Ottawa @ Hamilton preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 27, 2017 ) Hamilton 36, Ottawa 41

The Ottawa Redblacks visit the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in a battle for East Division supremacy Saturday. The Redblacks rallied from a 10-point deficit in the second half en route to a thrilling 29-25 victory over the BC Lions in Week 6 to take sole possession of first place and hope to create some separation at the top of the division by beating the Tiger-Cats for the fourth consecutive time in Hamilton.

"The games are going to keep getting bigger especially when we play Eastern teams," Ottawa coach Rick Campbell told reporters. "The way the league is looking this year and how things are playing out every win is going to be valuable." Hamilton fell a game below .500 following a disappointing 31-20 home setback to the Saskatchewan Roughriders. The Tiger-Cats, who have dropped back-to-back games, doubled down on quarterback Jeremiah Masoli as they shipped off former Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel to the Montreal Alouettes in a blockbuster deal Sunday. "I definitely feel that vote of confidence and respect and it makes me feel good," Masoli told reporters. "But at the same time we're just focused on (Ottawa) and we've got to get the ball rolling here on offence."

TV: 4 p.m. ET, TSN, ESPN2

ABOUT THE TIGER-CATS (2-3): Masoli threw for 184 yards against Saskatchewan to see his streak of consecutive 300-yard passing games end at nine in a row - one short of a CFL record. Hamilton traded Manziel along with offensive linemen Tony Washington and Landon Rice in exchange for speedy wide receiver Chris Williams, who spent two seasons with the Tiger-Cats from 2011-12, defensive end Jamaal Westerman and two first-round draft picks. Wide receiver Luke Tasker was a late scratch against the Roughriders and will be a game-time decision Saturday while the newly acquired Williams, who missed Montreal's last contest with a strained hamstring, is expected to suit up Saturday.

ABOUT THE REDBLACKS (3-2): Trevor Harris was named one of the CFL's Top Performers of the Week after throwing for 363 yards and a touchdown against BC. Brad Sinopoli also received honours from the league as he hauled in 11 passes for a career-high 171 yards and a score against the Lions while William Powell added 50 rushing yards, including the go-ahead 2-yard touchdown with 49 seconds to go in the fourth quarter. Wide receiver Austen Hartley took first-team reps in place of Noel Thomas Jr. and could get the starting nod after being scratched last week while defensive back Antoine Pruneau missed practice Tuesday with an undisclosed injury.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Hamilton is 6-14 at home since the start of the 2016 season.

2. Sinopoli leads the CFL in receptions (36).

3. Masoli has failed to throw a touchdown pass in two straight games.

PREDICTION: Tiger-Cats 28, Redblacks 26