Toronto (4-3) at Calgary (3-4)
When: Sunday, August 4th 2024
Where: McMahon Stadium,
Calgary, Alberta
Time: 7:00 ET | TV: CFL+
Opening Odds: Calgary -1.5/49.5
Week 9 of the CFL schedule concludes on Sunday night, as the Calgary Stampeders host the Toronto Argonauts from McMahon Stadium. The Stamps are happy to be home after getting throttled 33-6 at the Ottawa RedBlacks last weekend. That loss dropped Calgary to 0-4 on the road, but they are 3-0 at home this season straight-up and against the spread. Toronto escaped with a 16-14 win at home over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers to get back over the .500 mark for the season. The Argonauts will be 4-point underdogs in Sunday’s contest with a total pegged at 49.5.
Calgary has dominated the series of late and this will be the first of a home-and-home set with next week’s game set for Toronto. The Stampeders have won 15 of the last 18 meetings since the start of the 2014 season including eight of nine in Calgary. The home team won both meetings in 2023 with the Stamps winning 20-7 and Toronto winning at shootout 39-31. The Under has cashed in six of the last seven matchups.
TORONTO ARGONAUTS
The Argonauts might have gotten the win last week, but there are still questions regarding the offense and quarterback play. Cameron Dukes was benched in the first quarter after throwing for just 37 yards. Backup Nick Arbuckle came in and was just as ineffective, completing just 12-of-22 passes for 87 yards and no touchdowns. Dukes will probably get the start on Sunday. Ka’Deem Carey is second in the CFL in rushing with 491 yards to help give the Argonauts the league’s No. 1 rushing attack. Toronto ranks fourth in yards allowed per game and second in stopping the run.
CALGARY STAMPEDERS
After taking a 3-0 lead in last week’s game at Ottawa, the Stamps then surrendered 26 unanswered points in the 33-6 setback. Calgary will be looking for a bounce back game from the offense, who recorded just 274 yards against the RedBlacks. Jake Maier had a rough night, passing for just 136 yards and was sacked four times. Maier was pulled late in the blowout but is expected to be back under center versus Toronto.
Prediction:
Calgary ranks near the bottom in most defensive categories and second-to-last in points scored. That doesn’t justify them being more than a field goal favorite in this one. Toronto has a solid defense and strong running game. They’ll be able to keep this one close.
