Saskatchewan @ BC preview
BC Place
Last Meeting ( Jul 27, 2019 ) Saskatchewan 45, BC 18
The Saskatchewan Roughriders look to stay in the hunt for their first West Division title in 10 years when they visit Vancouver to take on the BC Lions on Friday. The Roughriders dropped a 30-28 decision to the Calgary Stampeders in Week 18 to relinquish sole possession of first place and no longer control their own destiny in the race for the division title, but can take a big step toward hosting the Western semifinal by beating the Lions for the third time this season.
"Our mindset hasn't changed but we still have to win out and we know we have a big game this week against BC," Saskatchewan quarterback Cody Fajardo told reporters. "For us all we can do is win games." BC was officially eliminated from the playoffs following a 19-6 loss to the Edmonton Eskimos. The Lions had won their previous four games and could've moved within two points of the Eskimos in the race for the crossover playoff spot but quarterback Mike Reilly broke his wrist early in the first quarter and they could only muster 211 yards of offence en route to their first loss in five games, and hope to shake off the disappointment by knocking off the Roughriders for the first time since Aug. 5, 2017. "This is our job and we'll play for our families and each other," BC defensive back T.J. Lee told reporters. "Even though we're out of the playoffs we still have two more games and we have to prove who were are as individuals and collectively as a team."
TV: 10 p.m. ET, TSN
ABOUT THE ROUGHRIDERS (10-5): Fajardo completed 20-of-32 passes for 209 yards and a touchdown while William Powell accounted for 84 yards from scrimmage and a pair of touchdowns against Calgary. Defensive lineman Micah Johnson, who has registered four sacks in 2019, is questionable after leaving the game in the second half with an ankle injury while offensive lineman Philip Blake could make his first appearance since tearing ligaments in his ankle in Week 6. Saskatchewan released defensive lineman Earl Okine, who appeared in six games this season, while linebacker Cameron Judge is expected to return after missing the previous contest with a concussion.
ABOUT THE LIONS (5-11): Reilly, who leads the CFL in passing yards (3,897), was 1-of-3 for six yards before getting hurt on the second possession of the game and Danny O'Brien finished 12-of-22 for 103 yards and an interception in his absence. BC signed quarterback Brandon Bridge, who spent the previous three seasons with Saskatchewan, to the active roster Tuesday with rookie Grant Kraemer also in the mix to start Friday's clash. Defensive back Aaron Grymes, who has made 54 tackles and recorded one interception this season, will miss at least one game after suffering a knee injury against the Eskimos.
EXTRA POINTS
1. The Roughriders have won five straight meetings with the Lions.
2. BC is 0-8 against West Division rivals this season.
3. Saskatchewan has rushed for 23 touchdowns, which is three shy of matching the franchise record set in 2003.
PREDICTION: Roughriders 34, Lions 16