Still searching for a win 14 games into the year, the Redblacks host a Hamilton team that's just as desperate for one.
Game Details
Matchup: Hamilton Tiger-Cats at Ottawa Redblacks
When: Friday, October 2, 2026 at 7:00 PM ET
Where: TD Place Stadium, Ottawa
TV: TSN
Stream: Watch live on CFL+
Odds
Spread: Hamilton Tiger-Cats -0
Moneyline: Ottawa Redblacks +105, Hamilton Tiger-Cats -125
Over/Under: 60
Ottawa sits at 4-7-1 against the spread with 7 overs, 6 unders and a push this season, while Hamilton has gone 7-8 ATS with 7 overs and 8 unders. A pick'em line with a sky-high total says oddsmakers expect exactly what we've seen from both of these clubs lately — points, and plenty of them, on both sides of the ball.
Overview
There's no sugarcoating where this one sits in the standings. Ottawa is 0-14, dead last in the league, and Hamilton isn't much better off at 4-11 after getting eliminated from playoff contention in an overtime heartbreaker at Edmonton last week. Both teams enter on five-game losing skids, both have been getting torched defensively, and both offenses can move the ball in bursts without ever stringing together a full 60 minutes. That's exactly why this total sits at 60 — these two have been allergic to field position battles all year.
Hamilton swept the season series against Ottawa in 2025, and the matchup history tilts further when you consider Harrison Frost has never started against the Redblacks but has been red-hot lately, throwing seven touchdown passes over his last three outings. Kurleigh Gittens Jr. has scored in three straight games for the Ticats, racking up 20 catches and 228 yards in that stretch, and Hamilton's defense has been stingy through the air in one specific way — a league-low 13 completions allowed of 30-plus yards. That's a real problem for an Ottawa passing attack that leans on chunk plays to keep pace.
But Ottawa has life, believe it or not. The Redblacks have put up 69 points over their last two games, and McLeod Bethel-Thompson brings a career 6-6 record against Hamilton into this one, completing 60 percent of his throws for 797 yards and seven touchdowns in his two starts versus the Ticats. Justin Hardy has been a problem for defenses regardless of the scoreboard, piling up 21 catches for 227 yards and two scores over his last two games while clearing 1,000 receiving yards for a fourth straight season. Hamilton gets the slight edge here given the pass defense splits and the playoff-desperation angle earlier in the season, but Ottawa playing spoiler at home, with its passing game clicking, makes this a true coin flip.
Key Players
McLeod Bethel-Thompson (Ottawa Redblacks, QB) — Owns a career 6-6 mark against Hamilton with 797 yards and seven touchdowns across his two starts versus the Ticats.
Justin Hardy (Ottawa Redblacks, WR) — 21 catches, 227 yards and two touchdowns over his last two games, and he's topped 1,000 receiving yards for the fourth consecutive season.
Kurleigh Gittens Jr. (Hamilton Tiger-Cats, WR) — A touchdown in three straight games, with 20 catches and 228 yards in that span.
Nyles Morgan (Ottawa Redblacks, LB) — Leads the Redblacks with 69 tackles, including 22 over his last three games, and sits four shy of 450 for his career.
Keys to the Game
Ottawa needs its passing attack to generate explosive plays early, since Hamilton has allowed a league-low 13 completions of 30-plus yards all season.
Containing Gittens Jr. and slowing down Harrison Frost's recent touchdown streak is non-negotiable for a Redblacks defense that's been gashed through the air.
Nyles Morgan and the front seven have to clean up tackling after giving up 69 points over the last two games — this one's shaping up as another track meet.
Injury Report
Player | Team | Status |
|---|---|---|
Travian Blaylock (DB) | Ottawa Redblacks | Out |
Aidan John (DL) | Ottawa Redblacks | Out |
Kori Roberson Jr. (DL) | Ottawa Redblacks | Out |
Dionte Ruffin (DB) | Ottawa Redblacks | Out |
Blessman Ta'ala (DL) | Ottawa Redblacks | Out |
Anthony Gosselin (FB) | Ottawa Redblacks | Questionable |
Aaron Casey (LB) | Ottawa Redblacks | Available |
Lucas Cormier (LB) | Ottawa Redblacks | Available |
Depth Chart
Ottawa Redblacks starters by position, built from the club's official Week 18 depth chart. This is a projected look and may not reflect in-game changes.
Position | Ottawa Redblacks |
|---|---|
QB | McLeod Bethel-Thompson / Jake Maier / Bryson Barnes |
RB | Daniel Adeboboye / Mario Anderson Jr |
FB | Anthony Gosselin (GTD) / Jevoni Robinson / Emeric Boutin |
SB | Justin Hardy, Keelan White, Ayden Eberhardt |
WR | Cade McDonald, Kalil Pimpleton |
LT | Dino Boyd |
LG | Drew Desjarlais |
C | Sean McEwen |
RG | Giordano Vaccaro |
RT | Julian Pearl |
DE | Jessie Evans, Kyron Johnson |
DT | Cleyon Laing, Jelani Stafford, Amani Bledsoe |
DE | Charlie Parks, Luiji Vilain |
WLB | Kyahva Tezino, AJ Allen, Lucas Cormier |
MLB | Michael Brodrique, Aaron Casey, Nyles Morgan |
SLB | Benny Sapp III |
CB | Kahzir Brown, Eric Cumberbatch, Ahmari Harvey |
HB | Sage Ryan, Alonzo Addae |
S | King Ambers, Scott Hutter |
K-P | Paul Geelen, Noah Gettman |
LS | Lucus Spencer |
RET | Kalil Pimpleton, Cade McDonald |
Score Prediction
Ottawa Redblacks 30 - Hamilton Tiger-Cats 30. Two offenses capable of scoring in bunches, two defenses prone to breakdowns, and a dead-even line all point to another track meet at TD Place — expect this one to come down to whoever has the ball last.
CFL Standings | Full Schedule | League Leaders
Who takes this one? Drop your prediction in the comments.