Head to Head Week 8: Ticats @ Argos

BROADCAST INFORMATION

THE MATCH-UP

Tonight’s game will be the first of three regular season meetings between the Tiger-Cats and the Argonauts in the 2010 season. The Ticats and the Argonauts split the season series between the two teams last year, but the Ticats retained the Ballard Cup, awarded to the winner of the season series between the Ticats and Argos. The match-up will be the 207th meeting between the two teams since 1950, with the Ticats holding a 117-85-2-2 advantage in the all time series.

One of these teams’ two-game winning streaks will most likely be snapped on Friday night. The Ticats have beaten the Blue Bombers in back-to-back weeks in their first of three home-and-home series the season. The Ticats will face the Argonauts and the Edmonton Eskimos in home-and-home series this season. The Argonauts defeated the Eskimos 29-28 in week six and followed that up with an impressive 37-22 win against the Montreal Alouettes last week.

This will be the first meeting between head coaches Marcel Bellefeuille and Jim Barker. Bellefeuille has a career record of 13-20 as a CFL head coach in the regular season and holds a 2-2 record against the Argonauts. Barker has a career record of 19-24 as a CFL head coach in the regular season and holds a 3-2 record against the Ticats.

2010 STATISTICAL RANKINGS

Total Offence Per Game	369.4 (6th)	329.3 (7th)
Rushing Offence Per Game	77.4 (8th)	133.0 (4th)
Passing Offence Per Game	323.7 (2nd)	216.6 (5th)
Total Defence Per Game	399.1 (6th)	451.1 (8th)
Rushing Defence Per Game	134.0 (6th)	126.3 (5th)
Passing Defence Per Game	281.4 (4th)	335.6 (8th)
Points Per Game	26.4 (5th)	25.6 (6th)
Opponents Points Per Game	29.0 (6th)	28.4 (5th)

PLAYERS TO WATCH
Kevin Glenn / QB / Hamilton
Glenn has had some big games already for the Ticats this season, throwing for over 300 yards in four out of the first seven games this season. The match-up between the Tiger-Cats offence and the Argonauts defence could allow Glenn to throw his fifth 300 yard game of the season. With plenty of options in the passing game to look to, Glenn should be able to move the ball effectively down the field against the league’s 8th ranked pass defence.

Arland Bruce / WR / Hamilton
Bruce will return to the Rogers Centre to face his former team for the third time as a member of the Tiger-Cats. Bruce has been piling up the yards over the last three weeks to become the league’s number one receiver. In the last three weeks, Bruce has caught 29 passes for 533 yards and four touchdowns. He will be sure to get some extra attention from the Argonauts defensive backs in this game. In three games against the Argonauts with the Ticats, Bruce has caught 21 passes for 256 yards and two touchdowns.

Cory Boyd / RB / Toronto
Boyd has been on a tear since entering the league this season as a rookie running back. Boyd is the league’s leading rusher as he’s rushed for 711 yards and four touchdowns already this season. Boyd has rushed for over 100 yards in four of Toronto’s seven games this season and when he does, the Argonauts are 4-0. In the three games that Boyd hasn’t reached 100 yards, the Argos are 1-2. Stopping Boyd could mean stopping the Argonauts win streak tonight for the Ticats.

Byron Parker / DB / Toronto
Parker is, most likely, the Argos defensive back that will draw the assignment of covering Bruce tonight. The veteran cornerback sits in a tie for fifth in the league in interceptions with two. Parker returned an interception for the game-winning touchdown in the final minutes of the Argos week four victory over the B.C. Lions and also had one last week against the Alouettes. Parker always has big play ability on defence and if he makes one tonight, it could kill any momentum the Ticats have going.

KEY MATCH-UP

Tiger-Cats Passing Game vs. Argonauts Secondary
The Tiger-Cats have a key match-up in their favour in the game tonight, going up against an Argonauts pass defence that surrenders an average of 335 pass yards per game. This could suit Glenn and the Ticats offence, who have relied on the passing game this season and have the league’s second ranked passing attack. Although the Ticats may be able to move the ball effectively against this Argonauts secondary, Toronto’s defensive backs are tied for the league-lead in interceptions with nine. With no one Argos player having more than two interceptions this season, each member of that secondary has the ability to create a turnover. Glenn threw two interceptions last week against the Blue Bombers, both of which turned into Blue Bombers touchdowns. If Glenn can make good throws and keep the ball away from the defensive backs, the Ticats could find themselves lighting up the scoreboard tonight.