Defending-champion Riders having their struggles late

THESE are difficult times for the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

The defending Grey Cup champions have dropped four consecutive games. And matters don’t get any easier Saturday when Saskatchewan (8-8) hosts Montreal (13-3) to complete a home-and-home series.

The Alouettes won 44-24 last week at Molson Stadium, the team’s first meeting since last year’s Grey Cup.

Saskatchewan would punch its playoff ticket with a win over Montreal and a Calgary or Winnipeg loss. The Blue Bombers (8-8) visit the Edmonton Elks (12-4) tonight while the Stampeders (8-9) host the B.C. Lions (10-6) on Saturday.

Neither Saskatchewan nor Calgary can host a playoff contest. Edmonton can clinch first in the West with a win over Winnipeg or a B.C. loss.

The Lions can clinch a home playoff game with a win or Winnipeg loss. The Bombers can secure a post-season berth with a victory or Calgary loss.

The East is set with Montreal having clinched first. The Toronto Argonauts (9-7) will finish second and host the division semifinal Oct. 31 versus the West crossover squad.

There is a question of how much quarterback Davis Alexander and Montreal’s other starters will play.

Despite Saskatchewan’s struggles, quarterback Trevor Harris stands second overall in passing (5,117) and sports a solid 70.1 per cent completion average. While Harris has 31 TD tosses, his 14 interceptions are tied for second-most by a CFL starter.

Saskatchewan is 5-3 at home and should be the more desperate team.

Pick: Saskatchewan

Toronto Argonauts at Ottawa Redblacks (tonight)

At Ottawa, Chad Kelly is expected to start for Toronto, which comes off a bye week. Kelly (right hand) didn’t play in the Argos’ 24-17 home loss to B.C. on Oct. 3 but practised fully this week. How much he and other starters play remains unclear.

Newcomer Bryson Barnes starts for Ottawa (0-16). The six-foot-one, 213-pound Barnes has been used mostly in short-yardage situations, having scored nine rushing TDs. He has completed 10-of-13 passes for 110 yards with an interception.

Pick: Toronto

Winnipeg Blue Bombers at Edmonton Elks (tonight)

At Edmonton, the Elks look to sweep the three-game season series. More importantly, the Elks are chasing first place in the West Division.

Veteran starter Zach Collaros made a triumphant return last week for Winnipeg, passing for 349 yards and two TDs in a 33-28 win over Calgary after missing two games with a head injury. The Bombers are 6-4 with Collaros under centre, but CFL rushing leader Brady Oliveira (1,307 yards) should get more than the eight carries (40 yards) he had against Calgary.

Pick: Edmonton

B.C. Lions at Calgary Stampeders (Saturday night)

At Calgary, B.C. has won four straight and nine of its last 10. Nathan Rourke threw for 360 yards and three TDs in last week’s 41-20 home win over Ottawa. Zander Horvath ran for 89 yards and two TDs, giving him 18 rushing scores and 21 overall. He needs one more rushing touchdown to tie Mike Pringle’s single-season record and two more TDs to tie Milt Stegall’s overall mark.

The Stampeders (8-9) missed a chance to clinch a playoff spot by losing to Winnipeg last week. If the Stamps drop this, they’ll need Saskatchewan to lose out to reach the playoffs.

Pick: B.C.

Last week: 3-1

Overall: 50-23

— The Canadian Press