Edmonton @ BC preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 22, 2016 ) Edmonton 25, BC Lions 32

The BC Lions look to build on a promising 2016 campaign when they open the new season at home against the Edmonton Eskimos on Saturday. The Lions won 12 regular-season games under coach Wally Buono and notched a playoff victory for the first time since 2011 after going a combined 16-20 over the previous two years, and hope to take another step forward by beating the Eskimos for the third consecutive time in Vancouver.

"Winning is critical early in the season," Buono told reporters. "If you want to be a contender then you have to play and act like a contender." Edmonton's top brass decided to shake things up after a disappointing fourth-place finish in the West Division. The Eskimos, who won the Grey Cup in 2015, sneaked into playoffs via to the crossover rule, and general manager Ed Hervey paid the price with his job in the offseason, but Edmonton returns a core group of veterans who are hungry to keep pace with Calgary and BC in the West. "I definitely think we're a better team," Edmonton quarterback Mike Reilly told reporters. "We're a little more experienced than we were last year and our news guys have done a great job of competing and picking up the systems very quickly."

TV: 10 p.m. ET, TSN, ESPN2

ABOUT THE ESKIMOS (2016: 11-9): Reilly enjoyed a banner year as he led the league in passing yards (5,554) and total touchdowns (37), but will have to make do without explosive playmaker Derel Walker, who joined the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after catching 198 passes for 2,699 yards and 16 touchdowns over the past two seasons. Edmonton must also absorb the loss of special teams ace turned star linebacker Deon Lacey, who signed a futures contract with the Miami Dolphins after recording 103 tackles and three interceptions in 2016. Cory Greenwood was brought in from the Toronto Argonauts during free agency to replace Lacey but tore his ACL on the second day of training camp and will miss the 2017 season.

ABOUT THE LIONS (2016: 13-7): Rookie linebacker Micah Awe looks to fill the void left by Adam Bighill, who signed a three-year futures contract with the New Orleans Saints, after recording 109 tackles with BC in 2016. Jason Arakgi, who is the CFL's all-time leader in special teams tackles, surprised many in the organization by abruptly announcing his retirement following the 42-10 preseason victory against the Saskatchewan Roughriders on June 16. Jonathon Jennings seems poised to join the CFL elite at quarterback after throwing for 5,226 yards and 27 touchdowns last season but will have to wait to connect with marquee free agent signing Chris Williams, who is not fully recovered from a torn ACL suffered at the tail end of last year.

EXTRA POINTS

1. The last five meetings have been decided by seven points or fewer.

2. The Lions led the CFL in rushing yards (2,082) and rushing touchdowns (23) in 2016.

3. Edmonton WR Adarius Bowman topped the league in receptions (120) and receiving yards (1,761) last season.

PREDICTION: Lions 31, Eskimos 26