Montreal @ BC preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 6, 2017 ) BC 23, Montreal 16

The BC Lions look to stay in contention for a playoff spot when they host the Montreal Alouettes on Friday. The slumping Lions have dropped three consecutive games, including a 31-24 loss to the Ottawa Redblacks on Aug. 26, to fall into the West Division cellar, and hope to end their slide by sweeping the season series with the Alouettes following a 23-16 victory in Week 3.

Travis Lulay was named the starter during the bye week after Jonathon Jennings struggled with his accuracy against the Redblacks, and the veteran quarterback looks to kick start a once-potent offence that has been held to 24 points or fewer in each of its last three contests. Montreal's season is in jeopardy of slipping away after a 32-4 home loss to Ottawa in Week 11. The Alouettes were in first place in the East Division on Aug. 11, but have suffered three straight defeats to fall out of a playoff spot, and search for some answers on offence, after being held without a touchdown for the second time in their last three contests. Montreal, which is in danger of missing the postseason for the third straight season, has dropped all four of their road games in 2017 and hopes to turn its fortunes around by beating the Lions for the first time since Aug. 20, 2015.

TV: 10 p.m. ET, TSN, RDS

ABOUT THE ALOUETTES (3-7): Darian Durant threw for 140 yards and an interception before he was replaced by Drew Willy in the third quarter against the Redblacks, but the veteran quarterback will remain the starter for Thursday's clash. "I certainly don't think you can lay it all on Darian because there were some dropped balls," Montreal head coach Jacques Chapdelaine told reporters. "Drew proved the quarterback position wasn't the sole parameter for our demise on offence." Left tackle Jovan Olafioye was a late scratch with back spasms, forcing Montreal to go with a makeshift offence line that struggled mightily last week, and his status is up in the air for Friday's clash.

ABOUT THE LIONS (5-5): Jennings completed 10-of-17 passes for 137 yards and an interception before he was pulled in favour of Lulay, who finishing with 202 yards through the air and two touchdowns against Ottawa. "I'm excited to see our team regroup a little bit," Lulay told reporters. "We're coming off three losses but the bye week gave us a chance to recharge and I still feel good about what this team can accomplish." Bryan Burnham hauled in eight passes for 112 yards and a touchdown against the Redblacks after missing the previous two games with a leg injury while fellow wide receiver Nick Moore, who has sat out the last two contests with a hip problem, is questionable for Friday.

EXTRA POINTS

1. BC has won the last four meetings with Montreal.

2. The Lions have won nine of their last 10 games against East Division opponents.

3. Durant has thrown more interceptions (four) than touchdowns (three) in his last three games.

PREDICTION: Lions 31, Alouettes 20