The Saskatchewan Roughriders will have another road game before making their home season debut, and they want to be welcomed by their home fans with at least a win on their ledger. An opportunity to get in the win column for the first time this year comes for Saskatchewan this week against the Ottawa Redblacks, who are looking to open the season with back-to-back victories Read on for a preview of this intriguing meeting below.
The Roughriders went 12-6 SU last season and got bounced out of the playoffs early, losing to Winnipeg in a division semifinals matchup. They entered the 2019 season with a new head coach in Craig Dickerson, but his first game at the helm of the Roughriders was a fail, as Saskatchewan lost to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on the road in Week 1, 23-17. Apart from that loss, the Roughriders could be in danger of missing starting quarterback Zach Collaros at least for the Ottawa game. Collaros was knocked out of the game against the Tiger-Cats after just one driver, as he was illegally hit in the head by a Hamilton defender. If Collaros can’t go, the Roughriders are most likely to give the temporary starting duties under center to Isaac Hark, who passed for 128 yards with zero touchdowns and two interceptions on 8-of-14 passing in Week 1. Also, under that circumstance, expect Saskatchewan to pound the ball more to running back William Powell, who rushed for 120 yards and a touchdown on 20 carries against Hamilton.
The over is 3-2 in the Roughriders’ last five road games.
Betting on Ottawa Redblacks (0-1)
Unlike Saskatchewan, the Redblacks started their 2019 season on a positive note, beating the Calgary Stampeders in a rematch between the combatants of the last Grey Cup on the road to the tune of a 32-28 score. Although Ottawa no longer has Powell in the backfield, the team seemed fine with its new starting running back in Mossis Madu, who had 112 rushing yards on 24 carries in Week 1. However, the Redblacks definitely needs a much better performance from quarterback Dominique Davis went 29-of-44 for 276 passing yards, but found no one in the end zone and had four of his passes intercepted. The Redblacks did do a good job of protecting Davis, though, as their offensive line allowed zero sacks. That unit will have to be just as sturdy against Saskatchewan’s stop unit that was tied for first in 2018 with 45 sacks.
The Redblacks are 3-0 against the spread (ATS) in their last three home games.
