The 7-6 Montreal Alouettes are needing two points ahead of their regular season finale Friday night despite already being playoff bound. With a win and some help Montreal can still clinch a home playoff game, so it’ll be no mercy on the 2-11 Ottawa Redblacks.

Friday’s meeting is the fourth of the season between Ottawa and Montreal and the latter’s taken all three. It’s presumably Trevor Harris’ first start as an Alouette against his longest-tenured team in Ottawa as well. That said, one of the Redblacks’ two wins in 2021 has come against Harris back in Week 1 when he was a member of the Edmonton Elks.

Kickoff at Percival Molson Memorial Stadium goes at 7:30 p.m. EST.

CFL Odds and Betting

The key matchup between these two clubs has been — and will continue to be — the ground game. Specifically, Montreal’s league-best rushing attack versus Ottawa’s league worst run defence. Despite leading rusher William Stanback only playing once versus Ottawa in 2021, Montreal’s gone over 100 yards on the ground in all three of their meetings with the Redblacks.

The Alouettes can sweep Ottawa with a win, and need to win by a couple scores if they’re to cover for the first time in six games at home against Ottawa. The Redblacks have been terrible against the spread though, covering in five of their last 23.

Oddsmakers have the Als listed as 14-point home favourites with the over-under at 45.

Ottawa RedBlacks

The last time Ottawa took the field Devlin ‘Duck’ Hodges got his first CFL start and things didn’t go too well. Hodges threw for 90 yards and Ottawa instead relied on a ground game that generated 143 total yards of rushing and 6.8 yards per carry. The former’s par for the course for Ottawa in 2021, who is dead last in all of points for, net offence, and passing yards per outing.

The Redblacks are more competitive on defence, which was the case in their most recent game versus Toronto where they forced four turnovers. Leading tackler Avery Williams, leading defensive play-maker Randall Evans, and team leader in interceptions Brandin Dandridge all had picks in the loss.

🏈#CFL Weekly🏈

Last regular season weekend of the CFL year

Redblacks vs Alouettes

Elks vs. Lions

Saturday🏈

Roughriders vs. TiCats

Blue Bombers vs. Stampeders#RiseWithUs #Week16 pic.twitter.com/ErHWDFJrn6

— Sports Interaction (@SIASport) November 18, 2021

Montreal Alouettes

Trevor Harris is the guy under centre for Montreal moving forward and it’s no surprise given what he’s showed in three appearances with the team. The veteran pivot tossed three touchdowns against Winnipeg last week, a defence that had allowed just five in the previous 14 weeks. Eugene Lewis caught two of Harris’ three and had a team-high six catches for 51 yards.

On defence, the Als took the league lead in interceptions thanks to four against Winnipeg. Najee Murray got his team-leading third, while Greg Reid and Chris Ackie each recorded their second of the year.

Who Will Win RedBlacks vs. Alouettes?