Hamilton @ Saskatchewan preview

Last Meeting ( Jun 13, 2019 ) Saskatchewan 17, Hamilton 23

The Hamilton Tiger-Cats look to overcome the loss of star quarterback Jeremiah Masoli when they make the trip to Regina to face the Saskatchewan Roughriders on Thursday. Masoli suffered a season-ending knee injury in the 23-15 victory over the previously undefeated Winnipeg Blue Bombers in Week 7, and backup Dane Evans will be tasked with keeping the Tiger-Cats on track for their first East Division title since 2014.

"It's next man up around here … and now I get to be one of those 12 guys out there doing my part," Evans told reporters. "I have to get in there and do my homework to be ready for Thursday." Saskatchewan moved back to .500 following a convincing 45-18 win over the BC Lions in Vancouver. The Roughriders scored a combined 83 points en route to sweeping the home-and-home set with BC for the first time since 1974 while the defence held the Lions to 68 net yards Saturday and they aim to avenge a 23-17 loss to the Tiger-Cats in their season opener. "We have to learn that no quarterback can be taken lightly," Saskatchewan linebacker Solomon Elimimian told reporters. "Their backup is going to be a starter and we must have the utmost respect for him because he's a professional."

TV: 9:30 p.m. ET, TSN

ABOUT THE TIGER-CATS (5-1): Masoli completed 6-of-7 passes for 59 yards to go along with a rushing touchdown before tearing his ACL with five minutes left in the first quarter against Winnipeg and will undergo surgery at a later date. Evans, who has made one career start with Hamilton, went 13-of-25 through the air for 94 yards and added a TD on the ground in relief of Masoli. Hamilton signed quarterback David Watford, who threw for 168 yards and a touchdown in four appearances for Saskatchewan last season and also added defensive back Jordan Moore, who spent 2018 on the Denver Broncos' practice squad.

ABOUT THE ROUGHRIDERS (3-3): William Powell had his best performance since arriving in Regina in the offseason as he racked up 146 yards and three touchdowns in the win over BC to become the first Saskatchewan player to rush for three TDs in one game since Will Ford achieved the feat in 2014. Elimimian recorded four tackles and a sack against the Lions to move within six tackles of passing Greg Battle (766) for seventh place on the CFL's all-time list. Manny Arceneaux caught a 6-yard pass to extend his streak of games with at least one reception to 103.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Saskatchewan has recorded kickoff-return touchdowns in back-to-back games.

2. Hamilton WR Brandon Banks has finished with at least six catches in six straight games in 2019.

3. Powell leads the league with six rushing touchdowns.

PREDICTION: Roughriders 33, Tiger-Cats 31