| Tiger-Cats (2-4) @ Winnipeg Blue Bombers (2-4) Regular Season Game 7 Saturday, August 7 @ 8:30 p.m. Canad Inns Stadium – Winnipeg, Manitoba |
BROADCAST INFORMATION
| TV BROADCAST: |
National broadcast on Wendy’s Friday Night Football on TSN |
| Play by play: Chris Cuthbert / Colour: Glen Suitor |
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| RADIO BROADCAST: | AM 900 CHML, simulcast on Y108 (Listen Live) |
| Play by play: Rick Zamperin / Colour: John ‘Coach Sal’ Salavantis |
THE MATCH-UP
Tonight’s game will be the fourth and final regular season meeting between the Tiger-Cats and Blue Bombers in the 2010 season. The Ticats defeated the Blue Bombers, 29-22, on Saturday night to take a 2-1 lead in the season series. The match-up will be the 99th meeting between the two teams since 1950. Winnipeg holds a 54-44 edge in the series.
The Ticats will look for their first two game winning streak of the season in Winnipeg this week. The Ticats have won two games so far this season, both against the Blue Bombers. The Blue Bombers have now lost two straight games. Winnipeg has played well at home this season, scoring over 30 points in each of their three home games and scoring over 45 points twice.
This will be the fourth meeting all-time between head coaches Marcel Bellefeuille and Paul LaPolice. Bellefeuille has a career record of 12-20 as a CFL head coach in the regular season and holds a 4-4 record against the Blue Bombers. LaPolice has a career record of 2-4 as a CFL head coach in the regular season and holds a 1-2 record against the Ticats.
2010 STATISTICAL RANKINGS
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Total Offence Per Game |
359.3 (6th) | 409.5 (2nd) |
| Rushing Offence Per Game | 69.2 (8th) | 144.3 (3rd) |
| Passing Offence Per Game | 326.7 (2nd) | 283.8 (5th) |
| Total Defence Per Game | 400.1 (6th) | 339.8 (2nd) |
| Rushing Defence Per Game | 136.2 (5th) | 95.0 (3rd) |
| Passing Defence Per Game | 280.0 (5th) | 278.2 (4th) |
| Points Per Game | 24.3 (5th) | 29.8 (3rd) |
| Opponents Points Per Game | 29.2 (5th) | 27.7 (4th) |
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Dave Stala / WR / Hamilton
Stala has scored touchdowns in two consectutive games and has also been a favourite target of Kevin Glenn’s on second down. Stala is turning out to be a clutch performer for the Ticats this season and will be relied upon heavily in this crucial divisional game. Many defences in the CFL focus on Arland Bruce and Maurice Mann, leaving Stala wide open most of the time. If the Blue Bombers fail to cover Stala in key situations, it could be the difference between victory and defeat.
DeAndra’ Cobb / RB / Hamilton
With the forecast calling for rain tomorrow night in Winnipeg, Cobb may get more touches in this game than he has most of the year. Cobb can be used many different ways for the Ticats as he provides an option for Glenn out of the backfield in the passing game and also can run the ball. Cobb’s best game of the season came against the Blue Bombers in week three but he will be going up against a tough rushing defence this week.
Adarius Bowman / WR / Winnipeg
Bowman had a big game last weekend in Hamilton, catching six passes for 139 yards and a touchdown. Bowman was able to break free from Ticats coverage for big plays in the second half, something the Ticats will need to eliminate this week. Despite dropping several passes this season, including one on a key third down play late in the game last week, Bowman seems to save his big games for when he plays against the Ticats.
Louie Sakoda / K / Winnipeg
Sakoda will make his debut for the Blue Bombers this weekend, replacing former Blue Bombers kicker Alexis Serna, who missed two field in goals in last week’s game at Ivor Wynne Stadium. Sakoda will be looking to prove himself, after being released earlier this season by the Saskatchewan Roughriders, and the Blue Bombers are hoping he can provide consistency in the kicking game for them, something they’ve been missing this season.
KEY MATCH-UP
Tiger-Cats Front Seven vs. Blue Bombers Rushing Attack
The Blue Bombers have one of the league’s best rushing attacks, averaging over 140 yards per game rushing this season. A large part of this is because of running back Fred Reid. Reid ranks fourth in the league in rushing, but his yards per carry average is among one of the highest when compared to other running backs in the league. Returning to the line up this week is Blue Bombers quarterback Buck Pierce, who ran for 89 yards against the Tiger-Cats in week one. Pierce poses a big rushing threat for the Ticats as he is able to get out of the pocket and run for first downs in key situations. The Ticats front seven will play a big part in determining the outcome of the game, especially if both teams are forced to focus on running the ball because of rain. With Justin Hickman out of the line up, Garrett McIntyre and Khari Long will start on the ends of the defensive line. McIntyre and Long will need to contain Pierce and Reid from getting to the outside, allowing the interior defensive lineman and the linebackers to jump in and make tackles.
