The Saskatchewan Roughriders hit the road as heavy favorites, looking to bounce back from a shootout loss against a winless Ottawa Redblacks team searching for anything.
Game Details
- Matchup: Saskatchewan Roughriders at Ottawa Redblacks
- When: Friday, July 3 at 7:30 PM ET
- Where: TD Place Stadium, Ottawa
- TV: TSN
- Stream: Watch live on CFL+
Odds
- Spread: Saskatchewan Roughriders -5
- Moneyline: Saskatchewan Roughriders -238, Ottawa Redblacks +195
- Over/Under: 57
Saskatchewan has cashed 2-1 against the spread with the over hitting in all three of their games this year. Ottawa sits 1-1 ATS with the over cashing twice in three tries — this line expects fireworks in the nation's capital.
Overview
Saskatchewan comes into Week 5 at 2-1 after a wild 40-34 loss to Toronto last time out, a game where Trevor Harris and this offense moved the ball but couldn't get the stops needed late. That result knocked the Riders out of first in a crowded West, but a trip to face 0-3 Ottawa is about as good a bounce-back spot as the schedule offers. The Redblacks have dropped three straight to open the year, including a 35-37 heartbreaker to Montreal where they clawed back from a big deficit but still came up short. Jake Maier and this offense can move the ball in flashes, but Ottawa's defense has been leaking points all season — 110 allowed through three games, worst in the league alongside BC.
This has the look of a get-right game for Saskatchewan. The Riders' offense has scored at least 31 points in every game this season, and with Ottawa's secondary banged up and its pass rush still searching for its first takeaway of note, the door is open for Harris to have a big night. The concern for Saskatchewan is defensive — they've given up 104 points through three games, and Ottawa's Daniel Adeboboye and Maier have shown they can put points on the board even in a loss. Still, the gap in overall talent and depth here is real, and Saskatchewan has the horses to control this one from the jump.
The betting market backs that up — Riders at -238 on the moneyline and a 5-point spread — and with Ottawa still winless and reeling, it's hard to find the argument for the home side outside of desperation and a raucous TD Place crowd wanting to see their team snap the skid.
Key Players
- Trevor Harris (Saskatchewan Roughriders, QB) — 87-of-115 for 1,175 yards and 8 TDs against a single interception, one of the most efficient passers in the league.
- Kian Schaffer-Baker (Saskatchewan Roughriders, WR) — 27 catches for 384 yards and 2 TDs, second in the league in receiving yards, and he's listed as available after working through an oblique issue.
- KeeSean Johnson (Saskatchewan Roughriders, WR) — 23 grabs for 301 yards and 2 scores, giving Harris a reliable second option on the outside.
- Jake Maier (Ottawa Redblacks, QB) — has kept Ottawa in every game this year and nearly stole one from Montreal, throwing for enough yardage to make this an over-friendly matchup.
- James Vaughters (Saskatchewan Roughriders, DL) — anchors a Riders front that needs to get after Maier and change the tempo of this game early.
Keys to the Game
- Saskatchewan needs Harris and the passing game to jump on Ottawa's defense early rather than let this turn into another track meet.
- The Riders' front seven has to find a way to speed up Maier's clock — Ottawa has been at its best when given time to operate.
- Cleaning up the defensive lapses that let Toronto hang 40 points last week is non-negotiable against a desperate Ottawa team with nothing to lose.
Injury Report
| Player | Team | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Jayden Dalke (LB) | Saskatchewan Roughriders | Out |
| Dhel Duncan-Busby (WR) | Saskatchewan Roughriders | Available |
| Dylan Djete (WR) | Saskatchewan Roughriders | Out |
| Samuel Emilus (WR) | Saskatchewan Roughriders | Questionable |
| Jaylen Johnson (WR) | Saskatchewan Roughriders | Out |
| James Letcher Jr. (WR) | Saskatchewan Roughriders | Out |
| Nelson Lokombo (DB) | Saskatchewan Roughriders | Available |
| Benoit Marion (DL) | Saskatchewan Roughriders | Out |
| A.J. Ouellette (RB) | Saskatchewan Roughriders | Questionable |
| Ali Saad (DL) | Saskatchewan Roughriders | Out |
| Kian Schaffer-Baker (WR) | Saskatchewan Roughriders | Available |
| Ryder Varga (LB) | Saskatchewan Roughriders | Out |
Depth Chart
Saskatchewan Roughriders starters by position, built from the team's official Week 5 depth chart. This projected chart may not reflect any further mid-week changes.
| Position | Saskatchewan Roughriders |
|---|---|
| QB | Trevor Harris, Jack Coan, Tommy Stevens |
| RB | Quali Conley, Thomas Bertrand-Hudon |
| FB | Morgen Runge, Albert Awachie |
| WR | KeeSean Johnson, Dhel Duncan-Busby, Mathew Sexton |
| SB | Kian Schaffer-Baker, Johnny Johnson III, Samuel Emilus, Daniel Wiebe |
| LT | Payton Collins |
| LG | Zack Fry, Daniel Johnson |
| C | Logan Ferland |
| RG | Jacob Brammer |
| RT | Jermarcus Hardrick |
| DE | Liam Hoskins, James Vaughters, Jaylen Pate, Desmond Evans |
| DT | Caleb Sanders, Devin Adams, Mike Rose |
| WLB | Nick Wiebe, Josh Woods |
| MLB | David Gbenda, Aubrey Miller Jr., Jameer Thurman |
| SLB | Melique Straker, Antoine Brooks Jr. |
| CB | Marcus Sayles, DaMarcus Fields |
| HB | Jonathan Edouard, Nelson Lokombo |
| FS | Kerfalla Exumé, Jaxon Ford |
| K | Alex Hale |
| P | Oscar Chapman |
| LS | Mike Benson |
Score Prediction
Saskatchewan Roughriders 31 - Ottawa Redblacks 26. Harris and the Riders' passing attack are too much for a battered Ottawa secondary, and while the Redblacks will move the ball enough to keep the total climbing, Saskatchewan's edge in talent and depth carries the day on the road.
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Who takes this one? Drop your prediction in the comments.