Ticats All Access Game Day Predictor, presented by Sports Interaction: Week 16 vs. Blue Bombers
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
- How many points will both teams score combined? Over or under 53.5?
The decision this week is a difficult one with the over/under set at a relatively high 53.5 points. That being said, it isn’t set that high without reason. The Winnipeg Blue Bombers score the most points of any team – albeit by a slim margin over Calgary – averaging over 33 points per game.
The Hamilton Tiger-Cats have increased their offensive production as the season has progressed. Since the second bye week, the Tiger-Cats are averaging over 25 points per game. Prior to the Ticats’ week 10 bye, the team was lagging in that stat category. Since then, and Kent Austin’s appointment of June Jones as Head Coach, the Tiger-Cats sit in a tie with the BC Lions for fourth in the league. The Toronto Argonauts are the only Eastern franchise that has scored more points in the same span.
Hamilton’s offensive improvements with June Jones as Head Coach are akin to one additional touchdown per game. Those improvements are significant, especially when coupled with improvements on the other side of the ball.
Winnipeg quarterback Matt Nichols has led the Bombers offence consistently since the start of the season, and the Tiger-Cats are scoring points like a team reinvented.
54 total points is a tall order, but expect fireworks when the Ticats drop into Investors Group Field in Winnipeg.
Prediction: Over
- How many rushing yards will Alex Green record? Over or under 84.5?
When the Tiger-Cats traded starting running back CJ Gable to the Edmonton Eskimos on Monday, it cleared up a talent-heavy backfield for the Ticats. With Gable out of the picture, Alex Green appears poised to step into the foreground.
As vice-president of football operations Kent Austin stated during media availability Monday, the Ticats were, “Heavy in that position… with really good players.”
If Green’s first CFL start was any indication of his potential for the remainder of the season, the Ticats shouldn’t experience a drop-off in the running back position.
Green recorded 140 rushing yards in his debut. That kind of performance can hardly be expected on a weekly basis, but Green may be able to exploit a Winnipeg run defense that trails BC in most categories.
Prediction: Over
- How many receiving touchdowns will Luke Tasker record? Over or under 0.5?
Luke Tasker scored two receiving touchdowns in the first 11 games of the season. He has matched that total in the last two.
Tasker scored his third touchdown of the season against the BC Lions on a deep Jeremiah Masoli ball to the back corner of the end zone. His fourth came on the doorstep of the Argos goal line, and he followed it up by snagging his own two-point conversion.
Will Tasker find the end zone in three consecutive weeks?
Prediction: Over
- How many receiving yards will Timothy Flanders record? Over or under 24.5?
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers are a rare CFL team that consistently employs two running backs in the backfield. The ratio flexibility of a national running back in Andrew Harris means that the Bombers can start the international running back Flanders right alongside.
In previous games the two dynamic backs split touches, but it did little to eat into Harris’ production and he remains in the conversation for league MOP. At one time, Harris was on pace to post over 1,000 yards both receiving and rushing.
Flanders averages well over five yards a rush, but his touches are generally limited. Of late, the Bombers have been dressing Flanders as an inside slot and getting him more involved in the receiving game. He recorded 34 receiving yards in his most recent outing, and 28 in the previous game.
The Tiger-Cats will seek to shut down Flanders when they visit the Bombers on Friday.
Prediction: Under
- Who will lead the Tiger-Cats in receptions?
- Luke Tasker
- Brandon Banks
- Jalen Saunders
- Andy Fantuz
- Other
There has been a lot of talk about Banks’ increased production in the Ticats’ offence since June Jones took over as Head Coach, and for good reason. Banks moved from dedicated punt/kick returner to an offensive weapon as a receiver. The quality of his play since moving into that new role has solidified his place in the position.
What has been lost in all this, however, is how the veteran Luke Tasker has benefited. Tasker has doubled his touchdown total, had two games north of 75 yards receiving, and led the team in receptions. Saunders has constituted the downfield threat, but Tasker has been Masoli’s second-down release valve.
Tasker may not lead the team in yardage on Friday, but I predict he will take the receptions title.
Prediction: Luke Tasker
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