BC @ Winnipeg preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 21, 2017 ) Winnipeg 42, BC 45

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers look to bounce back from a disappointing loss when they host the BC Lions on Saturday. The Blue Bombers dropped a 30-13 decision against the 4-10 Hamilton Tiger-Cats to see their three-game winning streak come to a halt and to make matters worse for Winnipeg, quarterback Matt Nichols, who leads the league with 27 passing touchdowns, sat out the second half with an injury to his throwing hand.

Nichols took reps with the first-team offence in practice and is expected to get the starting nod as the Blue Bombers continue their quest to host their first playoff game in six years. The Lions are on the brink of missing the postseason for the first time since 1996 following a 30-25 setback to the Ottawa Redblacks. The Lions led 25-6 late in the third quarter before surrendering the final 24 points to fall two games under .500 and can be officially eliminated from playoff contention with another loss coupled with wins by the Saskatchewan Roughriders and Edmonton Eskimos. BC has dropped six of its last seven games, including three straight losses to West Division rivals, and hopes to stay alive by downing the Blue Bombers for the second time this season after a 45-42 victory July 21.

TV: 4 p.m. ET, TSN, RDS2

ABOUT THE BLUE BOMBERS (10-4): Nichols was 14-of-18 for 158 yards and a touchdown before taking a couple of hard hits to his throwing hand in the second quarter and was replaced by Dominique Davis, who was limited to 84 passing yards, in the second half. "It's going good and I feel like I'm throwing the ball well," Nichols told reporters "I felt good these couple of days throwing the football around and fully expect to be playing." Running back Timothy Flanders caught a touchdown pass against Hamilton before leaving the game with an undisclosed injury and missed practice Tuesday, casting doubt on his availability Saturday.

ABOUT THE LIONS (6-8): Jonathon Jennings passed for 375 yards and three touchdown but threw an interception as BC was shut out in the fourth quarter against Ottawa. Manny Arceneaux hauled in six passes for 103 yards and two touchdowns while Solomon Elimimian registered 13 tackles to surpass 100 for the third time in four seasons but it wasn't enough as a litany of errors by the Lions opened the door for the Redblacks' comeback. "It's a sick feeling as the game was in our hands and we didn't finish," Elimimian told reporters. "We've always made the playoffs and that's still my hope but obviously we're going to need some help."

EXTRA POINTS

1. The last three meetings between Winnipeg and BC have been decided by a combined eight points.

2. Elimimian leads the CFL in tackles (108).

3. Nichols has thrown at least one touchdown pass in 11 straight outings.

PREDICTION: Blue Bombers 34, Lions 25