The Toronto Argonauts will officially become the final CFL team to play its first regular-season game Saturday afternoon at BMO Field – and it’s going to be a tough matchup for the Boatmen as they host the rival Hamilton Tiger-Cats. The visitors pulled out a 23-17 victory over the Saskatchewan Roughriders in their season opener last week, but are favoured Saturday on the road against an Argos team that few expect to be all that competitive in 2019.

CFL Odds and Betting Analysis

The Argonauts got the better of the Tiger-Cats in a 30-23 exhibition victory earlier this month, but apparently that isn’t enough to warrant making them favourites against a Hamilton team expected to challenge for East Division supremacy. Toronto opened this one at +2, but the line has shifted measurably – and with good reason, as the Argos have failed to cover in each of their previous seven games against divisional opponents dating back to last season.

Expect to see a healthy amount of scoring Saturday afternoon, evidenced by the over/under of 52.5. The Ti-Cats didn’t see much offence in their season curtain-raiser but have converted the over in each of their past five road contests and are a perfect 6-0 O/U in their last six following a straight-up victory. The teams have also gone over in four straight meetings. But beware the June curse: Hamilton is 6-21 O/U in its last 27 in the month, while Toronto is 6-22 in its past 28.

Hamilton Tiger-Cats

The Ti-Cats are confident, having covered in 12 of the past 15 encounters between the teams, but will need to do without the services of one of their top offensive weapons. Wide receiver Luke Tasker will miss Saturday’s game after absorbing a hard hit in the second quarter of the victory over Saskatchewan. Hamilton doesn’t believe that Tasker will miss much time, but it’s a blow for this weekend after Tasker racked up 1,104 receiving yards and 11 TDs in 2018.

Toronto Argonauts

The Argonauts lost all three meetings between the teams in 2018, and saw a half-dozen of their players bolt for Steeltown in the offseason. But Toronto’s offence is in good position to improve upon a dismal showing last season, one in which it produced just 369 points (second-fewest in the CFL). James Franklin will be under centre Saturday and will have two of the best receivers in the league at his disposal in S.J. Green and Derel Walker.

TIGER-CATS

Away

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ARGONAUTS

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