Hamilton @ Calgary preview
McMahon Stadium
Last Meeting ( Jul 13, 2019 ) Calgary 23, Hamilton 30
The Calgary Stampeders look to continue their push toward a fourth straight West Division title when they host the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on Saturday. The Stampeders swept a home-and-home set with the Edmonton Eskimos, including a 33-17 victory in the Labour Day Classic rematch, to move within four points of the division-leading Winnipeg Blue Bombers and hope to continue climbing the standings by taking down the Tiger-Cats in Calgary for the 15th consecutive time.
"We're really playing hard and you can tell that everyone's committed, Calgary coach Dave Dickenson told reporters. "There's some little things that we have to be better at to keep winning." Hamilton looks to take a another step toward sewing up its first East Division title since 2014 as it returns from a week off. The Tiger-Cats beat the Toronto Argonauts 38-27 on Labour Day to move six points clear at the top of the division and hope to extend their wining streak to five games by completing the season sweep of the Stampeders for the first time in 15 years following a 30-23 victory in Week 5 which ended a 14-game regular-season losing streak in the rivalry. Hamilton is 5-1 against West Division opponents this season and hope to exorcise some past demons at McMahon Stadium, which has been a house of horrors for the Tiger-Cats as they've been outscored 88-15 in their last two games there.
TV: 4 p.m. ET, TSN
ABOUT THE TIGER-CATS (9-2): Dane Evans was named one of the CFL's Top Performers of Week 12 after he threw for a career-high 442 yards and a pair of touchdowns go along with a rushing score against Toronto. Defensive end Ted Laurent (leg) and wide receiver Luke Tasker (hamstring) returned to practice after missing the last two games through injury and are likely to suit up Saturday. Hamilton made a move to add depth to the running back position as it added veteran Tyrell Sutton, who has racked up 3,841 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns in 73 career games with the Montreal Alouettes and BC Lions, to the practice roster Monday.
ABOUT THE STAMPEDERS (7-4): Bo Levi Mitchell completed 25-of-40 passes for 254 yards and two touchdowns against Edmonton to become the winningest quarterback in franchise history with 72 victories. Reggie Begelton continued his career year as he caught seven passes for 88 yards and a touchdown to give him six TD receptions in his last three games. Defensive end Cordarro Law, who leads the team with seven sacks, suffered a shoulder injury against the Eskimos but is expected to play Saturday while offensive lineman Shane Bergman is questionable after he was sidelined for most of game with a bout of vertigo.
EXTRA POINTS
1. Hamilton hasn't won at McMahon Stadium since July 4, 2004.
2. Begelton leads the CFL in receiving yards (930).
3. Tiger-Cats DE Dylan Wynn has registered at least one sack in five straight games.
PREDICTION: Stampeders 31, Tiger-Cats 23