The Hamilton Tiger-Cats beat the visiting Argonauts by two touchdowns on Labour Day, but the teams turn around and play again Saturday in Toronto.

Betting Analysis

Hamilton is actually the biggest opening favourite in Week 13, which is unusual with a number of just 4.5 points. The early betting lean is on the Argos as well as over the 52.5 points. No moneyline as of this writing.

On the race to 10 points, the Ticats are -147 and Argos +112. For the first team to score, Hamilton is -137 with a touchdown at +300. Toronto is -103 to take the first lead with a touchdown at +340. On the winning margin prop, Ticats by 1-6 points (+350) and Argos by same margin (+375) are the leaders.

Very interesting scheduling for the Argos this year as they will play four sets of back-to-backs. In Week 4, the beat the visiting Eskimos by three but then lost Week 5 at Edmonton by a point. The next two weeks were both against the Blue Bombers, a 38-20 home loss and a 40-14 road defeat. There’s this back-to-back against Hamilton and then Week 19 vs. the Als and Week 20 in Montreal.

Toronto will also host Hamilton again in Week 18.

Hamilton Tiger-Cats

We projected Hamilton (5-5) to cover a 9-point home spread in Week 12 vs. Toronto by a 30-20 count, but the Tiger-Cats went a bit better in winning 42-28 on Monday in the annual Labour Day Classic. Hamilton shredded the Argos for 543 yards offence. Jeremiah Masoli threw for 385 of those and three touchdowns. Brandon Banks caught nine passes for 135 yards and two scores (he’s now second on the all-time Ticats’ list for combined yards), while Luke Tasker had eight catches for 143 yards and a TD. Alex Green rushed for 115 yards and two scores. Anytime a team has a 300-yard passer, two 100-yard receivers and a 100-yard rusher it’s almost always going to win at any level. It was the Ticats’ fifth straight win on Labour Day over the visiting Argos.

Toronto Argonauts

Toronto (3-7) was outgained 543-220 and had 10 penalties for 109 yards. The one piece of good news from Monday’s loss was the Argos fought back from a 14-0 first-quarter deficit to take a 28-24 lead into the fourth, only to be outscored 18-0. McLeod Bethel-Thompson was just 14-for-29 for 163 yards and an interception. James Franklin accounted for three short-yardage touchdowns for the Argos, including a scoring throw to offensive lineman Ryan Bomben. Alden Darby had a 100-yard fumble return touchdown and an interception. Perhaps don’t panic yet Argos fans as your team was 4-7 after last year’s Labour Day loss to an 0-8 Hamilton team and then took off.  Former Toronto wide receiver DeVier Posey was cut by the NFL’s Baltimore Ravens recently and the Argos are interested in bringing him back.

Tiger-Cats vs. Argonauts Prediction