Hamilton @ Toronto preview
BMO Field
Last Meeting ( Jun 6, 2019 ) Toronto 30, Hamilton 23
The Hamilton Tiger-Cats make the short trip up the QEW to face the Toronto Argonauts in the Battle of Ontario on Saturday. The Tiger-Cats opened the new campaign with a 23-17 win against the Saskatchewan Roughriders to hand Orlondo Steinauer a victory in his head coaching debut and hope to set the pace in the East Division by taking down the Argonauts for the fourth straight time after sweeping the season series in 2018.
"At the end of the day it's all about wins," Steinauer told reporters. "We're evolving as a football team and there's no model as to what we are or what we're going to be." Toronto looks to put a disappointing season in the rearview mirror after finishing with a league-worst 4-14 record. Head coach Corey Chamblin replaces Marc Trestman, who was relieved of his duties the day after the regular season ended, and the former Saskatchewan Roughriders head man hopes the free agent signings of wide receiver Derel Walker and kick returner/running back Chris Rainey adds a big-play dimension to an offence, which finished second-last in points per game (17.8). "Our whole thing is to build a better boat and make sure this one doesn't leak," Chamblin told reporters. "From the top down we're looking for cracks in order to just not do it the right way but also the winning way."
TV: 4 p.m. ET, TSN
ABOUT THE TIGER-CATS (1-0): Brandon Banks showed no ill effects of the shoulder injury that prematurely ended his season on Oct. 19, 2018 as he hauled in six passes for 77 yards and a touchdown in the win against Saskatchewan. Linebacker Simoni Lawrence will miss Saturday's contest after he was given a two-game suspension for a late hit, which knocked out Saskatchewan quarterback Zach Collaros on the third offensive play from scrimmage. Wide receiver Luke Tasker is questionable after suffering an upper-body injury against the Roughriders while centre Demetrius Rhaney will be absent due to a personal issue, with Mike Filer taking his spot in the starting lineup.
ABOUT THE ARGONAUTS (2018: 4-14): James Franklin, who appeared in 12 games and led the league in rushing touchdowns with 14, is expected to get the start at quarterback after winning a hotly-contested battle in training camp with McLeod Bethel-Thompson. Toronto bolstered its defense with free-agent signings Kevin Fogg, who recorded four interceptions, three forced fumbles and a touchdown with Winnipeg last season and linebacker Ian Wild, who spent the previous six years with the Blue Bombers. All-star guard Ryan Bomben is questionable with an undisclosed injury and could be replaced by Shane Richards, who was the first overall pick in the 2019 CFL Draft.
EXTRA POINTS
1. Banks has caught at least one touchdown pass in eight of his last nine games.
2. Toronto was 2-6 against East Division rivals in 2018.
3. The Argonauts will honour former quarterback Ricky Ray, who won a record four Grey Cups, including the 2017 title with Toronto.
PREDICTION: Tiger-Cats 33, Argonauts 24