These two playoff bound teams are looking to improve their rank in the standings. This game will feature the league’s best running team, against the league’s best throwing team.

Oddsmakers have chalked up the Eskimos as 2.5-point favourites in this game.

Betting Analysis

These two teams last game was last year, Aug. 10 in Ottawa, with the Eskimos knocking off the RedBlacks by a touchdown (27-20). Last season the Eskimos swept the two game series, but in the last five games head-to-head overall, the RedBlacks are 3-2. Edmonton is 2-4 on the road this season, but are 8-3 against the spread (ATS) in their last 11 road games overall dating back to last season.

Edmonton Eskimos

The Eskimos return to the field after last week’s bye week. Prior to that bye, the team split the Labour Day home and home series with the Calgary Stampeders, winning at home by a score of 48-42. Mike Reilly threw for just under 400 yards and three touchdowns in the victory. The defending Most Outstanding Player has been very good once again this season, leading the league in passing yards (3,943 yards) and second in touchdown passes with 26, one behind leader Bo Levi Mitchell. Statistically, the Eskimos are third overall in the entire CFL in offence (behind Calgary and Winnipeg) and always a threat to break a game open. The Eskimos received good news on Tuesday, as Martese Jackson was on the practice field. Jackson was acquired during the bye week to help bolster a poor return game. As a team, the Esks sit dead last with a punt-return average of 6.9 yards. In 11 games with the Argos this season, Jackson had an average return of 12.2 yards.

Ottawa RedBlacks

The RedBlacks surprised many by walking into Regina and upsetting the red hot Roughriders. Entering the game, Saskatchewan put together an impressive four game winning streak, but fell to the RedBlacks 30-25.Quarterback Trevor Harris rebounded with a great game, going 27 of 34 for 334 yards and two touchdowns. But the big story is the play of running back William Powell. Last week the 5-foot-9 dynamo ran for 148 yards and two touchdowns to take over the CFL rushing lead from Andrew Harris with 994 yards (10 yards more than Harris). For his efforts he was named a CFL Performer of the week. Powell has three 100+ rushing yard games in the team’s last five.

Eskimos vs. RedBlacks Prediction