Ticats All Access Game Day Predictor, presented by Sports Interaction: Week 11 vs. Argos
Think you know Tiger-Cats football inside and out? In the hours leading up to every Tiger-Cats game, Ticats All Access members can log in and lock in their picks as part of our Game Day Predictor contest, presented by Sports Interaction. Prove you’re the most knowledgeable fan by answering a series of props questions prior to kickoff. The more questions you get right, the more yards you collect for your All Access account, which increase your chances for game day and weekly prizes. Each week, the Predictor player with the most correct answers wins four Club Level tickets to an upcoming Tiger-Cats home game.
Here are five of the questions for this week’s game, and which answers I’ll be choosing. For a full list of questions and to participate in the game, sign up for Ticats All Access and get your answers in: allaccess.ticats.ca/gameday
1. How many points will both teams score combined? Over or under 59.5?
The Hamilton Tiger-Cats and Toronto Argonauts met on three occasions in 2016. Those three contests were exceptionally high-scoring affairs, and the teams combined for an average of 67 points per game. The highest scoring game between the two teams in 2016 was the Labour Day Classic, where the scoreboard was lit up with an 85 point onslaught. This year, the Tiger-Cats hope they can repeat their 49 point Labour Day performance.
By considering the Ticats’ and the Argos’ average points per game of the 2017 season, the two teams are slated to combine for just over 43 points. With the importance of the Labour Day Classic to both teams, and the excitement of the Hamilton crowd, fans can expect both teams to play with increased urgency.
The over/under this week is set at a particularly high level, with both teams having to average 30 point performances to meet the standard.
The aggressive over/under at 59.5 points, may turn some off, but expect offensive fireworks on Labour Day at Tim Hortons Field.
Prediction: Over
2. How many receiving yards will Luke Tasker record? Over or under 84.5?
Luke Tasker has been the Tiger-Cats most consistent receiver in 2017. Jalen Saunders broke into the season with two high-yardage games, but Tasker has plugged away, and quietly taken over the team lead in receiving yards. Tasker has 439 yards on the season, good for an average of around 55 yards per game. His offensive production has increased as the season has progressed, and his best game of the season was his 93 yard performance in week 9.
An important part of Tasker’s game has been is yardage production after the catch. Tasker has compiled 143 YAC yards on the season. For comparison, Saunders trails Tasker by just eight receiving yards, but is trailing by 74 yards after the catch.
Tasker has had some down performances this season. He was held off the stat sheet in week three against Saskatchewan, and only posted 32 yards against Edmonton in week seven. Although he has been around the 85 yard mark numerous times in 2017, he has only surpassed the figure once.
During the Labour Day Classic, other Ticats receivers will step up and lift some of the burden off Tasker’s capable shoulders.
Prediction: Under
3. How many yards will Brandon Whitaker rush for? Over or under 64.5?
The Toronto Argos are a pass first team. With Ricky Ray starting at QB, the team typically attacks opponents through the air rather than on the ground.
Brandon Whitaker started the season slowly, with his best rushing performance of the first seven weeks totaling just 26 yards. He has ratcheted up the production of late however, as he rushed for a combined 185 yards in back-to-back games against Montreal.
His most recent numbers must be taken with a grain of salt. In the first game against Montreal where Whitaker put up 96 yards rushing, the Argos starting quarterback, Ricky Ray, was sidelined with a shoulder injury. In Ray’s absence, the Argos were forced to rely on the run game instead of giving backup QBs Cody Fajardo and Jeff Mathews leash enough to sling the ball downfield. As a result, Whitaker figured more heavily into the Argos offense.
In the second game against the Als, Ray’s rested throwing arm put the contest out of reach by half time. In the second half of the blowout, Whitaker saw more touches in order to protect the ample lead.
With an over/under set at a relatively high 64.5, it would be difficult to bet on Whitaker this week.
Prediction: Under
4. How many touchdowns will the Tiger-Cats record? Over or under 1.5?
The Tiger-Cats have scored 12 touchdowns so far this season from a variety of sources. Jeremiah Masoli has a couple rushing touchdowns, punching the ball in from the one yard line. Tasker, Saunders, and Aultman are tied for the team lead in receiving touchdowns, each with two apiece.
The Ticats average exactly 1.5 touchdowns a game, and that makes the over/under difficult to judge.
It’s a tossup, but the Ticats will be spurred on by the wild Labour Day Crowd.
Prediction: Over
5. How many receiving yards will S.J. Green record? Over or under 99.9?
S.J. Green has been one of the premier receivers in the CFL so far in 2017. He is coming off a major knee injury that erased his name from the 2016 record books, but he hasn’t looked any the worse for wear.
Green has been Ray’s favourite target by far, amassing 850 yards receiving, good for second in the league and ahead of third by a wide margin. He was a threat against the Ticats in week one, as he caught for 124 yards, but no touchdowns. The numbers aren’t the only thing in his favour, as the difficulty of catch that he has hauled in is near unparalleled. Green consistently makes circus catches.
Green hasn’t posted back-to-back 100 yard games yet this season, and is coming off a strong performance. It will be no small task for Green when he lines up against the best the Ticats secondary has to offer.
Prediction: Under
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