The Riders roll into Hamilton fresh off a five-game win streak in this series and a defense that just held Ottawa to 12 rushing yards.

Game Details

Odds

Spread: Saskatchewan Roughriders -7
Moneyline: Saskatchewan Roughriders -375, Hamilton Tiger-Cats +295
Over/Under: 56

Saskatchewan has covered at a 5-2-1 clip this season and the over has hit in five of their eight games. Hamilton sits at 4-5 against the spread with the under cashing five times, a sign this offense has struggled to keep pace no matter who’s under center.

Overview

The Roughriders head east at 6-2, sitting second in the West and coming off a 42-20 demolition of Ottawa where Tommy Stevens ran wild again. They’ve won four of their last five and haven’t lost to Hamilton since 2018 — five straight over the Ticats, capped by a 38-7 beatdown back in Week 6 in Regina. Trevor Harris has owned this series too, sitting 12-5 in his career against Hamilton, and he’s been on fire lately with 1,026 passing yards and seven touchdowns over his last three starts.

Hamilton, meanwhile, is stuck in quicksand. The Tiger-Cats have dropped three straight and five of their last six, including a heartbreaker last week against BC where they clawed back but came up short 27-24. Harrison Frost is stepping in behind center with Bo Levi Mitchell still working his way back, and while Frost showed some promise in his first start — 60.6 percent completions for 239 yards and a touchdown — asking a first-time starter to slow down this Saskatchewan offense on the road is a tall order.

This one has blowout potential written all over it. Saskatchewan’s defense ranks first in the CFL in points allowed and has been suffocating opponents down the stretch, while Hamilton is dead last in the East at 3-6 and has been outscored by 84 points in the fourth quarter alone this season. The Riders have the QB edge, the defense edge, and the recent history edge. Hard to find a real argument for Hamilton here beyond desperation and a home crowd.

Key Players

Trevor Harris (Saskatchewan Roughriders, QB) — Sits 12-5 for his career against Hamilton and has thrown seven touchdowns over his last three games; Hamilton held him to a season-low 211 yards and two picks the last time these two met, so revenge is on the table.
KeeSean Johnson (Saskatchewan Roughriders, WR) — One catch away from 200 for his career, and he’s found the end zone in three straight games with four 100-yard outings this season.
Tommy Stevens (Saskatchewan Roughriders, QB/RB) — Just became the third player since 1995 to record back-to-back three-touchdown games, joining Mike Pringle and Joe Smith, and he’s a load in short yardage.
James Vaughters (Saskatchewan Roughriders, DL) — Saskatchewan’s top pass rusher and a key piece of a defense that just held Ottawa to 12 rushing yards.
Kenny Lawler (Hamilton Tiger-Cats, WR) — Needs just 19 receiving yards to hit 6,000 for his career, one of the lone bright spots for a struggling Hamilton offense.
Julian Howsare (Hamilton Tiger-Cats, DL) — His next sack will be the 50th of his career, and Hamilton will need pressure like that to slow down Harris.

Keys to the Game

Get Harris rolling early and don’t let Hamilton’s defense repeat its Week 6 trick of forcing multiple turnovers.
Lean on Tommy Stevens and the ground game in short yardage the way they have all season — Hamilton’s defense has been gashed late in games all year.
Keep the pressure on Harrison Frost, who’s making just his second career start, and force him into mistakes Hamilton can’t afford in the fourth quarter, where they’re a combined -84 this season.

Injury Report

PlayerTeamStatus

Zack Fry (OL)Saskatchewan RoughridersOut — Knee
Daniel Johnson (OL)Saskatchewan RoughridersOut — Illness
James Letcher Jr. (WR)Saskatchewan RoughridersOut — Forearm
Ali Saad (DL)Saskatchewan RoughridersOut — Calf
Quali Conley (RB)Saskatchewan RoughridersQuestionable — Hamstring

Depth Chart

Saskatchewan Roughriders starters by position, built from this week’s official depth chart. With Quali Conley banged up and questionable, Star’Corius Thomas has been elevated to the top of the running back chart this week. This table is for the Roughriders only — projected and subject to change.

PositionSaskatchewan Roughriders

QBTrevor Harris* (Jack Coan*, Tommy Stevens*)
RBStar’Corius Thomas* (Thomas Bertrand-Hudon)
WRDylan Djete #, Dhel Duncan-Busby (Daniel Wiebe)
SBKeeSean Johnson*, Johnny Johnson III* (D’Sean Mimbs, Vyshonne Janusas)
OLLT Payton Collins*, LG Erik Andersen, C Logan Ferland (Darius Bell #), RG Jacob Brammer*, RT Jermarcus Hardrick*
DLDE James Vaughters*, DT Caleb Sanders*, DT Mike Rose* (Devin Adams*), DE Desmond Evans* (Derick Roberson*)
LBWLB Josh Woods* (Ryder Varga, Nick Wiebe), MLB Jameer Thurman* (David Gbenda*, Aubrey Miller Jr.*), SLB Antoine Brooks Jr.* (Melique Straker, Seyi Oladipo Jr.*)
DBCB Marcus Sayles* (Malcolm Bell #, Nelson Lokombo), HB Jonathan Edouard, DaMarcus Fields*, FS Kerfalla Exumé (Jaxon Ford)
KAlex Hale
POscar Chapman
LSMike Benson

Score Prediction

Saskatchewan Roughriders 32 – Hamilton Tiger-Cats 25. The Riders’ defense and their five-game win streak in this series carry the day, but a first-time starter finding his footing and Kenny Lawler’s milestone chase keep Hamilton within a score for most of the fourth quarter before Saskatchewan pulls away late.

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Who takes this one? Drop your prediction in the comments.