Lions vs. Argonauts Prediction: CFL Week 13 Point Spread, Odds
Up next for the BC Lions is the 6-4 Toronto Argonauts, who are a perfect 4-0 at home. Both teams are coming off games in which they lost by 20-plus points, a 45-0 loss in the Lions case. Both teams are also vulnerable to yards against which bodes well for pocket passers Michael Reilly and McLeod Bethel-Thompson. Kickoff at BMO Field is set for 4 p.m. EST Saturday.
Oddsmakers have the over-under listed at 46, and Toronto a 3.5-point home favourite to win on the CFL odds.
CFL Odds and Betting
The Lions’ shutout loss last Saturday was so bad that the game actually went over the total, but fact is seven of BC’s last nine road games have gone under. BC’s offence is seventh in scoring this season which is underwhelming; if Reilly’s offence can’t get going against Toronto the Lions may be out of luck in 2021.
Toronto’s been an over team in 2021 as its hit in seven of their 10 games and in all of their last five outings. That said, head-to-head it’s the under that’s 7-3 in the last 10 BC–Toronto battles. Now’s a good time to mention the weather isn’t looking so spiffy in Toronto Saturday too.
BC Lions
Poor Reilly. Not only has he lost four straight games and had his team get shut out last weekend, but when backup Nathan Rourke got injured in cleanup duty it was Reilly who had to come back in and take more punishment from Winnipeg’s defensive front.
The Lions don’t bother running the football either, which hasn’t helped. BC’s 132 rushes on the season are 40 fewer than any other CFL team. They’ve made the second-fewest turnovers, have the third-most passing yards, but again are seventh in points for. A big concern is they struggle to keep drives going, and struggle stopping them too. BC’s eighth in second down conversion rate on both offence and defence, and then also in time of possession.
Toronto Argonauts
It’s time to start getting seriously worried about Toronto’s defence under Chris Jones. Montreal racked up 443 yards of offence on that unit in Week 12, they allowed 470 a week before at Hamilton, and even 406 to Ottawa the game before. The Argos have been unable to stop opponents, meaning if Bethel-Thompson isn’t playing flawless or Toronto’s not getting pick-sixes — they’re getting blown out last week at Montreal.
Bethel-Thompson’s also going to need to be near flawless moving forward. After trading quarterback Nick Arbuckle to Edmonton earlier in the week, Toronto’s made Bethel-Thompson their guy under centre. He threw four picks last week against the Alouettes. That won’t cut it.
BC
TOR