The CFL playoffs are officially back as the 2021 East Division Semi-Final has the 8-6 Hamilton Tiger-Cats hosting the 7-7 Montreal Alouettes. This contest sees the league’s best run defence in Hamilton go toe-to-toe with Montreal’s league best rushing attack.

Hamilton took care of business in Week 16 with a win over Saskatchewan, which guaranteed the Tiger-Cats home field this weekend regardless if Montreal were to win versus Ottawa a day earlier. But the Alouettes were upset and it settled Hamilton’s fate before their game, allowing the Ti-Cats to rest starters such as quarterback Jeremiah Masoli.

Kickoff at Tim Hortons Field starts at 1 p.m. EST Sunday.

CFL Odds and Betting

Sunday’s East Semi-Final is a rematch of one of the best regular season games of the 2021 season. The game in reference coming back on October 2, when the Alouettes won 23-20 in overtime at Hamilton. The Tiger-Cats ended up defeating Montreal back in Quebec during Week 4, the two teams’ other meeting this season. To summarize, the road team went 2-0 when Montreal and Hamilton met in 2021.

Hamilton’s won 16 of their last 18 at home, which makes that Week 9 overtime loss rare. Montreal’s only won four of their last 17 games at Hamilton too. Oddsmakers have the Tiger-Cats as 4.5-point home favourites with the total set at 46.

Montreal Alouettes

Running back William Stanback is mainly the reason why the Alouettes blew away the CFL with 144.5 rushing yards a game. Stanback himself blew away all other rushers with 1,176 yards on the ground — no other player eclipsed 870 yards. Oh, and Stanback missed two games.

Stanback’s the go-to guy on the ground, while East Division All-Star receivers Eugene Lewis and Jake Wieneke are the premier pass-catchers. Lewis finished third in the CFL with 964 receiving yards and second with nine touchdowns, while Wieneke held the touchdown crown with 11.

Pair this trio with veteran quarterback Trevor Harris and a top-two defence in yards allowed, and Montreal is a legitimate Grey Cup threat as a three-seed.

Hamilton Tiger-Cats

Masoli entered the season under centre for Hamilton and had some hard times. But fast forward to November and Masoli’s playing some of his best football — he’s reached 300 yards in four of his last six games (and likely would’ve been five after a 223-yard half last Saturday before sitting out the second half) and has thrown just two interceptions in his last seven starts.

2019 MOP Brandon Banks is coming in hot too, with two touchdowns and 251 receiving yards in the last month. Plus, star receiver Bralon Addison is off the six-game injured list. The last time Addison suited up he had five catches for 95 yards in under a quarter.

Who Will Win Alouettes vs. Tiger-Cats?