Saskatchewan @ Ottawa preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 12, 2017 ) Saskatchewan 31, Ottawa 20

The Saskatchewan Roughriders look to build on their Week 1 win over the defending Grey Cup champions when they face the Ottawa Redblacks in the nation's capital on Thursday. The Roughriders knocked off the Toronto Argonauts 27-19 to earn their first win in a season opener since 2014, and hope to ride the momentum to their fifth victory in the last six overall meetings with Ottawa.

"It feels good to start the season off on the right foot," Saskatchewan quarterback Zach Collaros told reporters. "The guys really worked their tails off in training camp and deserved to win the game." The new-look Redblacks are eager to wash away the memories of the 30-21 East Division semifinal loss to the Roughriders last season. Ottawa, which started the new campaign on a bye, revamped its roster after finishing with a losing record last year and hopes to sprint out of the starting blocks following a 1-6-1 start in the previous campaign. Starting quarterback Trevor Harris suffered an ankle injury in the 27-7 preseason win against the Montreal Alouettes on May 31, but is expected to play and aims to help the Redblacks set the pace in the East after the other three teams in the division lost in the opening week.

TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, TSN

ABOUT THE ROUGHRIDERS (1-0): Collaros was stellar in his Saskatchewan debut as he completed 18-of-25 passes for 203 yards and a touchdown in the win against Toronto. Charleston Hughes, who was acquired in a trade with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the offseason, made a major impact in his first game for the Roughriders as he recorded three sacks - including the 100th of his career in the first quarter. Saskatchewan received some key contributions from two other debutants as Nick Marshall returned an interception 66 yards for his first CFL touchdown and Brett Lauther made 4-of-5 field goal attempts against the Argonauts.

ABOUT THE REDBLACKS (2017: 8-9-1): Harris threw for 4,679 yards and 30 touchdowns in 15 games last season and has a variety of weapons back at his disposal including wide receiver Greg Ellingson, who led the CFL with 12 touchdown receptions in 2017. "We have a little chip on our shoulders with how things ended last year," Ellingson told reporters. "Everyone has their minds set and are ready to bang when the time comes." Ottawa will feature a plethora of fresh new faces on defense, including defensive backs Rico Murray and Loucheiz Purifoy in an attempt to form an aggressive unit after finishing second last in the league with 11 interceptions last season.

EXTRA POINTS

1. The last five regular-season meetings between Ottawa and Saskatchewan have been decided by a combined eight points.

2. The Roughriders have won seven of their last eight regular-season games against East Division opponents.

3. Harris threw for 300 yards or more in 10 games last season.

PREDICTION: Roughriders 24, Redblacks 20