CFL Week 7 Preview

Article by Duncan Gray

 

We'll have our second chance of the season to watch a live game before bedtime this Sunday (unless you're an early to bed person of course). The game in Hamilton kicks off at 5 pm local time, 10 pm in the UK. Tune in to BT Sport ESPN for the action.

 

In the Nissan Titan Power Rankings this week the Edmonton Eskimos Four wins in a row have propelled them to the top, only two weeks after they were listed as low as number seven.

 

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

 

 

 

Game of the Week

After Hamilton v Toronto last Monday night we have the East Division's other local derby on Saturday. Perhaps a local rivalry hasn't had time to mature yet, it's only the Ottawa Redblacks' second season, but they're at 3 and 2 and hosting the Montreal Alouettes team that's one game behind. There will be a sell-out crowd and this is the sort of game that rivalries are built on.
It's not easy to predict how this one will go. Both played Calgary in their most recent games, Ottawa won in overtime, Montreal lost a close one which they'd led by as many as 17 points. What to expect is a quarterback duel between 40 year old veteran Henry Burris and the Alouettes' rookie Rakeem Cato. Both have a great set of receivers to support them, Burris connected with the super fast Chris Williams for an 84 yard touchdown last time out, Cato has built a very effective working relationship with S J Green who now leads the league in receiving yards.
The one thing we can be sure of is that the Ottawa crowd will be up for the game, maybe home advantage will swing it.

 

This week's TV Schedule   Edmonton Eskimos at BC Lions – LIVE Friday morning August 7, 03:00 hrs – BT Sport ESPN repeat: Saturday morning 06:00 hrs –  BT Sport ESPN Montreal Alouettes at Ottawa Redblacks – LIVE Saturday morning August 8, 00:30 hrs –  BT Sport ESPN repeat: Monday morning 06:00 hrs –  BT Sport ESPN Saskatchewan Roughriders at Toronto Argonauts – recorded Tuesday morning August 11, 06:00 hrs - BT Sport ESPN Winnipeg Blue Bombers at Hamilton Tiger-Cats – LIVE Sunday night August 9, 22:00 hrs - BT Sport ESPN repeat: Wednesday morning August 12, 06:00 hrs –  BT Sport ESPN

 

The other games

 

After two disappointing losses the BC Lions (2&3) have to face the challenge of the 4&1 Edmonton Eskimos in Vancouver on Thursday night. The brightest light of the Lions season has been Andrew Harris who leads the league in rushing. His task for this game will be to break through the most of solid defences. Not an easy one, on average the Eskimos are only conceding 77 rushing yards per game. BC will have to find consistency through all four quarters if they're to succeed here.

 

Toronto Argonauts will finally get to play a game in Toronto on Saturday. They've proved their quality by winning three of their five games on the road and  no doubt they're feeling frustrated after losing to their local rivals on Monday. Saskatchewan Roughriders will be the visitors to the Rogers Centre who'll face the backlash. With their 0 & 6 record and rookie Brett Smith playing only his second game at quarterback things don't look good for the 'Riders. Don't expect a repeat of  the double overtime thriller these teams played in Week 2.

 

Visiting Hamilton Tiger-Cats (3&2) is a formidable challenge. Since they moved to Tim Hortons Field in the middle of last season they have a perfect 8 & 0 home record. Winnipeg Blue Bombers (3&3) are coming east on the back of a confidence boosting win over the Lions. However, they lost heavily at home to Hamilton earlier in the season. Their quarterback Drew Willy put up a leading performance last week and he'll be looking for revenge for the hit which forced him out of the earlier game. The TiCats have injury worries, but don't they always? Two of their top performers, running back C J Gable and receiver Andy Fantuz went down on Monday night and both will be missing from the offence.