Elks look to win season series with Blue Bombers

The Edmonton Elks and Winnipeg Blue Bombers will face off on Friday night, with the outcome potentially having significant implications for their respective standings. A win for Edmonton would not only secure their lead at the top of the West Division but also grant them the season series and a tiebreaker if the two teams ended the regular campaign tied.

Edmonton recently claimed a 23-18 victory over Winnipeg in a road game, and they are set to host the Blue Bombers at home on Oct. 16. Both teams enter the contest with wins under their belts.

For Edmonton, quarterback Cody Fajardo led the team to a solid performance, throwing for 301 yards and a touchdown in their previous game against Toronto. Fajardo also intercepted a pass once, returned it 85 yards for a touchdown, and added four tackles and a forced fumble, which contributed to six turnovers overall. Running back Justin Rankin, who had been struggling, surged to 108 total yards (47 rushing, 61 receiving) and a touchdown, marking a significant turnaround after underperforming in the preceding four games.

Meanwhile, Winnipeg's Brady Oliveira rushed for 74 yards and a touchdown to lead his team to a 33-21 win over Ottawa, their first victory in three games. Winnipeg's defense ranks first in the league against the pass but lags behind against the run, which could be attributed to the lack of success against it.

Over their head-to-head matchups, Zach Collaros from Winnipeg has a slight edge, having won 15-8 against Edmonton, while Fajardo boasts a 5-9 record in these meetings. Winnipeg safety Willie Jefferson is on the verge of reaching a career milestone, needing just one more pass knockdown to join Eddie Davis and Adrion Smith as players with 100 career interceptions.

However, Edmonton holds a home advantage with a 4-1 record at home and a 3-2 standing within the West Division. On the other hand, Winnipeg is 3-0 on the road but has a 1-3 record against divisional opponents.

In other matchups, the Ottawa Redblacks will host the Montreal Alouettes on Thursday night. The Als, who boast a potent offense led by Canadian passing champion Davis Alexander, will present a daunting challenge for Ottawa, who have struggled this season. Similarly, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and Toronto Argonauts will clash on Saturday night at BMO Field, with the Argos hoping to reclaim the top spot in the East Division and the season series.

The Argos' quarterback, Chad Kelly, has struggled with interceptions, while Hamilton's Tre Ford is expected to start after coming off the bench to secure a win over Saskatchewan. Finally, the Saskatchewan Roughriders and B.C. Lions will meet in Vancouver on Sunday night. The Lions have turned their season around, winning three straight games, while Saskatchewan has had their share of struggles this season.