Home, sweet home for the Roughriders and Tiger-Cats

Turnovers will be a crucial key to victory in the CFL West Division semifinal.

The Saskatchewan Roughriders will entertain the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in that game Sunday (TSN, 4:30 p.m.). During the regular season, the teams sported identical 10-0 records when they won the turnover battle.

Converting off turnovers was a big part of Winnipeg’s success as the Blue Bombers (10-8) scored a CFL-high 151 points in that category.

Saskatchewan (12-6) won the season series 2-1, but the Bombers intercepted starter Zach Collaros twice in their lone win, a 31-0 decision at Investors Group Field on Oct. 13. The Riders, meanwhile, won only two games this year while losing the turnover battle.

By comparison, Winnipeg never won a game in which it lost the turnover battle.

Both teams sport solid defences but Saskatchewan defensive ends Charleston Hughes (CFL-high 15 sacks) and Willie Jefferson (10 sacks) were especially hard on opposing quarterbacks.

The Bombers’ offensive line, anchored by stalwart tackle Stanley Bryant, gave up 36 sacks, tied for third-lowest overall.

Bombers starting quarterback Matt Nichols completed 34 of 64 passes (53.1 per cent) for 486 yards with two TDs and five interceptions in the three games versus Saskatchewan. But over his final five regular-season starts — all wins — Nichols threw seven TD passes against just one interception.

Winnipeg also boasts the CFL rushing leader in Andrew Harris (1,390 yards, 5.8-yard average, eight TDs). It was Harris’s fourth 1,000-yard campaign and second straight.

The Bombers’ defence is anchored by linebacker Adam Bighill, who had eight tackles, three sacks and a forced fumble in the shutout win over Saskatchewan.

Collaros is expected to play for Saskatchewan, but threw for only 2,999 yards in 14 starts this season, his first in Regina. He has more interceptions (13) than touchdown passes (nine).

Saskatchewan last hosted a playoff game in 2013 when it won the Grey Cup. It also is the first post-season contest at new Mosaic Stadium.

The last time the two teams met in the playoffs was in 2003 when Saskatchewan earned a 37-21 road victory. The Riders also beat the Bombers in the 2007 Grey Cup in Toronto.

Home field should be a big advantage for Saskatchewan, which was 6-3 at Mosaic Field before its rabid fans. Winnipeg was 4-5-0 on the road. Prediction: Saskatchewan

B.C. LIONS AT HAMILTON TIGER-CATS

Sunday, 1 p.m. (TSN)

The Tiger-Cats (8-10) head into the East semifinal riding a three-game losing streak. Two of those defeats were to Ottawa, which will host the East final on Nov. 18 at TD Place.

Hamilton and B.C. (9-9) split the regular-season series1-1, each team winning at home. The Lions captured a 35-32 victory at B.C. Place Stadium on Sept. 22 but the Ticats won the rematch, 40-10 at Tim Hortons Field the following week.

The loss of wide receiver Brandon Banks (broken clavicle) is a serious blow to Hamilton, considering the five-foot-seven, 157-pound dynamo has 94 catches for 1,423 yards and 11 TDs. And the Ticats are 0-3 since Banks was injured.

B.C. makes the trek to the East as the crossover team, meaning it will have to go the long way to give head coach Wally Buono a championship in his final season on the Lions’ sideline. No crossover team has ever reached the Grey Cup, let alone won it.

The Lions’ defence has been a big part of the club’s success this season, and it could be boasted by the return of linebacker Solomon Elimimian. He’s been sidelined with a wrist injury for most of the season but has taken the majority of reps this week in practice.

But the Lions were just 2-7 away from BC Place. Then again, Hamilton didn’t exactly light it up at Tim Hortons Field, either, with a 4-5-0 mark.

The Lions are a crossover team for the fifth time. Hamilton hosted the Lions in the 2009 East semifinal, earning a 34-27 overtime decision. Prediction: Hamilton

RECORD

Last week: 4-0 Overall: 53-28