Montreal @ Hamilton preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 3, 2018 ) Hamilton 50, Montreal 11

The Hamilton Tiger-Cats wrap up the regular season with their playoff position already determined when they host the Montreal Alouettes Saturday. The Tiger-Cats dropped back-to-back games against the Ottawa Redblacks, including a 30-13 home loss in Week 20, to fall into second place and have to be content with hosting the BC Lions in the East Division semifinal on Nov. 11.

"We're in the playoffs so we have to get our spirits up and win this week," Hamilton head coach June Jones told reporters. "In this league anything can happen as we all know." Johnny Manziel earned his first CFL win after leading Montreal to a 40-10 victory against the Toronto Argonauts last week. Manziel had lost his previous six starts, but threw for 139 yards and a touchdown before sitting out the second half and will likely split time with Antonio Pipkin once more as the Alouettes hope to notch back-to-back victories for the first time since late August. "We want to come out and still fight and show what we have for next year," Montreal running back William Stanback told reporters. "Every day our chemistry is building and it's going to show on the field in the future."

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

ABOUT THE ALOUETTES (4-13): Manziel completed 7-of-14 passes to go along with 35 rushing yards before making way for Pipkin, who threw for 46 yards and a touchdown in the second half. Stanback accounted for 112 yards from scrimmage and a pair of receiving touchdowns against Toronto while veteran defensive end John Bowman, who is likely to retire at the end of the season, was named one of the CFL's Top Performers of the Week after recovering two fumbles, including one for a score. Bowman also registered his 126th career sack to move into a tie with Stewart Hill for seventh place on the CFL's all-time list.

ABOUT THE TIGER-CATS (8-9): Jeremiah Masoli threw for 243 yards in the loss to the Redblacks to take his season total to 5,209, which is the third highest in franchise history. Linebacker Larry Dean made 11 tackles against Ottawa to surpass 100 for the first time in his three-year career with 105. Shutdown corner Delvin Breaux was a late scratch due to a bruised knee and is questionable for Saturday's clash while wide receivers Greg Jones and Marquay McDaniel are likely to suit up after briefly leaving the game with undisclosed injuries.

EXTRA POINTS

1. The Tiger-Cats have won the last three meetings with the Alouettes by an average margin of 29 points.

2. Montreal has lost five of its last six road games.

3. Masoli has thrown five interceptions in his last three outings.

PREDICTION: Tiger-Cats 28, Alouettes 21