Lions vs. Argonauts CFL Week 18 Betting Odds, Picks: Nick Arbuckle Starting for Injured Chad Kelly
The Toronto Argonauts will be missing star quarterback Chad Kelly when they play host to the surging BC Lions on Saturday afternoon in CFL Week 18 betting action at BMO Field.
Kelly has been ruled out of Saturday’s contest, opening the door for Nick Arbuckle to take command of the offence in the squad’s bid for a fifth straight victory.
The Lions arrive in the Big Smoke as one of the CFL’s hottest teams after winning seven of their past eight, capped by last week’s 31-24 win over Saskatchewan but have yet to clinch a playoff spot in the hotly contested CFL West division.
With Kelly sidelined, the Lions have emerged as 3.5-point road favourites on the CFL Week 18 odds. Ther Argonauts trail as +145 CFL moneyline underdogs and the total is listed at 64.5.
CFL Odds and Betting
Saturday afternoon’s matchup marks the second and final meeting of the season between these squads. The Argos claimed a 26-12 victory when they visited BC in July, and have now topped the Lions in six of their past seven tilts including four straight wins on home turf. The Boatmen have been dominant at times during their current 6-1 SU run versus BC, with four of those victories coming with wide double-digit margins, and the Lions scoring 20 or fewer points three times.
Overall, the Argos have been an increasingly steady bet, going 6-3 ATS while winning seven of their past nine. That includes four straight outright wins at home in which they have averaged 30.5 points per game. Somewhat surprising is the success had by CFL totals bettors taking the UNDER, which has paid out in eight of Toronto’s past 10. The Lions have also put up big points, averaging 34.5 per game during their 7-1 SU run. However, it is tough to overlook the 30 points per game the squad has surrendered over their past three outings.
BC Lions
Nathan Rourke continued to roll for the Lions in last week’s win over the Roughriders. The BC pivot tossed for 375 yards and a season-high four touchdowns, and has now connected for 15 scores in seven outings since returning from injury.
However, Rourke produced mixed results in two appearances versus the Argonauts last season, capped by a disappointing Week 17 home performance in which he tossed for just 235 yards and one score while tossing three picks.
Defenders Levi Bell and Nathan Cherry missed Tuesday’s practice. Offensively, Rourke is rolling, but rusher Zander Horvath has been held to only 2.7 yards per carry over his last three games.
Toronto Argonauts
With Chad Kelly sidelined, Nick Arbuckle will celebrate his 33rd birthday by making his first start of the season on Saturday afternoon, and will see his first significant action since replacing Kelly midway through the team’s 26-12 victory in BC in Week 8.
Arbuckle has not made a pass attempt in the past four games, but the veteran has proved to be a steady understudy, particularly last season, when he stepped into the starter’s role and tossed for 4,370 yards and 26 TDs.
However, Kelly’s absence also means this team will need more production from their backfield, which produced just 21 total rushing yards in last week’s narrow 30-28 win in Winnipeg after compiling -1 rushing yards a week earlier versus Edmonton.
BC
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