Winnipeg Bombers can provide playoff clarity with win over Ottawa Redblacks

Matt Nichols and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers could give themselves some playoff clarity Friday night.

Winnipeg (10-7) concludes its regular season visiting the Ottawa Redblacks (8-8-1). The Bombers have clinched a post-season berth but not a final position within the West Division.

Winnipeg is currently third, two points behind the B.C. Lions (11-6) and just two ahead of the Edmonton Eskimos (9-8). A win Friday would keep the Bombers in the West come playoff time but a loss and Edmonton win Sunday against Toronto would force the Manitoba squad to head to Hamilton for the East Division semifinal.

Winnipeg can still finish as high as second in the West — and host the conference semifinal — if it beats Ottawa and B.C. loses to Saskatchewan on Sunday. A loss or tie by the Bombers would give the Lions the No. 2 spot.

The Bombers’ defence won’t have to contend with veteran quarterback Henry Burris. With the Redblacks having clinched first place in the East Division, the CFL’s outstanding player last season won’t play.

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Ottawa cemented first in the East Division with last weekend’s 23-10 road win over Winnipeg. Burris completed 23-of-33 pass attempts for 338 yards and ran for a touchdown while Mossis Madu rushed for 125 yards and a TD.

Defensively, Ottawa linebackers Taylor Reed and Damaso Munuz led the way with 12 and 10 tackles, respectively. And the Redblacks’ unit will be bolstered by the addition of defensive lineman Cleyon Laing, an Edmonton native recently waived by the NFL’s Miami Dolphins.

Laing had eight sacks last season with Toronto before signing with Miami as a free agent.

Nichols was 35-of-46 passing for 289 yards and a TD versus Ottawa but also threw three interceptions. The Bombers had a season-high five turnovers and have lost three of their last five games after reeling off seven consecutive victories.

Nichols had just one interception in his first seven starts but has been picked off seven times in the last five contests. And Ottawa has won four of the five games played between the two clubs since it rejoined the CFL in 2014.

Should the Redblacks lose, they’ll become the first division winner in league history to finish with a losing record.

Bombers running back Andrew Harris, in his first season with his hometown team, needs 86 yards to reach the 1,000-yard rushing plateau for the second straight year and third time in his CFL career. Kicker Justin Medlock needs just three field goals to tie the CFL’s single-season record of 59, set in 1990 by Saskatchewan’s Dave Ridgway.

Pick —Winnipeg.

Montreal Alouettes versus Hamilton Tiger-Cats (Saturday afternoon)

Hamilton (7-10) has clinched second in the East and home field for the division semifinal. Predictably, a host of starters won’t play this week, including running back C.J Gable, although starter Zach Collaros will see action. Slotback Andy Fantuz (101 catches, 1,059 yards, five TDs) has a suspected torn anterior cruciate ligament but receiver/returner Brandon Banks returns after serving a two-game suspension for a positive drug test. Montreal (6-11) halted Calgary’s 14-game win streak last week to improve interim head coach Jacques Chapdelaine’s record to 3-2. Rakeem Cato could start after replacing an injured Vernon Adams Jr. (leg) against the Stampeders.

Pick — Montreal.

Toronto Argonauts versus Edmonton Eskimos (Saturday afternoon)

Edmonton (9-8) will know by kickoff whether it has something to play for, depending on how Winnipeg fares. With Calgary idle, Eskimos quarterback Mike Reilly will claim the CFL passing title and again have the league’s top two receivers in Adarius Bowman and Derel Walker to play catch with. It’s been a wretched stretch for Toronto (5-12), which has lost six straight and 10 of its last 11. Argos’ veteran Ricky Ray will make his 200th career start against his former team.

Pick — Edmonton.

Saskatchewan Roughriders versus B.C. Lions (Sunday afternoon)

B.C. (11-6) looks to sweep the home-and-home series after last weekend’s 24-6 win in Regina. Veteran kicker Paul McCallum came out of retirement this week to rejoin the club as incumbent Richie Leone has been inconsistent. The Lions could have second spot sewn up prior to kickoff depending on what Winnipeg does. Saskatchewan (5-12) has dropped two straight and allowed 11 sacks — including seven last weekend — following four straight victories as the Riders complete their first season under head coach/GM Chris Jones.

Pick — B.C.

Last week: 2-2.

Overall: 43-32-1.

Dan Ralph, The Canadian Press