Montreal @ BC preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 8, 2017 ) Montreal 18, BC 41

The BC Lions look to bounce back from missing the playoffs for the first time since 1996 when they begin the new season at home against the Montreal Alouettes on Saturday. The Lions started out with a 5-2 record but stumbled down the stretch as they dropped nine of their next 11 games to miss out on the postseason, and hope that first-year offensive coordinator Jarious Jackson's new scheme breathes life to an offence that was held to 25 or fewer points in five of their last seven games in 2017.

"It's going well," Jackson told reporters. "It's been fun calling plays and pushing everyone to get better." Montreal was left to pick up the pieces in the winter after one of the worst seasons in its storied history. The Alouettes finished with three victories - their fewest win total since 1982 - and have overhauled the roster while bringing in former Green Bay Packers coach Mike Sherman in the hope of guiding the once-proud franchise back to the postseason for the first time in four years. "I can predict that we'll get better every day and we are going to coach these players the best we can," Sherman told reporters. "My goal is one step at a time and we will get better everyday so that's all I can promise."

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

ABOUT THE ALOUETTES (2017: 3-15): Montreal's biggest splash in the offseason was the acquisition of speedster Chris Williams, who has surpassed 1,000 receiving yards in four of his five years in the CFL, in a trade with the Lions. The defence will feature a number of new starters, including linebacker Henoc Muamba, defensive end Jamaal Westerman to go along with two ball hawking defensive backs in Tommie Campbell and Mitchell White. Tyrell Sutton returns as the starting running back after rushing for 845 yards and five touchdowns last season while Drew Willy was named the starter after winning the quarterback competition against Matt Shiltz.

ABOUT THE LIONS (2017: 7-11): Jonathon Jennings will be entrusted with the keys to the offence with Travis Lulay still rehabbing a knee injury which ended his season prematurely in Week 12 last year and Jennings hopes to solve the consistency issues that have plagued him during his four-year career with BC. New general manager Ed Hervey bolstered the backfield with the acquisition of free agent Travon Van, who showed flashes of brilliance en route to four touchdowns in six games with the Edmonton Eskimos last season. Hervey also made it a priority to strengthen the offensive line with the additions of veteran stalwarts Joel Figueroa and Jovan Olafioye after BC allowed the most sacks in the league last year.

EXTRA POINTS

1. The Lions have won five straight meetings with the Alouettes.

2. Montreal averaged a league low 17.4 points per game in 2017.

3. Jennings led the CFL with 19 interceptions last season.

PREDICTION: Lions 23, Alouettes 12