Calgary @ Hamilton preview
Tim Hortons Field
Last Meeting ( Sep 15, 2018 ) Calgary 43, Hamilton 28
The Calgary Stampeders look to continue their mastery of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats when they visit Ontario on Saturday. The Stampeders have won 14 consecutive regular-season meetings with the Tiger-Cats, including seven matchups in Hamilton, and hope to build off their convincing 37-10 victory over the Saskatchewan Roughriders in Week 4 with their seventh straight road win against an East Division opponent.
"They're already a heck of a team so we're going to have to play our best," Calgary coach Dave Dickenson told reporters. "This is going to be a huge challenge." The Tiger-Cats looked invincible in their first three weeks of the season as they scored 128 points in three games before suffering a 36-29 setback to the previously winless Montreal Alouettes in Week 4. Penalties and a porous run defense ended Hamilton's unbeaten start and it hopes to exorcise some past demons by knocking off the Stampeders for the first time since Sept. 25, 2011. "A streak like that needs to be broken," Hamilton coach Orlondo Steinauer told reporters. "I do respect history but a lot of guys weren't here for the majority of those games so they don't know any different."
TV: 7 p.m. ET, TSN, ESPN2
ABOUT THE STAMPEDERS (2-1): Nick Arbuckle filled in admirably for Bo Levi Mitchell, who was placed on the six-game injured list with a pectoral muscle problem, as he completed 19-of-22 passes for 262 yards and a pair of touchdowns in his first CFL start. Defensive back Tre Roberson was named one of the CFL's Top Performers of the Week after he recorded two interceptions, including a 48-yard pick six, against Saskatchewan. Ka'Deem Carey rushed for 63 yards and a touchdown in his CFL debut and will once again deputize for Don Jackson, who will miss his second straight game with a concussion.
ABOUT THE TIGER-CATS (3-1): Sean Thomas-Erlington, who was named one of the CFL's Top Performers for the month of June after racking up 417 yards from scrimmage, was placed on the six-game injured list after hurting his knee against the Alouettes. Right guard Chris Van Zeyl is questionable after suffering a leg injury in the Week 4 loss while wide receiver Bralon Addison, who caught three touchdown passes in his first three games, is likely to return after missing last week's contest with an undisclosed injury. Linebacker Simoni Lawrence is expected to miss Saturday's contest as the appeal hearing for his two-game suspension is set to conclude later in the week.
EXTRA POINTS
1. Calgary has won 13 of its last 14 regular-season games against East Division opponents.
2. Roberson leads the league with five interceptions.
3. Hamilton WR Brandon Banks has finished with seven receptions in each of his last three games.
PREDICTION: Tiger-Cats 33, Stampeders 31