Saskatchewan @ Toronto preview
BMO Field
Last Meeting ( Jul 1, 2019 ) Toronto 7, Saskatchewan 32
The Saskatchewan Roughriders look to stay in the hunt for their first West Division title in 10 years when they visit the Toronto Argonauts on Saturday. The Roughriders recorded a thrilling 27-25 victory over the Montreal Alouettes to go into their bye week on a winning note and can grab a share of the division lead if they knock off the Argonauts for the seventh consecutive time and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers lose to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.
"We want to be able to control our own destiny and the only way we can do that is win games," Saskatchewan quarterback Cody Fajardo told reporters. "We know we have our work cut out for us and we're excited about the opportunity." Toronto's playoff hopes are on life support following a 23-16 loss to the Calgary Stampeders in Week 15. The defeat has prompted the Argonauts to make a change at quarterback as James Franklin, who missed six games with a hamstring issue, will make his first start since July 1 after McLeod Bethel-Thompson struggled against the Stampeders and Franklin hopes to lead the team to their first win against Saskatchewan in more than three years. "He gave us a spark in the second half," Toronto coach Corey Chamblin told reporters. "We want to see if that spark continues into points for us."
TV: 7 p.m. ET, TSN
ABOUT THE ROUGHRIDERS (8-4): Fajardo threw for 254 yards and a touchdown while also running for a score and Brett Lauther kicked the go-ahead field goal with 25 seconds left in the fourth quarter to lift Saskatchewan past Montreal. Defensive end Charleston Hughes, who leads the CFL with 13 sacks, is expected to return to the lineup after being placed on the one-game injured list ahead of the Montreal clash. Wide receiver Jordan Williams-Lambert, who caught 62 passes for 764 yards and four touchdowns en route to winning the West Division's Most Outstanding Rookie award with Saskatchewan last year, is set to make his season debut after he was released by the Chicago Bears.
ABOUT THE ARGONAUTS (2-10): Franklin came off the bench midway through the third quarter to go 12-of-16 for 147 yards and a touchdown pass against Calgary after Bethel-Thompson was limited to 86 yards passing with an interception. Derel Walker was one of the lone bright spots on offense as he caught five passes for 52 yards and a touchdown but Toronto fell to their 12th consecutive regular-season defeat to the Stampeders. Quarterback Zach Collaros returned to the practice field but is not expected to play in the coming weeks as he continues his recovery from a concussion he suffered in the first game of the season.
EXTRA POINTS
1. Saskatchewan has won five straight games against East Division opponents.
2. Fajardo is 8-3 as a starter this season.
3. Walker has scored five touchdowns in his last four games.
PREDICTION: Roughriders 33, Argonauts 27