Head to Head Week 17: Ticats vs. Als

BROADCAST INFORMATION

THE MATCH-UP

Tonight’s game will be the third of three regular season meetings between the Tiger-Cats and the Alouettes in the 2010 season. The Alouettes have won both meetings so far this season, defeating the Tiger-Cats in Montreal on July 22, 37-14, and on September 11, 27-6, at Ivor Wynne Stadium. The match-up will be the 160th meeting between the two teams since 1950, with the Alouettes holding an 85-74 advantage in the all time series. Montreal has won the last six meetings and nine out of the last 10. The last time the Ticats beat the Alouettes was at Ivor Wynne Stadium in October 2008.

The Tiger-Cats come into this week’s game on a two-game winning streak. The Ticats have also put a lot of points on the board, scoring 30 or more points in four of their last five games. In those four games, the Ticats have gone 3-1. A win for the Ticats tonight, combined with a Toronto loss tomorrow in Winnipeg, the Ticats will host the Eastern Semi-Final at Ivor Wynne Stadium on Sunday, November 14th. Montreal also comes into tonight’s game on a two game winning streak. They’ve also won five of their last six games. Montreal defeated Winnipeg last week in a close game, 22-19.

This will be the third meeting between head coaches Marcel Bellefeuille and Marc Trestman. Bellefeuille has a career record of 18-23 as a CFL head coach in the regular season and holds a 1-7 record against the Alouettes. Trestman has a career record of 37-14 as a CFL head coach in the regular season and holds a 8-1 record against the Ticats.

2010 STATISTICAL RANKINGS

Total Offence Per Game	375.4 (5th)	405.6 (1st)
Rushing Offence Per Game	90.5 (8th)	100.4 (6th)
Passing Offence Per Game	306.1 (3rd)	322.1 (1st)
Total Defence Per Game	389.2 (6th)	362.7 (3rd)
Rushing Defence Per Game	114.7 (5th)	99.3 (2nd)
Passing Defence Per Game	295.8 (8th)	290.1 (6th)
Points Per Game	26.1 (5th)	32.5 (2nd)
Opponents Points Per Game	26.1 (5th)	25.4 (2nd)

PLAYERS TO WATCH
Stevie Baggs / DE / Hamilton
The reigning defensive player of the week in the CFL will have his first opportunity to face the Alouettes since losing to them as a member of the Saskatchewan Roughriders in the 2009 Grey Cup game. Baggs was on a mission last week in Toronto, recording seven defensive tackles, one special teams tackle and two quarterback sacks against the Argos. The Ticats will need to put pressure on Anthony Calvillo in order to keep the Als offence off the field and look for Baggs to be a big contributor in that department.

Dave Stala / WR / Hamilton
Stala is looking to crack 1,000 yards for just the second time in his career in this week’s game against his former team. Stala sits 80 yards shy of 1,000, sitting at 920 yards receiving and four touchdowns on the season. In five games against his former team, Stala has recorded 23 catches for 321 yards, which works out to over 13 yards per reception.

Anthony Calvillo / QB / Montreal
Calvillo was out injured the last time the Alouettes traveled to Hamilton on September 11th, but Calvillo will be looking to march the number one ranked offence in the CFL up and down the field all night. Calvillo rarely turns the ball over as he’s only thrown six interceptions to 29 touchdowns this season, so if the Ticats have an opportunity to get a takeaway, they need to make sure they take it. The turnover battle will be one the Ticats will need to win tonight. 

Brandon Whitaker / RB / Montreal
Whitaker will be filling in for the injured Avon Coborne at running back for Montreal tonight but he has showed he can be a capable back up. Whitaker had a big game against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on August 19th, carrying the ball 11 times for 74 yards and two touchdowns. The Ticats will need to ensure that they can limit Whitaker’s yards in order to make the Alouettes offence one dimensional.

KEY MATCH-UP

Tiger-Cats Defensive Line vs. Alouettes Offensive Line

The key match-up in this game is the Tiger-Cats Defensive Line against the Alouettes Offensive Line. The ability for the Ticats pass rush to get to Calvillo in this game will play a big part in the Ticats game plan tonight. With Justin Hickman, Garrett McIntyre and Baggs rushing the quarterback on the defensive line, the Tiger-Cats have three guys who have the ability to come up with a big sack. It will be important for the Tiger-Cats ends to get off their blocks as quick as possible to make life for Calvillo difficult. If the Ticats defensive line can throw off the timing of Montreal’s quick hitting passing plays, the Tiger-Cats may be able to force turnovers that will give them great field position to score on offence.