Roughriders vs. Argonauts Prediction: CFL Week 12 Point Spread, Odds
Chad Kelly has been sidelined since getting suspended in May for reportedly violating the league’s gender-based violence policy. With last season’s Most Outstanding Player unavailable, the duo of Cameron Dukes and Nick Arbuckle have led the Argonauts to a middling 5-4-0 record while combining to toss just nine total touchdowns. The Roughriders arrive in Toronto on the heels of last week’s 27-24 loss to Montreal, extending their current winless streak to four games and cutting their lead atop the CFL West standings to just one point over the second-place BC Lions.
The Argonauts are pegged as 2.5-point favourites on the CFL Week 12 odds ahead of Kelly’s highly anticipated return. The Roughriders trail as +115 underdogs on the CFL moneyline and the total is listed 50.5.
CFL Odds and Betting
The Roughriders rolled to a 30-23 victory in their first meeting of the season with the Argos, ending a four-game losing streak in head-to-head action. However, the Riders came up short in their two most recent visits to Toronto, ending an impressive 4-0-0 run at BMO Field in regular season action in which they averaged 31.8 points per game.
Neither of these teams have done much lately to win the support of sports bettors. The Argonauts have failed to cover in consecutive games while going 4-5 against the spread while the Riders have gone just 2-4 ATS in their past six games while averaging just 20.3 points per game.
Saskatchewan Roughriders
The Roughriders’ struggles to shut down opposing offences returned last week. Saskatchewan squandered the lead on three occasions on their way to 27-24 loss to Montreal. While the way the Riders lost sparked controversy over the officiating, their recent tendency to sacrifice big point totals remains a concern after allowing 27 or more points on three occasions during their current 1-4-1 run. The Riders have also struggled to score points on the road, averaging just 19.3 points during a 0-2-1 run that has contributed to a 3-2 run for the UNDER in totals betting.
Trevor Harris showed no signs of his recent injury in his return to action last week, going 31-for-39 for 355 passing yards and two touchdowns and has now piled up nine total scoring passes in just four appearances, but has connected for just two total scores in his past three appearances versus Toronto.
Toronto Argonauts
The big question getting asked on the streets of Toronto is whether Chad Kelly can put his recent off-field issues behind him and lead this team back into contention for the top spot in CFL East over the second half of the season. Kelly played a leading role in the Argonauts’ first-place finish last season, tossing for 4,123 yards and 23 scores in 18 appearances, but also tossed 12 interceptions including a pick in each of his two appearances against the Roughriders.
Kelly returns to a Boatmen squad that should be well rested after enjoying a bye last week. However, he inherits a receiving corps that has failed to light things up. Makai Polk emerged as the top receiver in the squad’s 39-25 rout of Calgary two weeks ago, compiling just 50 yards while making his second scoring catch of the season. Polk was one of eight receivers targeted by Nick Arbuckle, who compiled just 181 passing yards on the day. Indeed, the difference in that contest proved to be a pick-six by Dashaun Adams and an 86-yard punt return to the endzone, which earned the Argos their fourth win in five home games to date.