The Roughriders have a short turnaround and have to travel for this one. With an inexperienced QB, a banged up D-line, O-line and WR corps this will be difficult for the Riders to be prepared for. It is also important to note that teams off only 4 days rest this season are 2-7 straight up and ATS. The Riders are also 0-6 ATS in their last 6 against teams with a winning record.

Other things are more even as they are side by side in most team defensive categories in the CFL team stats rankings except for opposition offensive TDs, 1st downs allowed and avg. first down yards allowed, where the Als are 1st or 2nd and the Riders are 4th or 6th. It is hard to compare offensive team stats as most of the Riders’ were achieved under the auspices of injured first string QB Harris and QB Fajardo is a game time decision for the Als.

Although the Als are 2nd to last in terms of sacks allowed they have only allowed 3 in their last two outings. Last week the Als also had four OLs ranked in the top ten for performance against the pass rush by PFF analysis. The Als are also last in sacks made but the addition of last year’s outstanding western defensive player DL Lemon two games ago started to pay dividends last week as he made 2 sacks, an INT and was the 4th rated DL by PFF analysis.

Taking this all together makes this a fine play to lay the points and go with the Als.