BC @ Hamilton preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 11, 2018 ) BC 8, Hamilton 48

The Hamilton Tiger-Cats look to get back into the win column when they host the struggling BC Lions on Saturday. The Tiger-Cats began life without star quarterback Jeremiah Masoli, who suffered a season-ending knee injury in Week 7, with a 24-19 road loss to the Saskatchewan Roughriders and hope to bounce back by notching their fifth consecutive home win of 2019.

"I'm proud of the effort and obviously disappointed with the outcome but it's in the rearview mirror now," Hamilton coach Orlondo Steinauer told reporters. "We have to move on because it's a plug and play mentality." BC coach DeVone Claybrooks hopes to have made the proper adjustments during the team's off week after a disastrous start to the season. The Lions have dropped six of their first seven games, including five defeats by 10 points or more, en route to their worst start since 2011, and look to turn their fortunes around by securing a win in Hamilton for the third time in the last four years. "As talented as we are our record doesn't display that and that's on us," Claybrooks told reporters. "We're a 1-6 team right now and we understand that but we're trying to go 1-0 this week and that's the goal."

TV: 7 p.m. ET, TSN, RDS

ABOUT THE LIONS (1-6): There will be some changes to an offensive line which has given up 25 sacks this season as right guard Sukh Chungh will return after missing the previous two games with a triceps injury and Justin Renfrow, who was acquired in a trade with the Calgary Stampeders, is likely to make his team debut at right tackle. Centre Peter Godber was put on the six-game injured list while linebacker Jordan Herdman-Reed is questionable with a leg injury. Linebacker Adam Konar is inching closer to a return after he practiced for the first time since suffering an undisclosed injury in the 45-18 loss to Saskatchewan on July 27.

ABOUT THE TIGER-CATS (5-2): Dane Evans completed 19-of-29 passes for 196 yards and a touchdown in his first start in place of Masoli while Luke Tasker caught five passes for 77 yards. Linebacker Simoni Lawrence is set to return to the starting lineup after serving a two-game suspension as will wide receiver Brandon Banks, who missed the loss to the Roughriders with an undisclosed injury. Fullback Nikola Kalinic was placed on the six-game injured list with a foot problem while Hamilton brought back wide receiver Brian Jones, who was released earlier in the season.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Lions QB Mike Reilly has thrown more interceptions (three) than touchdowns (two) over his last four games.

2. Banks leads the CFL in receptions (42) despite missing a game.

3. BC has given up an average of 38.6 points over their last three games.

PREDICTION: Tiger-Cats 24, Lions 20