7) can clinch a playoff berth with a fifth straight victory. Receiver Darvin Adams is 98 yards shy of a second 1,000-yard campaign and running back Andrew Harris is second overall in rushing (1,269 yards). Calgary (12-4) has dropped two straight and can finish first in the West with a win. Prediction: Calgary. Ottawa Redblacks at Hamilton Tiger-Cats (Saturday afternoon)
Ottawa (9-7) can finish first in the East with a victory following last week’s 35-31 home win.
The Ticats (8-8) can still claim top spot but must first take this contest.
They’ll be minus big-play receiver Brandon Banks (seasonending broken clavicle last weekend), who was Jeremiah Masoli’s security blanket. Prediction: Hamilton. Toronto Argonauts at Montreal Alouettes (Sunday afternoon)
The Alouettes (3-13) look to avenge last weekend’s 26-22 loss in Toronto (4-12), when quarterback James Franklin ran for two TDs, giving him a club-record 14 and tying Doug Flutie’s CFL single-season mark for quarterbacks. Prediction: Montreal. Last week: 1-3. Overall: 47-26.