Lions vs. Argonauts Prediction: CFL Week 12 Point Spread, Odds
The Lions tallied consecutive wins for just the second time this season with last week’s 36-18 victory in Montreal. BC continues to lag in fourth place in the CFL West standing but enjoy a four-point lead over Ottawa in their bid to crossover and claim the third and final playoff spot in the CFL East. The Argonauts limp home riding a three-game losing streak after dropping a 28-20 decision last week in Edmonton and now sport a league-worst 2-8-0 record so far this season.
The Lions arrive in Toronto perched as 3.5-point road favourites on the CFL Week 12 odds. The Argos trail as +145 underdogs on the CFL moneyline and the total is pegged at 55.5.
CFL Odds and Betting
Saturday night’s matchup marks the first of two meetings between these squads this season. The Argonauts have posted four straight head-to-head victories over BC. In addition to going undefeated in four home clashes with the Lions, the Argo have won and covered in seven of their past 10 versus the Lions.
The Argos have regularly run up the score when facing the Lions, averaging 34 points per game, and 33.5 points per game in their four-game home surge in head-to-head play.
Toronto has also tallied a respectable 31 points per game over their past four overall contests but have struggled to contain opposing offences while surrendering at least 40 points three times during their current 1-5-0 run and a league-worst 32 points per game so far this season.
However, the team is a surprising 2-1 ATS this season when pegged as underdogs by more than three points.
The Lions have enjoyed an offensive breakthrough during their current 4-2-0 run, averaging 31.7 points per game after averaging just 16 points during a season-opening 0-3-0 run.
BC Lions
Quarterback Nathan Rourke has been the straw that stirs the drink during the Lions’ recent resurgence. The Victoria, BC native has tossed for over 400 yards in each of the Lions’ two recent wins and tossed for four touchdowns in last week’s rout of the Alouettes to bring total number of scoring passes on the season to 16.
The Lions attack has also been buoyed by the play of running back James Butler, who has run for at least 85 yards in each of the past three games and is a solid -118 bet on the CFL player props to top 70.5 rushing yards on Saturday.
Toronto Argonauts
For the second time in as many outings, the Argos squandered an early lead last week in their 28-20 loss in Edmonton. The squad’s porous defence has particularly struggled at home, where they have allowed over 38 points per game over their past four outings, and have been particularly victimized on the ground with the Argos rush defence allowing 114.4 rushing yards per game and 73 rushing first downs so far this season, both league-worsts, along with 12 scoring runs.
That said, Nick Arbuckle has remained a steady presence in the absence of injured quarterback Chad Kelly. Arbuckle enters the weekend ranked second in the CFL with 303.3 passing yards per game and 17 scoring passes and has developed intriguing chemistry with receiver Damonte Coxie, who is currently second in the league with six TDs and 854 receiving yards. But while the Argos possess the ability to put points on the board, it is unlikely they will be able to contain the Lions’ league-leading attack on Saturday night.
BC
TOR