Game: Toronto Argonauts @ Hamilton Tiger-Cats
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Odds: Argonauts -7.5, Tiger-Cats +7.5
Total: 50
The Toronto Argonauts (4-0 SU, 4-0 ATS) will travel to face their rival Hamilton Tigers-Cats (2-3, 2-3) in CFL Week 7 action at Tim Hortons Field in an effort to keep their perfect record in 2023.
After dominating the Montreal Alouettes in a 35-27 victory last weekend, the Argos, who have covered in six straight games since October of last year, travel to Steeltown. The Tiger-Cats have now won two straight games and seven of their previous nine home games following their 37-29 victory over Edmonton last week.
The Argonauts are off to a fast start, undefeated in their first four games, and leading the league standings with an average of 38.8 points per game. They easily defeated Hamilton 32-14 in the season opener.
The Toronto defense has, however, given up 27.3 points per game over their last three games. While that has resulted in a run of three straight wins for the OVER, it raises concerns going into a matchup with a Hamilton defense that is consistently improving.
Chad Kelly, the quarterback, finally made his long-awaited breakthrough last weekend by tossing three touchdown passes and 351 yards in total. AJ Ouellette’s 95-yard effort helped the Argonaut ground game have a strong night, topping 100 yards for the fourth time in as many games.
The struggling Elks were defeated by the Ti-Cats last week, 37-29, and it was their best scoring effort since last September for the Ti-Cats. Additionally, this was their second straight outright triumph against the spread. The victory was bittersweet because quarterback Matthew Shiltz sustained a leg injury that has placed him on the six-game injured list. Shiltz’s passing comes after that of seasoned quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell, who was hurt during the team’s defeat to Toronto last month.
Shiltz’s departure occurs at a bad time for Hamilton, which has already dropped all three of its games by sizable margins of double digits. In three of their previous five games, the Tiger-Cats have also scored 21 points or fewer.
The Tiger-Cats offense will be in disarray at quarterback, and the Argonauts’ defense will be looking to capitalize. For the Ti-Cats, Taylor Powell, who is anticipated to make his first CFL start, could have a difficult evening. After replacing Shiltz, he completed 2-of-4 passes for 47 yards. Powell can be relieved of some of the stress thanks to the Hamilton running game. Last week, James Butler had a game-high 127 yards and a touchdown on the ground. With 327 yards, Butler ranks second in the CFL in rushing. Butler had only 60 yards to his credit on 16 carries in the loss to Toronto last month.
Hamilton has only beaten Toronto once in the last five meetings. That win came in August of last season. The Ti-Cats piled up 149 rushing yards to the Argos’ 69 and ended up winning 34-27.
Toronto is 5-0 SU and ATS in its last five games. Hamilton is 2-4 SU and ATS in its last six. The Tiger-Cats have won four of their last five games at home.
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