Edmonton @ Calgary preview
McMahon Stadium
Last Meeting ( Aug 3, 2019 ) Edmonton 18, Calgary 24
The Calgary Stampeders look to stay in the hunt for the West Division title when they host the Edmonton Eskimos in the Labour Day Classic. The Stampeders have dropped back-to-back games in August, including a 40-34 double-overtime loss to the Montreal Alouettes, for the first time since 2004 to fall six points behind the division-leading Winnipeg Blue Bombers, and hope to stay within striking distance of the leaders by beating the Eskimos on Labour Day for the eighth consecutive year.
"As long as we can take care of business against the West then we can make up a lot of ground," Calgary wide receiver Eric Rogers told reporters. "We're two games behind, but we play the teams ahead of us twice." Edmonton missed an opportunity to grab a share of first place as it dropped a 34-28 home decision against the Blue Bombers in Week 11. The Eskimos have struggled on the road in recent times, dropping nine of their last 11 games, and hope to turn their fortunes around in the Labour Day series by knocking off the Stampeders in the annual classic for the first time since 2011. "You treat it as another game, but when you look at it from the big picture it's the Calgary game," Edmonton quarterback Trevor Harris told reporters. "It's west versus west and it's Labour Day."
TV: 4:30 p.m. ET, TSN
ABOUT THE ESKIMOS (6-4): Harris was named one of the CFL's Top Performers of the Month after throwing for 1,550 yards and six touchdowns to go along with another pair on the ground as Edmonton went 2-2 in August. DaVaris Daniels earned CFL Top Performer of the Week honours after he hauled in 10 passes for a season-high 207 yards against the Blue Bombers while cornerback Money Hunter was fined an undisclosed amount, but escaped a suspension for making contact with an official. Offensive lineman Matt O'Donnell could make his first appearance since Week 5 as he came off the six-game injured list (lower body) while defensive back Arjen Colquhoun is questionable with a leg problem.
ABOUT THE STAMPEDERS (5-4): Bo Levi Mitchell was taken off the six-game injured list on Thursday and could return to the lineup for the first time since he was sidelined with a pectoral issue on June 29. If Mitchell is unable to play then Nick Arbuckle, who completed 31-of-36 passes for 370 yards and four touchdowns in the loss to the Montreal Alouettes, will make his eighth consecutive start. Running back Ka'Deem Carey was back at practice for the first time since suffering an ankle injury against the Ottawa Redblacks in Week 7 while Calgary released defensive end Patrick Choudja.
EXTRA POINTS
1. Calgary has won nine of the last 10 Labour Day Classics.
2. Harris leads the league in passing yards (3,481).
3. Mitchell is 69-15-2 in his career as a starter.
PREDICTION: Stampeders 27, Eskimos 24