Ottawa @ Winnipeg preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 4, 2017 ) Winnipeg 33, Ottawa 30

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers look to continue their winning ways when they host the East Division-leading Ottawa Redblacks on Friday. The Blue Bombers have won six of their last seven games, including an impressive 48-28 victory over the Saskatchewan Roughriders in the Banjo Bowl on Sept. 9, to take sole possession of second place in the ultra-competitive West Division, and hope to stay on track to host a playoff game by beating the Redblacks for the third straight time.

Winnipeg, which is coming off a bye week, has won its last four home games and can improve to 6-0 against East Division teams with another victory at Investors Group Field. Ottawa reclaimed the top spot in the East with a 29-11 victory against the Montreal Alouettes in its first game without Trevor Harris, who was placed on the six-game injured list with a separated shoulder. Drew Tate filled in admirably for Harris, who leads the league in touchdown passes (23), before suffering a shoulder/rib injury, which forced Ryan Lindley into his first extended action in the CFL, and the former San Diego State product will likely get his first start Friday. "He doesn't have to be the guy who does everything," Ottawa general manager Marcel Desjardins told reporters. "He just needs to be the guy who distributes the ball and lets the other players make plays."

TV: 8 p.m. ET, TSN

ABOUT THE REDBLACKS (5-7-1): Tate completed 21-of-29 passes for 185 yards and a touchdown before he was driven to the ground on a pass attempt late in the second quarter against Montreal and later returned to the sidelines with his arm in a sling. Lindley went 7-of-14 for 76 yards and was helped out by William Powell, who rushed for 144 yards on 25 carries after missing the previous three games because of injury. Diontae Spencer was named one of the CFL's Top Performers of the Week after returning a missed field goal 113 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter to tilt the balance of the game in Ottawa's favour.

ABOUT THE BLUE BOMBERS (8-3): Matt Nichols threw for 282 yards and three touchdowns while Mo Leggett scored on defense and specials teams against Saskatchewan. Defensive back Taylor Loffler (illness), who leads the team with 44 tackles, and linebacker Kyle Knox (knee) have recovered from their respective issues during the bye week and are expected to play Friday while defensive Jamaal Westerman is questionable. "I'm feeling great and I am ready to go this week," Loffler told reporters. "I'm just happy we had the bye week when we did and I'm able to get back and be healthy."

EXTRA POINTS

1. Winnipeg leads the CFL in points per game (34.5).

2. Ottawa is 1-4-1 against West Division opponents.

3. Nichols has thrown eight touchdown passes in his last three outings.

PREDICTION: Blue Bombers 37, Redblacks 23