First place is officially on the line, and it’s up to the Tiger-Cats and RedBlacks to see who wants to take it. This game Friday marks the first of a home-and-home series between these two teams, the winner will control home field advantage in the post-season. Oddsmakers have made the RedBlacks 1-point favourites in this contest.

Betting Analysis

The Ottawa RedBlacks have one victory over the Tiger-Cats this season, a 21-15 win at home on July 28. Entering this game, the home side RedBlacks are 4-3 at home and 3-2 against the division. The Tiger-Cats are 4-4 on the road and an impressive 4-1 within the East division. Hamilton has played well on the road dating back to last season. In fact, in their last 14 road games they are 10-3-1 against the spread. Last season, the RedBlacks took two of three games, but split the two games against each other in Ottawa.

Ottawa RedBlacks

The RedBlacks let one get away from them in Edmonton this past weekend. After leading 16-14 at halftime, the RedBlacks did not score a second half point against the Eskimos a 34-16 loss. Running back William Powell who leads the league in rushing with 1275 yards, rushed for 40 yards on nine carries, for his third lowest game total of the season. The team can take some comfort in knowing they beat the Tiger-Cats earlier this summer. Receiver Brad Sinopoli had a big game against the Cats, catching nine passes for 82 yards, while defender Anthony Cioffi had one of his best games of the year, making five tackles and two sacks. Both Sinopoli and Greg Ellingson have been very good targets for quarterback Trevor Harris this season. Sinopoli is third in CFL receiving with 1207 yards, while Ellingson is fifth in CFL receiving with 956 yards. At season’s end, it isn’t out of the question that Ottawa will have two receivers with at least 1200-plus yards receiving, plus the league’s leading rusher.

Hamilton Tiger-Cats

The Tiger-Cats enter this game on a two-game winning streak after thumping the Argos in Toronto 34-20 and taking the three game series 3-0. Quarterback Jeremiah Masoli threw four touchdown passes and 338 yards in the win. But the biggest offensive weapon was receiver Brandon Banks. Speedy lived up to his name against the Argos hauling in eight catches for 178 yards, for his best offensive outing of the season. He is now second place in CFL receiving yards with 1290, and tied for first in receiving touchdowns with 10. Defensive back Cariel Brooks recorded an interception in the victory; he now has four on the season, which is one for the CFL lead.

Back on July 28, Jeremiah Masoli was a rocket-launcher passing for 352 yards (26-of-38) in the loss to the RedBlacks, but it was a close game. Since that time, Masoli has continued to play well, and is a candidate for the CFL’s MOP.

RedBlacks vs. Tiger-Cats Prediction