Hammer time

Key matchups and a little trash talk ahead of Ticats-Alouettes semi.

It will be strength versus strength in Sunday’s East Division semifinal. The CFL’s top-rushing offence will square off against the stingiest run defence when the Montreal Alouettes visit the Hamilton TigerCats.

The Als ran for 144.5 yards per game powered by CFL rushing leader William Stanback (1,176 yards), while the Ticats allowed just 79.6 yards on the ground.

Montreal leads the CFL in net offence (371.8 yards per game) and time of possession (33 minutes, 19 seconds). But Hamilton’s defence was difficult to both run and score against. The Ticats have allowed just 16.1 offensive points per game, second only to Winnipeg.

And while Hamilton was 5-2 at Tim Hortons Field this year, Montreal had a winning road record (4-3) and was 5-2 within the division.

Pick: Hamilton

Calgary Stampeders at Saskatchewan Roughriders

Calgary enters Sunday’s West semifinal on a roll, having won three straight and six of its last seven overall. The only blemish was a 2017 home loss to Saskatchewan on Oct. 23.

Still, Calgary won the season series 2-1 after sweeping a home-andhome set in early October. And after losing five of their first seven games, the Stampeders find themselves in the playoffs for the 16th consecutive year. It’s been a different sort of year for Calgary starter Bo Levi Mitchell. The two-time CFL outstanding player had more interceptions (13) than touchdown passes (10) but still won seven of 11 starts.

Saskatchewan comes in having won four of its last five regularseason games. Quarterback Cody Fajardo threw for 2,970 yards with 14 TDs and 11 interceptions, but the Riders were a distant seventh in offensive points scored (19.6 per game).

Pick: Calgary

Record

3-2 last week, 35-28 overall THE CANADIAN PRESS