Ottawa @ BC preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 20, 2018 ) BC 25, Ottawa 29

The Ottawa Redblacks look to bounce back from their most disappointing loss of the season when they visit the BC Lions on Friday. The Redblacks suffered a 21-11 setback to the last-place Montreal Alouettes in Week 12 to see their lead at the top of the East Division shrink to two points, and hope to get back on track by completing the season sweep of the Lions following a 29-26 victory July 20.

"I don't think it takes away from who we think we are as a team and where we think we're going to go," Ottawa wide receiver Greg Ellingson told reporters. "It's just a bump in the road and we'll make the adjustments." BC was forced to return to the drawing board during its week off following back-to-back losses, including a 24-21 defeat to the Saskatchewan Roughriders on Aug. 25. The last-place Lions, who have dropped four of their last five games, are fighting for their playoff lives after missing the postseason in 2017, and hope to avoid another long winter by knocking off an East Division opponent for the first time since a 22-10 win against Montreal in Week 1. "It's major gut check time," BC quarterback Travis Lulay told reporters. "You can best believe we're going to work our ass off to get where we need to be."

TV: 10 p.m. ET, TSN, ESPN Plus

ABOUT THE REDBLACKS (6-4): Trevor Harris completed 25-of-46 passes for 270 yards against the Alouettes, but finished without a touchdown toss for the second time in five games. Linebacker Kyries Hebert was suspended for the second time this season as he was handed a two-game ban by the league for a "reckless" hit on Montreal wide receiver B.J. Cunningham. Ottawa added defensive back Andrew Lue, who has played for four teams in his four-year CFL career, to the practice squad and released defensive lineman Evan Gill and Dalton Houghton.

ABOUT THE LIONS (3-6): Manny Arceneaux, who leads BC in receptions (32) and receiving yards (553), was placed on the six-game injured list after suffering a torn ACL in the loss to the Roughriders. "This gives somebody else an opportunity to get a little bit more of the limelight," Lions coach Wally Buono said. "There's also nothing wrong with bringing other guys into more of a leadership role as guys can step up." All-star linebacker Solomon Elimimian, who led the CFL with 144 tackles last season, is inching closer to a return after breaking his wrist July 14.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Ottawa K Lewis Ward has made 27 consecutive field goals -- the sixth-longest streak in league history.

2. BC's last two losses have come by a combined four points.

3. The Lions play five straight games against East Division opponents.

PREDICTION: Lions 28, Redblacks 26