The Toronto Argonauts (1-0) visit the long-reigning Grey Cup champion Winnipeg Blue Bombers (1-0) Friday for an 8:30 p.m. ET kickoff at IG Field. Below, we look at the Argonauts at Blue Bombers odds and lines and make our best CFL picks, predictions and bets.
The Argonauts started the 2021 season with a 23-20 road upset of the Calgary Stampeders in Week 1. Argos QB McLeod Bethel-Thompson completed 26 of 37 passes for 354 yards and 2 touchdowns without an interception but Toronto combined for just 56 total rushing yards.
The Blue Bombers crushed the Hamilton Tiger-Cats 19-6 Aug. 5 in a 2019 Grey Cup rematch. QB Zach Collaros went 18-for-28 through the air for 217 yards and 2 touchdowns. RB Brady Oliveira ran for 126 yards on 22 carries with RB Andrew Harris sidelined by injury. Harris (calf) remains on the shelf for Week 2.
Argonauts at Blue Bombers odds, spread and lines
Odds via Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 1:18 p.m. ET.
- Money line: Argonauts +200 (bet $100 to win $200) | Blue Bombers -300 (bet $300 to win $100)
- Against the spread/ATS: Argonauts +6.5 (-115) | Blue Bombers -6.5 (-120)
- Total: 47.5 (O: -115 | U: -120)
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Argonauts at Blue Bombers odds, lines, predictions and picks
Prediction
Blue Bombers 24, Argonauts 21
Money line
The Blue Bombers (-300) should win with the benefit of home-field advantage, but we should PASS on the chalk-filled money line. A $10 bet would return a profit of just $3.33 and it’s a losing long-term strategy to bet such heavy favorites.
The Argos already pulled off a road upset last week and the Week 2 line should be much closer based on what we’ve seen from both teams thus far.
Against the spread
Hammer ARGONAUTS +6.5 (-115) as the best bet in this Friday night game. Far too much respect is being given to the reigning champs and not enough to a vastly improved Toronto side.
The lingering absence of Harris for Winnipeg is also being understated by this line. While Oliveira gashed the Ti-Cats on the ground last week, the Argos held the Stamps to a respectable 101 rushing yards in Week 1.
Over/Under
Add the UNDER 47.5 (-120) as a nice side play to the Argos’ spread.
Scoring is down across the CFL early in the 2021 season after a nearly two-year pause due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Thursday’s 15-9 BC Lions win over the Calgary Stampeders shows it could be more than a one-week trend.
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