Do you think you know everything there is to about your Hamilton Tiger-Cats? Well here’s your chance to prove it with this season’s Game Day Predictor Challenge. Hours before every kickoff, Ticats All Access members can log in to their accounts and make picks as part of our weekly Game Day Predictor contest (Presented by Sports Interaction). This contest allows you to flaunt your Ticats knowledge and predict the outcome to situational questions about your favourite Ticats players. The more questions you answer correctly, the more Ticats All Access yards you can win. Along with the weekly series of questions, there will be a weekly prize with the first-place winner scoring four club-level tickets for an upcoming Tiger-Cats home game!
As a shortened week falls upon the Tiger-Cats, they travel to Saskatchewan to take on the Roughriders Thursday night. As the players prep for an appearance in Riderville, here are this week’s predictor questions.
To make your picks, visit allaccess.ticats.ca/gameday!
1. How many yards will Jeremiah Masoli throw for: over or under 300?
Completing his eighth-straight game passing for 300 yards last week against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, Jeremiah Masoli now sits first in the Canadian Football League among all quarterbacks in completions (75), pass attempts (tied – 106), completion percentage (70.8 per cent) and passing yards (1,045).
Coming off back-to-back CFL Top Performer of the Week nods and throwing for 369 yards against the Blue Bombers last week, the stage is set for Masoli to make history. If Masoli is able to throw for 300 yards for a ninth-consecutive game against the Roughriders this week, Masoli will find himself tied for the CFL record for most consecutive 300-yard passing games. If completed, Masoli will join Montreal’s Sam Etcheverry and Saskatchewan’s Kent Austin, who set the record in 1956 and 1991, respectively. Allowing 255 yards through the air against the Montreal Alouettes last week, Saskatchewan will be in tough against Masoli. Given Masoli’s hot streak, and a previous 300-yard passing yard game against the Roughriders last season, look for a new name sitting beside Etcheverry and Austin come Thursday night.
My prediction: Over
2. How many touchdowns will Mercer Timmis record: over or under one?
With his first four CFL touchdowns coming in the past two games, Mercer Timmis has given Ticats fans a lot to cheer about recently.
Going into the Week 2 matchup against the Eskimos, Timmis had not recorded a touchdown on the season. That soon changed. Recording 133 rushing yards and a pair of touchdowns in Edmonton, Timmis’ name was called again against the Blue Bombers. Putting up yet another pair of touchdowns in the home opener, the Burlington, Ont. native had a night to remember in front of family and friends.
Standing in his way this week is Saskatchewan linebacker, Derrick Moncrief. The 6-2, 220-pounder out of Oklahoma State University leads the Riders with 15 defensive tackles on the season and he matches up with Timmis’ 6-2, 220-pound frame perfectly. Anchoring down the Saskatchewan secondary and sitting tied for eighth in the CFL in defensive tackles, Moncrief will have his hands full this week.
My prediction: Over
3. How many points will Hamilton record: over or under 30?
Through three weeks, Hamilton has recorded 83 points for an average of 27.7 per game. Saskatchewan’s average point allowance of 27.3 indicates the Ticats could be in the 30 range once again. Hamilton’s strength so far has been their ability to play up to their opponents as they have had great outings against the Stampeders, Eskimos and Blue Bombers.
Hamilton’s offence has looked to be in mid-season form from the get-go. Led by quarterback Jeremiah Masoli, the combination of their complex playbook, depth at the running back position and a laundry list of threats at wide receiver, Hamilton has surpassed 30 points in two of three games this season.
My prediction: Over
4. How many total yards will Hamilton record: over or under 400?
With back-to-back wins, Hamilton is now first in the CFL in total yardage with 1,408 combined passing and rushing yards on the year.
Averaging 469.3 yards per game, Hamilton’s multi-threat offence has been the key to their success. Attributing most of the 400+ yards per game to Jeremiah Masoli and the Ticats passing game, airing out the ball to his talented receivers while making off-balance throws has captivated Ticats fans. Targeting all of his receivers in any given game has allowed Luke Tasker, Brandon Banks, Terrence Toliver and Jalen Saunders to make plays in the open field.
In the trenches, Hamiton’s run game has reigned supreme. Breaking away from the stereotype that the CFL is a passer’s league, Hamilton’s run game has shut down the status quo. Rushing for back-to-back 100+ yard games, combined with Masoli’s 300-yard passing performances have opposing defences on their heels from the first snap of the game.
My prediction: Over
5. How many rushing touchdowns will Hamilton record: over or under two?
Multidimensional. That’s the word that describes the Hamilton run game as it continues to grow.
From the outset, Hamilton has displayed the number of running backs they have that can get the job done. As the weeks of the season have progressed, so has Hamiton’s rushing game.
In Week 1, fans saw the combination of Mercer Timmis and Nikita Whitlock carry the load of the run game rushing for 36 yards on eight attempts. The following week showcased Timmis’ break-out game. Rushing for a career-high 133 yards and two touchdowns in Week 2, Timmis was one to watch in Week 3 against the Blue Bombers. Sharing the load with Sean Thomas Erlington, the one-two punch of Thomas Erlington’s finesse in the open field, spinning and hurdling his way to first downs, combined with Timmis’ strength to punch in two touchdowns on the night, has developed a powerhouse in the Hamilton backfield.
Thursday’s matchup against the Roughriders can pose the opportunity for Hamilton to make yet another statement. If the deadly combination of Timmis and Thomas Erlington can play to the same level they did against the Blue Bombers, Saskatchewan may see two Hamilton touchdowns scored on the ground.
My prediction: Over