BC Lions (8-4): The BC Lions come off of their bye week with 13 days between games. The Lions are 4-2 since 2021 following their bye week. The Lions beat the Alouettes most recently in week 13 by a score of 34-25. The Lions are currently 2nd in the west sitting 2 games behind Winnipeg and 2 games ahead of Saskatchewan.

Ottawa RedBlacks (3-9): The Ottawa RedBlacks are on a 6-game losing streak including 3 games on the road. They have not won a game since week 7 on the road in Calgary which they won by a score of 43-41. The Reblacks have had 11 of their 13 games be decided inside the final 3 minutes of the game of which they have lost 9 close games.

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Mike Mitchell’s CFL Week 15 Power Rankings
CFL 2nd Period All-Star Team (Weeks 8-14)
BC Lions Week 13 Takeaways
U Sports Canada West Football: Week 1 Team of the Week
U Sports Canada West Football: 2023 Team Previews
Canadians in the NFL Preseason Performances, Final Cuts
CFL Midseason All-Star Team, Awards
First Period CFL and Divisional All-Stars
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Game Details:

Date/Location: Saturday, September 16 /BC Place, Vancouver, BC

Kickoff Time: 7:00 PM ET, 4:00 PM PT

Channel: TSN (Canada), CFL+ (USA, International)

Odds: 

Spread: BC -9.5 (-115), Ottawa +9.5 (-105)

Moneyline: BC -460, Ottawa +360

Over/Under: 46.5 (Over -110, Under -110)

Keys to the Game

Protect Vernon Adams Jr.

The Lions did not allow a sack in their win against Montreal prior to their bye week. Last week Ottawa had 4 defensive linemen listed among the top 10 defensive linemen in their PFF Pass Rush Grade. Bryce Carter leads the RedBlacks in sacks with 6.

Stop Devonte Williams

Last week Williams had a career-high rushing for 146 yards on 17 carries (8.6 average). BC has been one of the best run-stopping teams this season and has held their opponent’s starting running back to 1 yard per carry or less in 2 separate games.

Contain Dustin Crum

Dustin Crum has the most rushing yards among quarterbacks by far with 555 yards on 97 rushes and 1 touchdown.

Get the Run Game Going Again

Taquan Mizzell has averaged 43.5 yards per game over the last 4 games and has rushed for 4.14 yards per carry in that span.  In the 6 games prior, Mizzell had 413 yards on 78 carries (5.3 yards per carry) and 69 yards rushing per game. Getting the ground game going again will pay dividends later in the season as well.

5 Lions to Watch

QB Vernon Adams Jr.

Vernon Adams Jr. has averaged over 350 yards per game in the last 4 games with 4 straight 300-yard games and 11 touchdowns in that span. He also leads the league in completions 20+ yards downfield with 39. He has attempted 82 deep throws resulting in 14 touchdowns.

WR Alexander Hollins

Hollins has 23 catches for 405 yards over the last 4 games and has 879 yards on the season.

WR Keon Hatcher

Hatcher has 820 receiving yards in 9 games this season for 91.1 yards per game which is the highest receiving yards per game in the league. Hatcher has 27 catches for 427 yards in the last 4 games.

K Sean Whyte

Has made 94.1% of his 31 field goals leading the league in accuracy. Whyte is the #3 all-time most accurate field goal kicker in the CFL at 87.5%.

LB Josh Woods

Woods is starting at outside linebacker. So far this season he was listed as a 2nd-string middle linebacker every game so far this season and was a backup linebacker in every game last season except in week 1 which he was on the injured list for. So far this season Woods has 21 tackles over 12 games played.

5 RedBlacks to Watch

RB Devonte Williams

Rushed for his career-best of 146 yards last week against Hamilton including 7 runs over 10 yards. According to Pro Football Focus, he had the most missed tackles forced last week with 12.

LB Jovan Santos-Knox

Santos-Knox had the highest PFF Run defense grade last week and had 4 run stops.

DE Bryce Carter

Last week Carter had the 2nd highest PFF Pass Rush Grade with 4 pressures generated.

DE Lorenzo Mauldin IV

Had the third-highest PFF Pass Rush Grade last week and generated 4 pressures.

CB Brandon Dandridge

Dandridge had 4 pass knockdowns last week against Hamilton. He also has 4 interceptions in 9 games this season.

Injuries, Depth Chart Changes From Last Week:

Bo Lokombo is out this week with a rib injury. He currently is the team leader in tackles with 66 and is 4th in the league. He also has 3 sacks, an interception, and 3 passes defended.

Josh Woods will start in his absence at outside linebacker. Jack Hinsperger is brought into the lineup to provide depth at linebacker.

Jalon Edwards-Cooper returns to the lineup after missing last week due to a shoulder injury. Mike Jones has been placed on the 6-game injured list after starting at cornerback last week.

Depth Charts:

Score Prediction:

I predict the BC Lions to win by a score of 27 to 16. I don’t foresee the RedBlacks ending their losing streak against a well-rested BC Lions in their own building.