Roughriders Looking for First Win at Tough Ottawa
The Saskatchewan Roughriders and the Ottawa REDBLACKS will both be battle on Thursday night at TD Place Stadium. The Roughriders are coming off a loss to Hamilton and the REDBLACKS are looking for win number two after beating Calgary.
Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m. ET and can be seen on TSN and ESPN+; LINE: REDBLACKS -4.5; O/U: 44.5.
The Saskatchewan Roughriders look to win their first game of the season. The Riders are coming off a 23-17 loss to the Tiger-Cats in Hamilton in Week 1. The REDBLACKS came back from 15 points down to defeat the Calgary Stampeders 32-28. The REDBLACKS are hosting their first home game of the new season. Six of Ottawa’s 11 victories in 2018 came at home. Ottawa won both meetings against Saskatchewan last season. They haven’t lost against the Riders since the 2017 Eastern Semi-Final.
Roughriders Have Issues at QB
Current Roughriders, and ex-REDBLACKS running back, William Powell will play against his former teammates for the first time. The Texas native spent four seasons with the REDBLACKS. He won a Grey Cup in 2016 despite missing the season due to injury. Powell rushed for 104 yards last week against Hamilton and also found the end zone.
Quarterback Cody Fajardo will be making his first start for the Riders tonight. He is stepping in for starter Zach Collaros. He had to leave the opener after being injured on a hit from Tiger-Cats linebacker Simoni Lawrence. Fajardo had nine completions for 66 yards and had seven carries for 34 rushing yards and a touchdown in the loss to the Ticats. Isaac Harker, a 23-year-old rookie, played the majority of the second half. He averaged an impressive 9.1 yards per attempt. He also threw two interceptions, including a game-ending Hail Mary on the final play.
REDBLACKS Look to Keep Building
The Ottawa REDBLACKS know who will start at quarterback. It is 29-year old Dominique Davis. The Florida native threw four interceptions last week against Calgary. All was not last as he also threw for 276 yards while scoring three rushing touchdowns. That includes the go-ahead score with 1:22 to play in the fourth quarter. Davis will have to be better tonight.
Powell’s replacement is doing just fine in Ottawa. Mossis Madu Jr. had 112 yards on 24 carries during last week’s win over Calgary. He also added six catches for 28 yards.
With five Canadian starters up front, the REDBLACKS’ all-national O-line got off to a good start. Their work allowed Madu to break the century mark, but most importantly the team didn’t allow a single sack. Ottawa will field a similar lineup to last week, with a couple of exceptions. Defensive end JR Tavai and Canadian receiver Nate Behar are both out of the lineup after being placed on the 1-game injured list.
This, That, and a Dart Throw
REDBLACKS quarterback Dominique Davis will make his fourth career Canadian Football League start Thursday. Davis made two starts as a member of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
The number of new head coaches in the CFL this season is four. That includes Riders’ head coach Craig Dickenson. The league saw four new head coaches during the 2012, 2008, and 1970 CFL season.
Ottawa scored in 70 points combined in both matchups against Saskatchewan last season. The REDBLACKS only allowed 42 from the Roughriders from both contests.
The Roughriders-REDBLACKS matchup has been decided within the final three minutes of a game SEVEN times since 2014.
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The Dart Throw: REDBLACKS 24, Roughriders 20
CFL Betting Odds & Trends
| Saskatchewan Roughriders |
|---|
| Saskatchewan is 3-6 ATS in its last 9 games |
| Saskatchewan is 9-4 SU in its last 13 games |
| The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Saskatchewan’s last 6 games |
| Saskatchewan is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games on the road |
| Saskatchewan is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games on the road |
| The total has gone OVER in 4 of Saskatchewan’s last 6 games on the road |
| Saskatchewan is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games when playing Ottawa |
| The total has gone OVER in 6 of Saskatchewan’s last 8 games when playing Ottawa |
| Saskatchewan is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games when playing on the road against Ottawa |
| Ottawa RedBlacks |
|---|
| Ottawa is 5-1 ATS in its last 6 games |
| Ottawa is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games |
| Ottawa is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games at home |
| Ottawa is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games at home |
| Ottawa is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games when playing Saskatchewan |
| The total has gone OVER in 6 of Ottawa’s last 8 games when playing Saskatchewan |
| Ottawa is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games when playing at home against Saskatchewan |
Next up:
Saskatchewan home to Toronto Monday, July 1
Ottawa home to Winnipeg Friday, July 5
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