PREMIUM
CFL WEEK 4 GAME OF THE WEEK! 9-2 STREAK TO START SEASON!
(CFL) BC vs. Toronto,
Point Spread: -3.00 | -110.00 BC (Away)
Result: Loss
Point Spread: -3.00 | -110.00 BC (Away)
Result: Loss
It is only week 4 and already we have a big game between the last two remaining undefeated teams. Some pundits are calling it a pick ‘em match up. I disagree strongly. This means they will bail out and offer an over/under pick. But there is a clear play here.
The easiest way to make sense of it is to look at the quality of the opposition each team has played. Much like Saturday’s game, one team has gone up against much tougher opponents. BC has played the Bombers (now 3-1), the Stampeders and of course the weak Elks. Toronto has faced the RedBlacks (1-2) and the TigerCats (0-3).
Against weaker opposition the Argos’ defence has allowed more than 100 yards more per game than the Lions’ defence. The have also allowed opposing QBs to complete 77% (9th in CFL) of their passes while the Lions have allowed only a 57% (2nd in CFL) completion rate. BC’s stingy “D” has allowed a meager 7 pts/game while the Argos have allowed 22 pts/game.
Yes the Argos are near the top with 399 yds/game offence, 37.5 pts/game and only 1 sack allowed but they have not faced anything close to the Lions’ defence which leads the league with 11 sacks. To add to their level of difficulty on Monday, the Argos will be without their starting LT Cage (a crucial position against league sack leader Betts who humbled all star LT Bryant in week 3).
The Lions will be missing one of their star receivers, Whitehead, but they will have two of last year’s 1000 yard receivers back in the lineup. Rhymes and Hatcher missed the game against the Bombers but will return to give QB Adams more weapons. The Argos will also be missing MLB Williams and LB Muamba, so the CFL’s second leading rusher Mizzell will be harder to handle. It seems clear that the play is for the Lions to cover the spread.
The easiest way to make sense of it is to look at the quality of the opposition each team has played. Much like Saturday’s game, one team has gone up against much tougher opponents. BC has played the Bombers (now 3-1), the Stampeders and of course the weak Elks. Toronto has faced the RedBlacks (1-2) and the TigerCats (0-3).
Against weaker opposition the Argos’ defence has allowed more than 100 yards more per game than the Lions’ defence. The have also allowed opposing QBs to complete 77% (9th in CFL) of their passes while the Lions have allowed only a 57% (2nd in CFL) completion rate. BC’s stingy “D” has allowed a meager 7 pts/game while the Argos have allowed 22 pts/game.
Yes the Argos are near the top with 399 yds/game offence, 37.5 pts/game and only 1 sack allowed but they have not faced anything close to the Lions’ defence which leads the league with 11 sacks. To add to their level of difficulty on Monday, the Argos will be without their starting LT Cage (a crucial position against league sack leader Betts who humbled all star LT Bryant in week 3).
The Lions will be missing one of their star receivers, Whitehead, but they will have two of last year’s 1000 yard receivers back in the lineup. Rhymes and Hatcher missed the game against the Bombers but will return to give QB Adams more weapons. The Argos will also be missing MLB Williams and LB Muamba, so the CFL’s second leading rusher Mizzell will be harder to handle. It seems clear that the play is for the Lions to cover the spread.
