Hamilton Tiger-Cats Game #7
Visiting Team: Hamilton Tiger-Cats (4-2, 2nd in the East Division)
Home Team: BC Lions (3-4, 4th in the West Division)
Date and Time: Sunday, July 27th at 7 pm EDT
Game Location: BC Place, Vancouver, British Columbia
Where to Watch: In Canada, TSN In the US and International, CFL+
DraftKings Betting Line: Hamilton Tiger-Cats (+3), BC Lions (-3), O/U 55.5 points
The Hamilton Tiger-Cats are officially in the midst of a race to the top of the East division with the Montreal Alouettes. On Thursday, the Alouettes (5-2) pulled ahead of the Tiger-Cats once again for first place in the East division when they defeated the Calgary Stampeders 23 to 21. On Sunday night, Hamilton will have the opportunity to demonstrate that they are a legitimate championship contender when they face the BC Lions (3-4).
Earlier this week, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats released a tweet indicating they are ready to hunt the Lions and pounce on the opportunity to stay at the top of the East division standings.
The Hamilton Tiger-Cats are riding a four-game win streak into Vancouver, but while they have been playing well on the field, they are also fighting a battle against attrition. According to the CFL Injury Report for Week 8, the Tiger-Cats are coming into this game with several injuries on both sides of the line of scrimmage. The absence of offensive lineman Jordan Murray (knee) will be the most impactful of those Tiger-Cats this week, because while it can be easy to add high-quality players at many positions, offensive line positions are the most difficult to fill in short order.
During the BC Lions' first seven games, the team has resembled a roller-coaster ride, with high points such as upsetting the Montreal Alouettes and low points like losing three consecutive games. The Lions will have the advantage of being a much healthier team, with only defensive lineman Tomasi Laulile being out for this week's game. This game will feature a matchup between the top Canadian quarterback, Nathan Rourke, leading the Lions, and future Hall-of-Fame quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell leading the Tiger-Cats.
Hamilton Tiger-Cats Depth Chart
BC Lions Depth Chart
Key to Victory #1: Contain Lions QB Nathan Rourke
It is essential in this matchup that the Hamilton Tiger-Cats' defensive front seven keep Lions quarterback Nathan Rourke. Rourke has displayed the ability to escape the pocket when under pressure and find his target downfield. If the Tiger-Cats allow Rourke to scramble, they will have a tough time maintaining the integrity of their pass coverage and will be susceptible to giving up big plays against the Lions' passing attack. In addition to Rourke's scrambling ability, Rourke has run the ball for 176 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns this year.
Key to Victory #2: Apply Pressure with a Four-Man Pass Rush
Disrupting the BC Lions' passing game can be a difficult task for any defensive unit in the CFL. If the only way a team can pressure Rourke is by blitzing heavily, then the Lions quarterback is skilled enough to find the open receiver and beat those blitzes with an on-target throw. So, that means if the Tiger-Cats want to get quarterback sacks against Rourke, they will need to be able to do so with their defensive line as often as possible to limit BC's opportunities to dissect Hamilton's secondary. So far this season, the Lions have allowed the fewest number of quarterback sacks in the CFL, with Rourke only being sacked six times, and his ability to beat the blitz with a throw is a big part of that success.
Key to Victory #3: Stifle the Lions Running Game
The Tiger-Cats will face an element of their past when their defensive front seven works to stop the BC Lions' running game, led by former Tiger-Cats running back James Butler. So far this season, Butler has rushed for 504 rushing yards and three touchdowns while averaging 5.2 yards/carry. It would be ironic for Butler to help defeat a Tiger-Cats organization that allowed him to return to the BC Lions after he had doubts about his ability to stay healthy. Over the past several years, the Tiger-Cats have struggled to stop strong rushing attacks, which has made it difficult for Hamilton to secure wins against teams with a good running game. During the Tiger-Cats ' four-game win streak, they have done a solid job of defending their opponents' ground attack.
Key to Victory #4: Tiger-Cats Need Win Upfront Offensively
Another area where the Tiger-Cats have excelled during their recent winning streak is their ability to establish their running game early in the game. Despite dealing with injuries to running back Greg Bell, Hamilton has continued to be successful running the ball. Success with running the ball helps the Tiger-Cats stay out of 2nd-and-long situations and limits the number of times that quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell has to deal with heavy blitzes from the defense. While it can be appealing to focus on Mitchell's success in the passing game this season, Hamilton needs to maintain a balanced attack with an effective running game.
Key to Victory #5: Protect Quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell
It is not surprising that Bo Levi Mitchell has played excellent football as the leader of a talented Tiger-Cats offensive unit that has surpassed expectations. Mitchell's ability to focus on getting the ball to Hamilton's playmakers is only possible due to excellent pass protection for the veteran quarterback. So far this season, the Tiger-Cats have allowed only seven quarterback sacks, which is the second-best in the CFL. As a skilled pocket-passer, Mitchell needs to be able to feel confident in the pocket while he looks for wide receivers Kenny Lawler and Tim White downfield.
Game Prediction:
Hamilton Tiger-Cats 31, BC Lions 27
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