CFL Week 4 Preview

Article by Duncan Gray

 

Week 4 Preview

Before the previews here are the latest Nissan Titan Power Rankings. They've shuffled a bit since we featured them after Week 1. Calgary are back on top as their two wins have come against the number two and three teams. They can cement that place this week as the play the fourth team.

 

1	Calgary Stampeders	Last week 3
2	Hamilton Tiger-Cats	1
3	Toronto Argonauts	2
4	Winnipeg Blue Bombers	6
5	Edmonton Eskimos	7
6	Ottawa REDBLACKS	4
7	Montreal Alouettes	5
8	BC Lions	9
9	Saskatchewan Roughriders	7

 

 

 

Game of the Week

 

The game features the bottom two teams in the ratings but after last week's overtime excitement we have to stay with Saskatchewan Roughriders and BC Lions. They'll be in Regina on Friday playing the reverse fixture from last week. The 'Riders are the only team left without a win but all three of their games have been very close. In fact they've had a 4^th quarter lead in every one of them, last week by as many as 11 points. They've actually put up more offensive yards than any other team this season so to put an end to the losing streak it's the defence that needs to step up. This week's signing of  experienced defensive back Geoff Tisdale might be a start.

Back in Vancouver, Lions quarterback Travis Lulay was relieved when they got the win last Friday, declaring that it's given the team the confidence boost they need. BC fans will be pleased to see that Lulay passed for over 400 yards in the game, surely proving that he's completely recovered from his long term shoulder injury. Watch for him connecting with his new favourite target, the ex-Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Austin Collie.

 

This week's TV Schedule   Hamilton Tiger-Cats at Montreal Alouettes - LIVE Friday morning 17 July 0030 hrs – BT Sport ESPN Replay - Friday afternoon  17 July 1400 hrs – BT Sport ESPN   Edmonton Eskimos at Ottawa Redblacks - LIVE Saturday morning 18 July 0000 hrs – BT Sport 2 repeat – Monday 20 July 0730 hrs – BT Sport ESPN   BC Lions at Saskatchewan Roughriders - LIVE Saturday morning 18 July 0300 hrs – BT Sport 2 repeat - Tuesday morning 21 July 0600 hrs – BT Sport ESPN   Winnipeg Blue Bombers at Calgary Stampeders - recorded Wednesday morning 22 July 0600 hrs – BT Sport ESPN

 

 

The other games

Week 4 starts with the number two rated Hamilton Tiger-Cats coming off the bye week for their first East Division match-up of the season with Montreal Alouettes. In their last game the Ti-Cats gave a mauling to the Winnipeg team that narrowly defeated Montreal last week so on paper this doesn't look good for the Als. Hamilton's high power defence will certainly present the biggest test yet for the rookie quarterback Rakeem Cato, but expect more heroics from running back Tyrell Sutton.

 

Friday night's double header opens with a rematch from week 3 as the Edmonton Eskimos travel to Ottawa. The game in Alberta was a blow out and his first win will have given inexperienced Esks' quarterback Matt Nichols a confidence boost. The REDBLACKS are going to have to find something magical to turn things around. Maybe another sell-out home crowd cheering them on will make a difference.

 

Saturday night's game features the teams which are sharing the lead in the West Division table as  Calgary Stampeders host Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Both sides showed they have fighting spirit as they held on for their narrow victories last week. The Stampeders will start as favourites but so far they haven't reached the standard of the last year's Grey Cup winning team.

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Toronto Argonauts have the bye this week.