CFL Betting Odds: Argonauts at BC Lions

Toronto’s Cleo Lemon ranks near the bottom of CFL QB ratings.

The Toronto Argonauts will try and snap a two-game losing streak when they go on the road to take on the B.C. Lions. This Week 11 matchup is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 11 at Empire Field in Vancouver. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. (PT).

Toronto is coming off a 28-13 loss to Hamilton as a four-point road underdog at the CFL betting window. The total stayed nine points ‘under’ the 50-point line. The Argonauts continually shot themselves in the foot in this game. They committed five turnovers (three interceptions and two fumbles) and had a punt blocked for a touchdown late in the first half.

Quarterback Cleo Lemons finished the day with 350 yards passing, but costly interceptions ended two potential scoring drives.

The loss dropped Toronto to 5-4 both straight up and against the spread. The Argos are now tied with Hamilton for second place in the East Division, a game behind Montreal. They are 2-3 SU and ATS on the road this season.

Last week, B.C. took advantage of the absence Montreal’s QB Anthony Calvillo, who was sidelined due to injury, by jumping all over the Alouettes in a 38-17 win as a seven-point road underdog. The victory snapped a seven-game losing streak dating all the way back to the second week of this season. Casey Printers returned to his earlier season form by throwing for 235 yards and two TD’s before leaving the game in the third quarter with leg cramps.

The win moved the Lions to 2-7 SU and 3-6 ATS on the year. They are now tied with Edmonton at the bottom of the West Division. They have yet to win a game at home and are 0-4 SU and 1-3 ATS.

These two teams met in Week 4 with Toronto pulling out a 24-20 win as a 1 ½ -point home dog. The game stayed ‘under’ the 47 ½ point CFL betting total. The Lions blew a 10-point lead as they collapsed down the stretch. First they gave up a 20-yard scoring strike from Clemons to Brandon Rideau midway in the fourth quarter that cut the lead to three. A few minutes later, B.C. QB Travis Lulay was intercepted by Byron Parker, who returned the ball 41 yards for the game-winning score.

Betus.com has B.C. as a five-point favorite and the ‘over/under’ line is 49. The recent meetings between these two teams have been tight affairs with B.C. winning eight of the last 10 SU, but Toronto wining five of the last nine ATS. The total has stayed ‘under’ in seven of the last eight games between these two teams.

Toronto has five wins this season, but much of its success has been a lot of smoke and mirrors. The Argos have overachieved with marginal talent, but lately have looked more like the team that only won three games last season.

B.C. is not as bad as its 2-7 record and appears ready to make a run in the second half of the year. Take the Lions to make it two in a row, covering the five points in the win.