Alouettes vs. Argonauts Prediction: CFL Week 21 Point Spread, Odds
It’s a bit of a throwaway game for the Argonauts and Alouettes in Toronto on Saturday as both teams have already clinched playoff spots heading into the final week of the regular season. Following the Argos’ 24-23 win in Montreal last week, Toronto has punched its ticket to a second straight East Division final to face the winner of the East semifinal between Montreal and Hamilton.
The Argonauts are 3.0-point favourites to win on the CFL odds, with a total of 48.5.
CFL Odds and Betting
Toronto has taken both meetings between the teams in 2022 by slim one-point margins. Past history shouldn’t be a major indicator for this game, however, as neither team will rely heavily on their regular starters.
Trips to the Six haven’t been great for Montreal over the last few years as they’ve dropped six of their last seven games in Toronto. They enter the final week of the regular season 9-7-1 against the spread overall, with covers in four of nine road games. The total has gone Under in five of the Alouettes’ last six games. Montreal is +1100 to win the Grey Cup, tied with Hamilton for the longest odds of all playoff-bound teams.
Toronto has cruised through the back half of the regular season, winning the East Division thanks to a 7-1 straight up record in their last eight games. They’re 9-7-1 ATS overall in 2022, with covers in five of eight home dates. The total has gone Under in five of the Argonauts’ last seven games. Toronto has the second-shortest odds to win the Grey Cup at +365, trailing only Winnipeg at +125.
Montreal Alouettes
The result wasn’t what Montreal was looking for last week, but there were positives to take away from the loss. The Als outscored Toronto 20-17 in the second half and quarterback Trevor Harris had arguably his best game of the season as the team prepares to head into playoffs. Harris completed 25 of 33 pass attempts for 413 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. Jake Wieneke was the top receiver with 121 yards in the air and one touchdown. Eugene Lewis had the other receiving touchdown and finished with 72 yards.
Lewis, the team’s leading receiver, will not play on Saturday. While Lewis is not playing to ensure he’s healthy for the playoffs, Montreal’s second-leading receiver, Reggie White Jr., will sit out the regular season finale because of a knee injury. Backup QB Dominique Davis will start against Toronto, while Harris will dress as the third-stringer. Davis has thrown the ball just 11 times this season, completing six passes for 87 yards and a touchdown. The veteran QB is more of a short-yardage specialist and has rushed the ball 61 times for 102 yards and 12 rushing touchdowns, the second-most rushing touchdowns in the league.
Toronto Argonauts
McLeod Bethel-Thompson threw for 240 yards and two touchdowns in last week’s victory, but he’ll also dress as the third-string quarterback on Saturday. Instead, first-year quarterback Chad Kelly will get his first career CFL start. It’s tough to know what the Boatmen will get out of Kelly as he hasn’t been given much of a chance to prove himself. The former Ole Miss QB has completed just three of 10 pass attempts this season for 33 yards, no touchdowns and two interceptions. In two preseason games, Kelly completed 15 of 27 pass attempts for 163 yards and a touchdown.
Toronto will hold receivers Brandon Banks and DaVaris Daniels out on Saturday. One player to keep an eye on is rookie running back Daniel Adeboboye, who will get an opportunity as the No. 1 option against Montreal. The 23-year-old Mississauga native has only seen seven touches for 32 yards on offence this season, but he’s been a key special teams piece. During two preseason games, Adeboboye rushed for 58 yards on 14 carries.
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