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!
Preparing for the second half of a two-game homestand at Tim Hortons Field, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats welcome the Ottawa Redblacks into the donut box for Week 7. Matching up against an East Division team for the first time this season, this game has major implications in the hunt for first in the East. Here are five predictor questions for this week.
How many punt return yards will the Tiger-Cats record: over or under 75?
Coming to the forefront of Hamilton’s punt return unit last week was the play of defensive back/punt return specialist Frankie Williams. Williams, who spent the previous road game in Saskatchewan in the secondary, found himself predominantly fielding punts last week at Tim Hortons Field, returning one for a 98-yard touchdown.
Williams is no stranger to making the big play on special teams. Running a punt back for six points against the Argonauts in the pre-season showed what the former Perdue Boilermaker could do.
Matching up this week against Ottawa kicker Richie Leone, who connects with the ball for an average of 48.8 yards per attempt, Williams will certainly have time to visualize and plan his route of return come Saturday.
My prediction: Over
For how many yards will Jeremiah Masoli throw: over or under 300?
Completing 20 of 28 passes for 184 yards last week versus Saskatchewan, Masoli fell short of setting a new CFL record for most consecutive 300-yard passing games.
Ottawa has registered only four interceptions this season, which may indicate Masoli could have a greater opportunity to hit his spots and move the ball through the air.
With over 1,500 passing yards and just five interceptions so far this season, I see Masoli having another elite performance Saturday.
My prediction: Over
How many receptions will Jalen Saunders record: over or under six?
Sitting tied for fourth in the league in receptions heading into Week 7, Tiger-Cats receiver Jalen Saunders is quickly becoming a frontrunner for most receptions in the Canadian Football League.
Reeling in five receptions and averaging 13.4 yards per catch against the Roughriders last week, Saunders led all Ticats receivers in total yards.
Sitting nine receptions behind Ottawa’s Brad Sinopoli for first in the CFL in receptions, Saunders will see the league leader close up this week, adding some extra motivation as he nips at Sinopoli’s heels.
My prediction: Over
How many tackles will Jamaal Westerman record: over or under five?
Making his debut with the Tiger-Cats this week, former Montreal Alouette turned Ticat Jamaal Westerman makes Hamilton’s defensive line even more intimidating. With the addition of Westerman, Hamilton’s options at the end position are multi-dimensional.
The Rutgers University product has had an impressive start to the season. Recording 19 tackles in five games with the Alouettes, Westerman is on pace to crush his single-season career best of 53 defensive tackles.
Averaging 3.8 tackles through five games, a change of scenery and deployment within Jerry Glanville’s defence could wreak havoc on opposing offences.
My prediction: Over
For how many yards will Ottawa rush: over or under 150?
The Redblacks have recorded just 102 rushing yards in their past two games combined.
This may not get easier for Ottawa running back and 2017 CFL East Division all-star William Powell this week as he faces the one-two punch of Larry Dean and Simoni Lawrence. The Ticats duo has 53 combined tackles this season.
My prediction: Under