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Edgar Chaput
Argonauts vs. Tiger-Cats Prediction: CFL Week 7 Point Spread, Odds
While it’s true that the Labour Day Classic is the premium Argos-vs-Ticats match on the calendar, the tension runs deep between these franchises, so all meetings hold a special quality. Toronto arrives into town on the heels of a big win in Montreal to improve their record to 3-2. On the flip side, Hamilton is desperate for some positivity. They were on a bye in Week 6 but are staring at an 0-5 start.
Our CFL odds have the visiting Argonauts as slight -3 favourites.
CFL Odds and Betting
This is the first meeting in 2024 between these historic rivals. In 2023 the Torontonians swept all four games against their southern neighbours. What’s more, none of the contests were close, with the Argonauts winning by 18, 16, 13, and 15 points.
Don’t be fooled by the unspectacular 3-2 start to the campaign for Toronto. The team is on a heater when they have the ball, scoring a CFL-best 30.8 points per game. However, they concede a heap as well (28.2), resulting in a mediocre 2-3 ATS record. They might not be trustworthy with spreads but are a team to consider for the over-under. As of this writing DLs Jake Ceresna (shoulder) and Folarin Orimolade (ankle) have been limited in practice. DL Jordan Williams (ankle) has not practiced
Sadly, there aren’t many silver linings for the Tiger-Cats. Not only are they 0-5 straight up, but so too against the spread. What’s more, they give up the most points per game in the league (33.8), concede the seventh most yards (378.4), and only score the seventh most points (24.8). Suddenly the 0-5 tally isn’t so surprising. OLs Dayton Black (Achilles, has not practiced) and Joel Figueroa (shoulder, limited in practiced) are banged up.
Toronto Argonauts
After bitter defeats in last season’s East Final and earlier this year, the Argonauts were due to hand the Montreal Alouettes a good pounding. Pound they did at Percival Molson Stadium last week.
Helping their cause was a leg injury to Als QB Cody Fajardo, but competent teams know how to take advantage of opportunities in front of them, and Toronto was in no mood to let the hosts off the hook. They had more first downs (20-14), converted all four third-down attempts, and actually gained more rushing yards (183) than passing yards (131), a rarity in the CFL, with RB Ka’Deem Carey plowing for 94 yards and a 5.9 average. Even QB Cameron Dukes looked slippery in the pocket, scamping for 46 in total.
The 37-18 win was a shut-down, no-nonsense performance instigated by an astute second-quarter pick-six from LB Wynton McManis that set the overall tone.
Hamilton Tiger-Cats
The bye came at exactly the right time for Hamilton. When Week 5’s Sunday nighter concluded, the host Tiger-Cats had been mauled by the BC Lions 44-28. It was high time to regroup and refocus.
Even worse was that the final score flattered the Ticats if one can believe it; they scored a TD on the final play of the game. It was actually 44-21 before then. It doesn’t help that their defence allows opponents the best passing efficiency in the CFL (113.9 rating. In other words, they are the worst pass defence, efficiency-wise).
Every positive Hamilton canc claim has one one more negative counterfact. QB Bo Levi Mitchell has the most completions thus far (145), has thrown for 1,671 yards (second), and 11 TDs. Because they give up so many points – often quite early in games – RB James Butler hasn’t been in on the action very much this season (he also missed a week of action). WR Steven Dunbar Jr. remains a solid deep threat with the fifth-highest yards per catch average (14.4).
For the sake of Ticats fans here’s hoping head coach Scott Milanovich has done some good work with his men during the break.