The spotlight will be on quarterbacks Bo Levi Mitchell and Davis Alexander, but running backs Stevie Scott III and Greg Bell will be key pieces in Saturday's East Division finale.
Scott rushed for 133 yards and two touchdowns in Montreal's 42-33 semi-final win over Winnipeg last weekend. He anchored the Alouettes with 176 yards rushing against a Blue Bombers defense that ranked third in the regular season (94.1 yards per game).
The two teams will meet at Hamilton Stadium, with the winner heading to the Gray Cup on Nov. 16 in Winnipeg.
Bell, 27, has rushed for 1,038 yards (5.6-yard average, five touchdowns) this season. In his only start against Montreal, Bell rushed for a career-high 156 yards and a touchdown in a 26–9 road win on September 6, as Hamilton rushed for 234 yards overall.
Mitchell, 35, led the CFL in passing yards (5,296) and touchdowns (a career-best 36) and was the only quarterback to start all 18 regular-season games. Mitchell was a key reason Hamilton (11-7) finished atop the standings ahead of Montreal (10-8).
No one in league history started his career like Alexander, who went undefeated in his 12 CFL appearances. The 27-year-old is 11-0 in the regular season (a mark that continues into '26) and threw for 384 yards with a touchdown and an interception against Winnipeg.
Hamilton has beaten Montreal twice this season.
Hamilton won the season series with Montreal 2–0 and went 7–1 in the East Division. But Alexander did not play in a single game, limited to only seven regular-season starts due to occasional periods on the sidelines due to a hamstring soreness.
Montreal was 7-0 with Alexander, but 3-8 in games he didn't start.
Mitchell leads a Hamilton offense that features three 1,000-yard receivers in Kenny Lawler (1,443 yards, 14 touchdowns at the CFL level), Canadian Kiondre Smith (1,126 yards, five touchdowns) and Tim White (1,016 yards, seven touchdowns). But the team really got into sync after Bell's 156-yard effort against Montreal, when he rushed for 100-plus yards twice and went over 90 yards on two other occasions.
Montreal responded with a stout defense that led the CFL in fewest offensive yards (338.4) and passing yards (256.9) and finished tied with BC for the most sacks (45). Veteran linebackers Darnell Sankey and Tyrese Beverett are stalwarts, but Canadian defensive lineman Isaac Adeyemi-Bergland registered 11 sacks during the regular season and made one, as well as a fumble recovery and two forced fumbles in the division finale against Winnipeg.
Montreal's defense could be bolstered by the return of tackle Mustafa Johnson (shoulder), who was limited in practice this week. Receiver Austin Mack (leg) was limited Wednesday, but veteran offensive lineman Pierre Olivier Lestage (neck) did not practice Tuesday or Wednesday.
Hamilton's defense ranked last in scoring (111 yards), eighth in points offense (26.5) and net offensive yards (374.1) and sixth in passing (281.5 yards). But the Ticats led the CFL in forced turnovers (44), interceptions (27) and points scored off turnovers (134) while finishing second in pass knockdowns (72, one behind Winnipeg).
The Ticats also have veteran kicker Mark Liggio, who has made 52 of 56 field goals this season and is familiar with the windy conditions at Hamilton Stadium.
Problems often arise in the playoffs, so I think Hamilton could present Alexander with a different look or two that doesn't necessarily confuse the talented young quarterback, but at least creates some hesitancy.
Choice: Hamilton.
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Western Division Final
BC Lions vs. Saskatchewan Roughriders (Saturday night)
In Regina, BC reeled off seven straight wins, including a 27-21 regular-season finale, although Saskatchewan rested many of its starters after already clinching first place in the West. The home team won the season series 2-1 and posted a 6-3 record at Mosaic Stadium.
Lions starting quarterback Nathan Rourke threw for just 223 yards last week against Calgary, but ran for 68 yards and a touchdown. The Lions led the league in scoring offense (29.8 points per game), passing yards (325.4) and net yards (430.2) and were third in scoring (113.4).
Saskatchewan's defense was stingiest against the run (76 yards), second in fewest yards allowed (341.5) and interceptions (24), and third in sacks (43) and fewest offensive points allowed (22.7).
Veteran quarterback Trevor Harris (4,549 passing yards, CFL-best 73.6 completion percentage, 24 touchdowns) leads an offense that can run (103.8 yards per game) but also gain yards (second in the CFL, 382.6 per game). But kicker Brett Lauter made 39 of 54 field goals (72.2%). BC's Shaun White made 39 of 41 attempts (CFL best 92.9%).
Choice: Saskatchewan.
Last week: 2-0.
Total: 55-28.
NOTE. Donna Spencer and Gemma Carstens-Smith contributed to this week's edition.
