Hamilton @ Edmonton preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 20, 2017 ) Edmonton 31, Hamilton 28

The Edmonton Eskimos look to stay unbeaten when they host the winless Hamilton Tiger-Cats on Friday. The Eskimos had won their first four games by an average margin of three points before rising to the occasion with a 37-26 victory against the BC Lions in Week 6 to remain in first place in the West Division, and hope to improve to 6-0 for the first time since 1961.

The Eskimos have won their last eight regular-season games against East Division opponents, including a 31-28 victory over the Tiger-Cats on July 20, and try to extend their home winning streak to six games overall. Hamilton is left to pick up the pieces following one of the most lopsided losses in CFL history. The Tiger-Cats surrendered eight touchdowns in the 60-1 setback to the Calgary Stampeders, which was the third-largest margin of defeat in league history, to fall to 0-5 for the first time since 2007, and hope to stop the bleeding by notching their first victory against the Eskimos after three straight losses in the series. "This is a pretty low point but I have a strong belief in our ability to overcome these things," Hamilton coach Kent Austin told reporters. "We were not a good football team but we'll be better this week."

TV: 9:30 p.m. ET, TSN, ESPN2

ABOUT THE TIGER-CATS (0-5): All-star linebacker Simoni Lawrence, who led the team with 90 tackles last season, is expected to return Friday after missing the Calgary game with a lower-body injury. Defensive back Abdul Kanneh, who was one of Hamilton's marquee free-agent acquisitions in the winter, played his first game of the season in Week 6, but suffered an undisclosed injury and is back on the sidelines. Austin is sticking with Zach Collaros at quarterback despite the former Cincinnati Bearcats star's struggles this season as he sits last in completion percentage (62.4), passing yards (228.6) and touchdown passes (three) among active starters.

ABOUT THE ESKIMOS (5-0): Mike Reilly completed 24-of-33 passes for 412 yards and accounted for four total touchdowns in the win against BC to move past the legendary Warren Moon (1,369) in third place on Edmonton's all-time completions list. Vidal Hazelton hauled in eight passes for 159 yards and a score, including an 108-yard touchdown grab in the second quarter, which was the longest TD catch in franchise history, surpassing Jason Tucker's 105-yarder in 2005. Sean Whyte, who has made 13-of-14 field goal attempts this season, suffered a leg injury against the Lions and will be replaced by rookie kicker Hugh O'Neill.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Edmonton has won 10 of its last 11 regular-season games.

2. Hamilton is averaging a CFL-worst 18 points per contest.

3. Eskimos WR Brandon Zylstra has recorded 107 or more receiving yards in three consecutive games.

PREDICTION: Eskimos 35, Tiger-Cats 20