The Betting Perspective - TOR @ WPG

Toronto @ Winnipeg (-6.5) - TOTAL 47.5

The Toronto Argonauts march into Winnipeg looking to follow up a huge win last week against the Calgary Stampeders. On the other hand, the Blue Bombers seek to improve to 2-0 after shutting down the Tiger-Cats on opening night.

Argos quarterback McLeod Bethel-Thompson looked fantastic against the Stampeders last week, throwing for 354 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions. The production has never been the issue for Bethel-Thompson, he was the CFL passing touchdown leader in 2019 with 26. However, the context in which Bethel-Thompson achieved that mark has always been the issue. The Argos were down big in a lot of those games, perhaps leading to Toronto’s offseason free-agent acquisition of quarterback Nick Arbuckle. The former Stampeders signal-caller will serve as Bethel-Thompson’s backup for a second straight week. On the injury front, the Argos defense took a couple of hits in Week 1 as boundary starting corner Robertson Daniel and defensive end Shane Ray both find themselves on the injured list heading into Friday’s tilt versus the defending Grey Cup Champions.

As for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, Zach Collaros made enough plays to handle the Hamilton Tiger-Cats last week, throwing for 217 yards and a pair of touchdowns. But it was the defense that stole the show at Investors Group Field, the group absolutely put the clamps on Jeremiah Masoli outside an opening drive touchdown by the Ticats. Running back Andrew Harris will be on the sidelines for a second straight game but after Brady Oliveira’s performance last week, it might be a luxury for head coach Mike O’Shea to sit the future Hall of Famer and not force him back into the lineup. Oliveira ran for 126 yards on the ground in the season opener and might be poised to have another productive day against Toronto.

On the wagering front, there’s been some slight public lean towards the home Bombers, but only bumping the line up by a point to -6.5 in some places. The Argos have not fared well in this head-to-head matchup, covering the spread just one time in the previous eight meetings but it appears to be a different Toronto team in 2021.

The play in this matchup are the underdog Argos with the points. If the number at game time moves to a full touchdown, jump on the road team. Toronto laid down a great road performance in Week 1, expect another one against a Winnipeg team that at times, can be challenged to consistently move the ball through the air.

Pick: Toronto +6.5