Argonauts vs. Lions Prediction: CFL Week 3 Point Spread, Odds
The Argonauts travel to the coast after opening their schedule last week with a narrow 20-19 win over the visiting Montreal Alouettes as 3-point chalk, but have work to do to reverse a dismal 4-20 straight up run in games played away from the friendly confines of BMP Field.
Well rested after enjoying a bye in Week 2, the Lions have improved to 5.5-point favourites since opening as 3.5-point chalk, but have commanded the support of just 48% of sports bettors. BC is also pegged as a -208 moneyline favourite while the Argos lag as +173 underdogs. The total has also steadily gained ground since opening at 47.5, vaulting to 49.5 with -115 odds favouring the OVER.
CFL Week 3 Odds and Betting
Saturday night’s matchup at BC Place Stadium marks the first of two regular season meetings between these clubs. The Lions fell short in their only date with the Argonauts last season, a 31-29 loss in Toronto last October, dipping them to 6-8-0 straight up in 14 clashes with the Argos since July 2013. The club has particularly struggled when the Argos come to town, going 0-4-0 straight up in their past five home dates with Toronto, including three defeats by double-digit margins. The Lions showed signs of rewriting that narrative with a crushing 55-8 victory the last time Toronto visited in October 2019. That win sparked the current 2-0-0 run for the OVER in totals betting when these teams meet, which comes on the heels of a steady 1-6-0 run for the UNDER. However, the Argonauts have historically run up the score when visiting BC, averaging almost 29 points per game over their past five visits and scoring 40 points twice during that stretch.
Toronto Argonauts
The Argonauts will be looking for a far better effort on Saturday after barely outlasting the Alouettes in last week’s season-opening win. Neither team managed to reach the end zone until early in the second half, when McLeod Bethel-Thompson connected with prized free agent signing Brandon Banks with a scoring pass that gave Toronto a much needed 12-point lead. Along with Banks, rusher Andrew Harris starred in his Argo debut, galloping 87 yards on 18 carries. The duo of Banks and Harris give Bethel-Thompson the luxury of two top-tier threats that should help the team improve on last year’s sixth-ranked offensive attack.
BC Lions
Winners in just two home dates last season, the schedule makers handed the Lions a gift with their season-opening home clash with Edmonton. Losers of seven of their final eight 2021 contests, in which they averaged just 19.5 points per game, the Lions offence dominated in all categories while piling up a 42-6 lead at halftime. Quarterback Nathan Rourke enjoyed a sensational season debut, connecting on 89.7% of pass attempts for 282 yards and three touchdowns, while also running for two scores. James Butler took care of things on the ground, carrying the ball for 108 yards and a pair of touchdowns. The Lions also benefited from a sloppy Elks performance, with Edmonton getting tagged for 120 yards in penalties.
TOR
BC