Toronto (2-0) at Montreal (5-0)
When: Thursday, July 11th 2024
Where: Percival Molson Memorial Stadium,
Montreal, Quebec
Time: 7:30 ET | TV: CFL.ca
Opening Odds: Montreal -6.5/50
Week 6 of the CFL season gets underway this Thursday night, as the Montreal Alouettes host the Toronto Argonauts at Percival Molson Memorial Stadium. The Als come in as 7-point favorites with a total of 50.5. Toronto comes into this contest with a 2-2 record after dropping a 30-23 contest at the Saskatchewan Roughriders last weekend. Montreal improved to a perfect 5-0 with a 30-26 home win against the Calgary Stampeders.
This will be the second meeting between these rivals this season, with Montreal taking the first one 30-20 in Toronto two weeks ago. It was the Als’ second consecutive win over the Argos and the first since they blew out Toronto 38-17 as a 10.5-point underdog in last year’s East Division Final. Montreal continues to have the best Grey Cup odds at +225, while Toronto is fourth at +600.
TORONTO ARGONAUTS
Quarterback Chad Kelly continues to be suspended and Cameron Dukes has filled in admirably for him until last week. In Toronto’s setback at Saskatchewan, Dukes completed 19-of-33 pass attempts for 206 yards while throwing four interceptions and no touchdowns. On the season, Dukes has thrown as many touchdowns as he has interceptions (5). Backup Nick Arbuckle is waiting in the wings in case Dukes continues to struggle.
Toronto leads the CFL in both rushing yards per game (123.8) and rushing yards per play (5.6). Most of that is coming from Ka’Deem Carey, who scored the Argonauts’ lone touchdown last week and sits third in the league with 269 rushing yards while scoring three total touchdowns (two rushing, one receiving).
MONTREAL ALOUETTES
It looked as if Montreal would suffer their first loss last week in Calgary when they trailed heading into the fourth quarter. The Als then rallied with 15 unanswered points to keep their perfect record in tact. Walter Fletcher scored on a 31-yard touchdown run with under two minutes left in the game and also recorded 104 receiving yards.
Tyson Philpot led the team with 134 receiving yards, topping 100 yards for the third time this season. Cody Fajardo threw for 374 yards, two touchdowns and two picks and ranks third in the CFL in passing yards at 1,574. Montreal leads the league in average opponent total yards (336.0), passing yards (241.8), QBR (76.6) and points (19.8) allowed per game.
Prediction:
This is a tough call and NOT one of my Best Bets, which by the way, are 9-1 this season. I’ll take the points. Toronto can run the ball and despite Montreal’s strong defense, their run stop isn’t great. The Als are just 3-2 ATS despite their 5-0 record and Toronto won both regular season matchups in Montreal last season.
