Argonauts vs. Lions Prediction: CFL Week 8 Point Spread, Odds
The Argos fell just short in last week’s 24-23 loss in Hamilton to fall to 2-4-0 on the season. The Lions return home to the familiar confines of BC Place for the first time this season after losing quarterback Nathan Rourke to injury in a 19-17 loss in Edmonton last week that marks their fourth defeat in five outings this season.
The Argonauts arrive in BC perched as 3.5-point road favourites on the CFL Week 8 odds. The Lions trail as +155 underdogs on the CFL moneyline and the total is listed at 57.5.
CFL Odds and Betting
The Argonauts have held the edge in recent dates with the Lions, winning five of six while going 6-0 against the spread, but dropped a 27-22 decision as 6-point dogs in their last visit to BC last September. Toronto has seen three of its past four victories over BC come by double-digit margins, and has scored an average of 35 points per game during their current 5-1-0 head-to-head run. Conversely, the Lions have managed to top 27 points just once in their past five versus the Argos, resulting in uneven payouts on the CFL totals, with the OVER/UNDER going 3-3 over that stretch.
However, the Argos have struggled at times to contain opposing offences during their 2-4-0 start, surrendering 30+ points on four occasions, and were unable to slow down the offensively challenged Ti-Cats in last week’s loss. Despite those woes, the Argonauts remain in striking distance of the favourites on the Grey Cup odds as a +850 bet. The Lions’ disappointing start has been further complicated by the loss of Rourke. And after struggling to maintain momentum last week following their star pivot’s injury, BC has tumbled to a +1800 wager on the Grey Cup futures.
Toronto Argonauts
After seeing their current slide extended to three games, the Argos are desperate to give quarterback Chad Kelly an assist with more consistent defensive play. Currently ranked seventh in the CFL in points allowed, any success this squad has enjoyed as resulted from the steady play of Kelly, who is perched among the league leaders with 2126 passing yards and 15 touchdown passes. However, with yet another interception last week, Kelly is also tops in the CFL with nine picks through the first six games of the campaign. The Argos could also use more production from their backfield. Running back Samuel Hicks has been the go-to game, and has now tallied 314 rushing yards after last week’s 47-year performance. But apart from Kelly, no other Toronto ball carriers have topped 50 rushing yards this season.
BC Lions
With the Lions expecting Nathan Rourke to be on the shelf indefinitely, the squad will turn over the offence to Chase Brice. A member of the Clemson Tigers squad that won the 2019 College Football Playoff national championship, Brice produced mixed results after relieving Rourke last week, connecting on 20 of 34 pass attempts for 226 yards and one score, but he also tossed four picks and failed to lead the Lions attack into the Elks redzone after the first quarter. The Lions’ efforts were not helped by a virtually non-existent ground game that produced just 15 total yards, but are likely to give James Butler a healthy diet of touches after he piled up 135 yards and two scoring runs tow weeks ago versus Edmonton.
TOR
BC