Hamilton @ BC preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 15, 2017 ) BC 41, Hamilton 26

The BC Lions look to stay in contention for a playoff spot when they host the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on Friday. The Lions suffered a 27-13 setback to the Calgary Stampeders to fall into the West Division basement and are in jeopardy of missing the postseason for the first time since 1996 after dropping four of their last five games, and hope to turn things around by beating the Tiger-Cats for the fifth straight time.

"I believe in the guys in this room," BC wide receiver Manny Arceneaux told reporters. "This is not the time to start pressing the panic button." Hamilton fell to its first loss under June Jones as it dropped a 27-19 decision to the Saskatchewan Roughriders. The mistake-prone Tiger-Cats turned the ball over five times and missed a chance to potentially tie the game in the waning seconds as their already slim playoff hopes took another big hit, and they hope to bounce back by beating the Lions for the first time since Aug. 15, 2015. "We did some undisciplined things that winners don't do," Jones told reporters. "We knew we were going to have to steal a couple on the road and now we have to steal one more."

TV: 11 p.m. ET, TSN, ESPN2

ABOUT THE TIGER-CATS (2-9): Hamilton acquired wide receiver Shamawd Chambers from the Edmonton Eskimos in exchange for a pair of draft picks after the Tiger-Cats released Brian Tyms on Sept. 13. Defensive back Demond Washington was assessed a 25-yard penalty and ejected in the third quarter for spitting on Saskatchewan offensive lineman Derek Dennis. Former Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel has triggered a clause in his contract that forces the Tiger-Cats to offer him a deal or take him off their negotiation list in the next 10 days.

ABOUT THE LIONS (6-6): Jonathon Jennings was limited to 167 yards passing and threw three interceptions against Calgary in place of the injured Travis Lulay, who suffered a season-ending knee injury in the Week 12 victory over Montreal. BC re-signed defensive end Alex Bazzie, who registered a career-high 11 sacks in 2016, after failing to stick with the Indianapolis Colts, Carolina Panthers and Arizona Cardinals. Arceneaux was held to one catch for 25 yards against the Stampeders after hauling in 23 passes for 298 yards over his previous three games.

EXTRA POINTS

1. The Lions have won 10 of their last 11 games against East Division opponents.

2. The Tiger-Cats have dropped nine of their last 11 road games.

3. Jennings has thrown 10 interceptions in his last five appearances.

PREDICTION: Lions 31, Tiger-Cats 20