CFL Betting News Week 1

[TheGame]

Toronto Argonauts vs Winnipeg Blue Bombers Preview
By Tom Wilkinson

Toronto Argonauts vs Winnipeg Blue Bombers

CFL Odds: The Winnipeg Blue Bombers host the Toronto Argonauts on Thursday in the opening game of the 2014 CFL season. The Toronto Argonauts won the East Division last season while the Winnipeg Blue Bombers finished last so it is no surprise to see the road team favored in this opener. The Toronto Argonauts have also owned this series of late, winning 7 of the last 10. They won all three meetings a year ago and covered two of the three games.

Here is a look at Thursday’s season opener and CFL picks.

Huge Edge at Quarterback for Toronto Argonauts

The Toronto Argonauts have one of the top quarterbacks in the CFL in Ricky Ray while the Winnipeg Blue Bombers have problems. The team is counting on Drew Willy as their starter and Brian Brohm as the backup. Willy has four career CFL starts while Brohm has none.

Winnipeg Blue Bombers Defensive Injuries

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers defense has major problems heading into the opener on Thursday. Three starters, linebacker Korey Banks, cornerback Donovan Alexander and defensive back Alex Suber are all questionable. The Winnipeg Blue Bombers defense is not very good to begin with and with three starters banged up they figure to have a long night on Thursday against Ricky Ray and the Argos offense.

Game Trends

The Argonauts are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games in June. The Argonauts are 15-5-1 ATS in their last 21 road games. The Argonauts are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 games in Week 1. The Blue Bombers are 2-9 ATS in their last 11 games in June. The Blue Bombers are 0-3-1 ATS in their last 4 home games. The Argonauts are 3-0-1 ATS in their last 4 meetings in Winnipeg. The Argonauts are 3-1-1 ATS in their last 5 meetings.

The Under is 14-3 in the Argonauts last 17 games in June. The Under is 5-2 in the Blue Bombers last 7 games in June. The Under is 10-4 in the last 14 meetings in Winnipeg.

CFL Picks

I think this should be a good road win to start the season for the Toronto Argonauts so I will lay the points.

[TheGame]

Re: CFL Betting News Week 1

2014 CFL Season Preview
By Sean Murphy
Covers.com

The 2014 CFL season will kick off on Thursday night in Winnipeg as the Blue Bombers host the Argos. There will be nine teams competing for the ultimate prize this year, as Ottawa has re-joined the fold. The B.C. Lions are currently favored to hoist the Grey Cup, with Saskatchewan and Calgary not far behind.

Here’s a look at how all nine teams stack up entering the new campaign.

East Division

Montreal Alouettes (2013: 8-10 SU, 11-7 ATS)

Odds to win division: +250
Odds to win Grey Cup: +706

Why to bet the Alouettes: Montreal might possess the best receiving corps in the CFL, led by Jamel Richardson, S.J. Green and emerging young talent Duron Carter. Former Heisman Trophy winner, QB Troy Smith has big shoes to fill, but does have the pedigree to succeed, and he’ll get plenty of help. The East Division might be a little watered down with the addition of expansion Ottawa, perhaps opening the door for an Als bounce-back year.

Why not to bet the Alouettes: The Anthony Calvillo era has come to an end, and that obviously leaves more questions than answers. That’s not to mention the fact that the Als lost a pair of offensive line standouts to retirement in the offseason, and did little to improve their team by way of free agency or the draft.

Grey Cup outlook: Poor. Inconsistency will plague the Als on both sides of the football, leading to a likely third place finish in the East Division.

Toronto Argonauts (2013: 11-7 SU, 9-8-1 ATS)

Odds to win division: +150
Odds to win Grey Cup: +639

Why to bet the Argos: The face of the league is also the face of the Argos in QB Ricky Ray. While health has been an issue in recent years, if Ray can stay on the field, the Argos will be among the best offensive teams in the league once again.

Why not to bet the Argos: Toronto will be forced to go with a running back by committee approach after Chad Kackert’s sudden retirement. Losing cornerback Patrick Watkins and versatile QB Zach Collaros won’t help matters either. It remains to be seen whether the Argos have enough depth to contend in the East.

Grey Cup outlook: Average at best. Scott Milanovich has proven to be a first class head coach, but he’ll need to do some of his best work to get the Argos back to the Grey Cup this year.

Hamilton Tiger-Cats (2013: 10-8 SU, 9-9 ATS)

Odds to win division: +200
Odds to win Grey Cup: +700

Why to bet the Ti-Cats: Credit Ti-Cats management for shaking things up after reaching last year’s Grey Cup. Henry Burris wasn’t getting any younger, and the move to a younger, more versatile QB in Zach Collaros should give the offense another shot in the arm. In fact, most of Hamilton’s offseason focus was placed on improving the offense.

Why not to bet the Ti-Cats: How long will it take Collaros to get up to speed with the offense? There are also a number of questions on the defensive side of the football, where the Ti-Cats did little to improve prospects in the offseason.

Grey Cup outlook: Good. The Ti-Cats will be hungry to get back after getting embarrassed by the Riders last November.

Ottawa Redblacks (2013: N/A)

Odds to win division: +500
Odds to win Grey Cup: +1800

Why to bet the Redblacks: There’s reason for optimism in Ottawa, even if it is the Redblacks inaugural campaign. While they are starting from scratch, the cupboard is by no means bare. Henry Burris will start the season under centre, while RB Chevon Walker and WR Paris Jackson give them much needed explosiveness all over the field. Ottawa’s defensive roster is filled with veterans.

Why not to bet the Redblacks: It’s obviously going to take some time for the roster to mesh. We did see some promising signs in the preseason, but it’s important not to get too carried away with those exhibition results. Ottawa may contend with its Eastern counterparts, but the West will be another story.

Grey Cup outlook: Not a chance. The Redblacks will simply be looking to build toward the future this year. As long as the product they put on the field is entertaining, it’s a win for the city of Ottawa.

West Division

Calgary Stampeders (2013: 14-4 SU, 11-6-1 ATS)

Odds to win division: +200
Odds to win Grey Cup: +404

Why to bet the Stampeders: Calgary has two of the league’s best (some would say backup) quarterbacks in Drew Tate and Bo Levi Mitchell. Who will get the starting nod remains to be seen, but it’s a nice problem to have in the CFL, where durability tends to be an issue. With former Most Outstanding Player winner Jon Cornish in the backfield, neither Tate or Mitchell will have to shoulder the entire load.

Why not to bet the Stampeders: Has the window closed on the Stampeders? It seemed as if they peaked two years ago, when they reached the Grey Cup in Toronto. While they were terrific in the regular season a year ago, the playoffs were a different story.

Grey Cup outlook: Good. However, they’re going to need the offense to hum under the guidance of Tate or Mitchell.

Saskatchewan Roughriders (2013: 11-7 SU, 8-9-1 ATS)

Odds to win division: +200
Odds to win Grey Cup: +397

Why to bet the Roughriders: Darian Durant is back under centre, giving the Riders some continuity on offense. They’ve got plenty of depth all over the field, which is a good thing given some of the offseason departures. Don’t sleep on the Riders defense either, one of the most underrated units in the league.

Why not to bet the Roughriders: Kory Sheets and Weston Dressler will both be trying out south of the border this Summer, leaving a pair of substantial voids in the Riders offense. While both could return, that wouldn’t be likely to happen until Labour Day.

Grey Cup outlook: Not as good as the odds indicate. Could a letdown be in order after the Riders won the Grey Cup in their own backyard last year?

B.C. Lions (2013: 11-7 SU, 9-9 ATS)

Odds to win division: +180
Odds to win Grey Cup: +323

Why to bet the Lions: The Grey Cup host has ultimately hoisted the trophy in each of the last two years, and it’s the Lions turn this Fall. The sky is the limit for a team that’s loaded with stars on both sides of the football. The addition of QB Kevin Glenn gives the Lions a nice veteran presence behind Travis Lulay.

Why not to bet the Lions: The Lions offensive line is young and inexperienced. It won’t matter who is taking the snaps if the line can’t protect. We’ve seen this story play out before, with the Lions receiving plenty of hype prior to the start of the season, only to disappoint. We’ll see if that holds true this year.

Grey Cup outlook: Excellent. On paper, the Lions are the favorite for good reason. The added motivation of hosting the Grey Cup should serve them well.

Edmonton Eskimos (2013: 4-14 SU, 8-10 ATS)

Odds to win division: +500
Odds to win Grey Cup: +1000

Why to bet the Eskimos: Last season was a rebuilding year, plain and simple. Expectations aren’t all that high this year either, but the potential is there for the Esks to make a move. Mike Reilly has cemented his role as the team’s starting QB. The addition of former Argos defensive coordinator Chris Jones, not to mention CB Patrick Watkins bolsters an already promising defensive corps.

Why not to bet the Eskimos: Make no mistake, the Esks are still in rebuild mode. In a tough West Division, they’re unlikely to contend, but would look at six or seven wins as a major positive moving forward. If Reilly can’t stay healthy, the offense could be in serious trouble.

Grey Cup outlook: Poor. The Eskimos will be a fun team to watch, and should make positive strides, but shouldn’t be involved in too many Grey Cup conversations.

Winnipeg Blue Bombers (2013: 3-15 SU, 5-12-1 ATS)

Odds to win division: +1000
Odds to win Grey Cup: +1200

Why to bet the Blue Bombers: New head coach Mike O’Shea should provide a breath of fresh air to a struggling Blue Bombers franchise. After ranking last in both scoring offense and defense a year ago, there’s nowhere to go but up for the Bombers. QB Drew Willy takes over the offense and the move should pay dividends in short order.

Why not to bet the Blue Bombers: Outside of O’Shea and Willy, there are few reasons for optimism – this year at least. The Bombers are in a similar position to that of the Eskimos last year. They know the direction they’re headed in, but not quite sure how to get there. We’ll see plenty of growing pains again in 2014.

Grey Cup outlook: Poor. Unless O’Shea is able to pull off a miracle in his first year in Winnipeg, the Bombers will likely be looking at a five or six win season.

[TheGame]

Re: CFL Betting News Week 1

TORONTO (11 - 8) at WINNIPEG (3 - 15) - 6/26/2014, 8:35 PM

There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.

Head-to-Head Series History
TORONTO is 3-2 against the spread versus WINNIPEG over the last 3 seasons
TORONTO is 5-1 straight up against WINNIPEG over the last 3 seasons
3 of 6 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
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MONTREAL (8 - 11) at CALGARY (14 - 5) - 6/28/2014, 3:05 PM

There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.

Head-to-Head Series History
CALGARY is 4-0 against the spread versus MONTREAL over the last 3 seasons
CALGARY is 3-1 straight up against MONTREAL over the last 3 seasons
2 of 4 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
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EDMONTON (4 - 14) at BRITISH COLUMBIA (11 - 8) - 6/28/2014, 6:05 PM

There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.

Head-to-Head Series History
BRITISH COLUMBIA is 4-2 against the spread versus EDMONTON over the last 3 seasons
BRITISH COLUMBIA is 5-1 straight up against EDMONTON over the last 3 seasons
3 of 6 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
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HAMILTON (12 - 9) at SASKATCHEWAN (14 - 7) - 6/29/2014, 7:05 PM

Top Trends for this game.
SASKATCHEWAN is 60-40 ATS (+16.0 Units) when playing on a Sunday since 1996.
HAMILTON is 8-1 ATS (+6.9 Units) as a road underdog of 3.5 to 7 points over the last 3 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
SASKATCHEWAN is 4-1 against the spread versus HAMILTON over the last 3 seasons
SASKATCHEWAN is 4-1 straight up against HAMILTON over the last 3 seasons
3 of 5 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

[TheGame]

Re: CFL Betting News Week 1

CFL Betting Notes - Week 1
By David Schwab
VegasInsider.com

A brand new year of CFL action is ready to kick things off this Thursday night in Winnipeg as the 2014 regular season gets underway. The big news heading into a new season, in addition to a new labor contract between the owners and the CFL Players Association, is the expansion to nine teams with the addition of the Ottawa RedBlacks, who will be a part of the East Division.

To balance things out geographically, the Blue Bombers will now be playing out of the West Division along with the 2013 Grey Cup Champion Saskatchewan Roughriders, who will close-out the first week of action this Sunday at home against Hamilton in a rematch of last year’s championship game.

Thursday, June 26

Toronto Argonauts vs. Winnipeg Blue Bombers
Line: Toronto -4½
Total: 53½

Toronto won the East Division last season with a straight-up record of 11-7, but it was stunned by Hamilton 36-24 in the East Division Finals as a five-point home favorite. The Argonauts finished the regular season with a 9-8-1 record against the spread overall and they were a profitable 6-2-1 ATS on the road. The total went OVER in 10 of the 18 games.

The Blue Bombers followed-up a disappointing 6-12 campaign in 2012 with a dismal 3-15 SU mark that was the worst in the league last year. They were slightly better ATS at 5-12-1, but closed things out by covering in just one of their last eight games. The total went an even 9-9 overall with six of the games going OVER at home.

The Argonauts are 3-0-1 ATS in their last four trips to Winnipeg and they are 3-1-1 ATS in the last five meetings overall. The total has stayed UNDER in 10 of the last 14 meetings at Investors Group Field. The road team has won five of the last seven meetings SU and the total has gone OVER in three of the last four games between these two.

Saturday, June 28

Montreal Alouettes vs. Calgary Stampeders
Line: Calgary -7
Total: 54½

Montreal remains one of the premier franchises in the CFL, but it comes into this season fresh off an 8-10 SU (11-7 ATS) losing season in 2013. The Alouettes will also start the year without long-time veteran quarterback Anthony Calvillo, who finally decided to retire after coming into the league in 1994. Despite the losing record, Montreal was a solid bet on the road last season with a 7-2 mark ATS.

The Stampeders won the West Division last season with the CFL’s best overall record at 14-4 SU, but their run in the playoffs was cut short with a 35-13 loss to Saskatchewan as five-point favorites at home in the West Final. They went 11-6-1 ATS in 2013 with a 5-3-1 ATS record at home. The total went OVER in six of their nine games at home.

In the two meetings last season, Calgary won both ends of an early season home-and-home series both SU and ATS. The Stampeders outscored Montreal by a combined 19 points and the total went OVER the 49½-point closing line in a 38-27 victory as seven-point home favorites at McMahon Stadium. It stayed UNDER the 53½-point line in their 22-14 road victory against the Alouettes as two-point underdogs.

Edmonton Eskimos vs. British Columbia Lions
Line: BC -7½
Total: 52

Edmonton went in the wrong direction in 2013 with just four SU victories after posting a 7-11 SU record in 2012 that was actually good enough to make the playoffs. The Eskimos went 8-10 ATS last season and while they were just 2-7 ATS at home, they did manage to cover in six of their nine games on the road. The total went OVER in 12 of the 18 games.

The Lions won 13 games SU in 2012, but that number dropped to 11 in 2013. They faced the Roughriders in the opening round of the playoffs and came out on the wrong end of a 29-25 loss as 4½-point road underdogs. BC was an even 9-9 ATS in the regular season. The total also went 9-9, but it did stay UNDER in six of nine games at home.

BC won’t have the services of quarterback Travis Lulay this weekend, who is still nursing a shoulder injury. Veteran Kevin Glenn is expected to get the starting nod for the Lions while Lulay recovers.

These West Division foes met three times last season with BC sweeping the series both SU and ATS. The total went OVER in two of the three games. The average margin of victory in the three games was 12.7 points with the Lions averaging 30.3 points per game.

Sunday, June 29

Hamilton Tiger-Cats vs. Saskatchewan Roughriders
Line: Saskatchewan -5½
Total: 55

Hamilton’s run all the way to the 2013 Grey Cup Championship was a bit of a shock after going just 10-8 SU in the regular season. It first knocked-off Montreal 19-16 as a 3½-point home favorite before upsetting Toronto in the division final. The Tiger-Cats were an even 9-9 ATS and the total stayed UNDER in 12 of the 18 games.

The Roughriders will begin the defense of their Grey Cup title fresh off an 11-7 SU record in 2013 that included eight SU victories in their first nine games. They regained their form at just the right time with a 6-2 SU run in their final eight games. The total went OVER in three of their final four contests including the 52-point closing line in their 45-23 victory in the Grey Cup as seven-point favorites.

Along with the victory in the title game both SU and ATS, Saskatchewan won a home-and-home series against Hamilton both ways in the 2013 regular season with the total staying UNDER in both games. It is now 4-1 both SU and ATS in the last five games between the two.

[TheGame]

Re: CFL Betting News Week 1

JUNE 26, 8:30 PM
TORONTO vs. WINNIPEG
Toronto is 13-3-1 ATS in its last 17 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Toronto's last 9 games when playing Winnipeg
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Winnipeg's last 9 games when playing Toronto
The total has gone UNDER in 10 of Winnipeg's last 14 games when playing at home against Toronto

JUNE 28, 3:00 PM
MONTREAL vs. CALGARY
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Montreal's last 8 games on the road
Montreal is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Calgary's last 8 games when playing Montreal
Calgary is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games when playing at home against Montreal

JUNE 28, 6:00 PM
EDMONTON vs. BRITISH COLUMBIA
Edmonton is 1-6 SU in its last 7 games when playing on the road against British Columbia
The total has gone OVER in 11 of Edmonton's last 15 games
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of British Columbia's last 7 games at home
British Columbia is 8-1 SU in its last 9 games at home

JUNE 29, 7:00 PM
HAMILTON vs. SASKATCHEWAN
Hamilton is 1-13 SU in its last 14 games when playing on the road against Saskatchewan
The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Hamilton's last 9 games
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Saskatchewan's last 7 games when playing at home against Hamilton
The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Saskatchewan's last 10 games

[Thomas]

Re: CFL Betting News Week 1

This guy used to have a score prediction for every game and he was deadly against the spread for a number of years but went in the tank the last couple and now doesn't even have a score but I'll post it and see if it changes in the coming weeks.


SCHULTZ VS THE WORLD: WEEK 1 PREDICTIONS IN THE CFL



Toronto at Winnipeg
Optimism is high in Winnipeg. A new head coach, new quarterback and new attitude to start the 2014 season. But I am not sure if they have the personnel yet to compete at the highest level consistently. And come Thursday Night, they do have to compete against a quarterback in Ricky Ray that completed 77 per cent of his passes last year and had a touchdown-to-interception ratio of 21-to-2. Dew Willi for Winnipeg is a complete unknown, so an immense advantage at quarterback for Toronto. Both teams are also unknown on defense. Can the Argos be dominate as a four man pass rush team, dropping eight into coverage? In Winnipeg, can Gary Etcheverry create game-changing pressure all night long or, through preparation, the Argo starting 12 be able to find opportunity all night long? Final point; there is also a special teams return advantage with Chad Owens over any returner in Winnipeg. The Bombers will have to play a near perfect game to win, while the Argos just need to stay calm in tough a atmosphere to win.
Week 1, Game 1 - Argos over Bombers.
Montreal at Calgary
Both teams looked dreadful in their respective last exhibition games and normally I would not consider that an issue because they are exhibition games, But, Troy Smith was physically inaccurate with his passes and the combination of Drew Tate and Bo Levi Mitchell were no more efficient. Pure football logic says both teams will have better quarterback play working with the starters in preparation throughout the week and a repeat of last week's performances should not happen. This one should be either a single touchdown win or even only a field goal, and I do like Calgary to create the win. Excellent special teams battle Saturday afternoon at McMahon Stadium. Larry Taylor, the former Stampeder on one side for Montreal, against Jock Sanders - the best free agent pick up of 2014, a former rider and presently a Stampeder.
Calgary by no more than 6 -- maybe only 3.
Edmonton at B.C.
I think Edmonton may be a better team now then as the team back in October. Chris Jones ran a tough training camp and as a first year head coach it always is. To obtain early positive results, it should be. By the time Saturday turns into Sunday, we will get a much clearer picture of Eskimo football. Now, in BC Kevin Glen will be fine and even though they are young upfront, he should stay upright though the game. I really think the strength of BC will be the front seven on defense. Eric Taylor at one defensive tackle is underrated and Khalif Mitchell at the other with be effective. I think BC can make Edmonton one dimensional and create enough second and longs to win. Mike Reilly will be protected this year through design and personnel, but in a home opener, I like BC to win in the 4th.
Lions over Eskimos.
Hamilton at Saskatchewan
The best game of Week 1, yet tough game for the Ticats to win in the opening week. I do not underestimate Hamilton. Last year, after five games they were 1-4 and by the end of the season had gone through 88 players and 57 different starters. Last year was about evaluating and molding and yet they made it to the Grey Cup. Kent Austin has a plan and you saw it develop as the season progressed. Last Thursday, seeing Zack Collaros was impressive. He has excellent in and out of pocket movement and is a thicker player than I thought - important because you know he will run. Hamilton will not start the season 1-4 this year and will not go through 88 players and 57 starters this year. But, I do think they will begin O-1. The single-biggest issue for Saskatchewan is who is the running back to replace Cory Sheets. That may not be decided until mid-season but they have to find one. Until the do, the strength of the Riders is a well-established offensive line and a winning quarterback that is coming off an excellent playoff run. Who will replace Kory Sheets, who will replace Weston Dressler and who will replace Craig Butler? All important questions to be answered. I do not expect either team to dominate but I do expect the best fans in CFL football to show up and make a difference.
Riders in a close game.

[TheGame]

Re: CFL Betting News Week 1

Week 1 CFL

Toronto (0-0) @ Winnipeg (0-0) -- Argonauts won seven of last eight series games, winning all three meetings LY by 16-6-15 points (2-0-1 vs spread); six of last nine series games went over the total. Toronto won its last four visits here, by 5-19-16-6 points. Underdogs are 6-2-1 vs spread in last nine series games, also 6-2-1 in last nine played here. Winnipeg is just 9-27 SU the last two years. Argonauts were 6-2-1 vs spread on the road LY.

Montreal (0-0) @ Calgary (0-0) -- Montreal was 7-2 vs spread on road this year, but that was with CFL legend Calvillo (now retired) at QB. Stampeders won five of last six series games, sweeping the series LY, 22-14/38-27; Alouettes lost their last four visits here by 25-7-28-11 points. Six of last eight series games went over total, including six of last seven played here. Six of nine Calgary home games LY went over the total.

Edmonton (0-0) @ BCLions (0-0) -- Lions' QB Lulay (shoulder) isn't expected to play in this opener. British Columbia won eight of last nine series games, with last five wins by average score of 26-18 (4-1 vs spread). Eskimos lost six of last seven visits here, dropping last three by 20-10-14 points. Three of last four series games went over total. Edmonton is just 11-25 SU the last two years, but went 6-3 vs spread on road LY.

Hamilton (0-0) @ Saskatchewan (0-0) -- Rematch of LY's Grey Cup game that Roughriders won 45-23 (-7) on this field; Riders won seven of last nine series games, winning all three last year by 37-12-22 points (3-0 vs spread). TiCats are 1-11 in last dozen visits here, losing last two 37-0/45-23. Five of their last seven visits here went over the total. Riders won Grey Cup LY after going 3-6 in second half of regular season- they covered four of last five vs TiCats.

[TheGame]

Re: CFL Betting News Week 1

Game of the Day: Argonauts at Blue Bombers
By Covers.com

Toronto Argonauts at Winnipeg Blue Bombers (+5, 53.5)

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers host the Toronto Argonauts on Thursday to kick off the 2014 CFL season. It’s a matchup between the best and worst teams in the East Division last season, with Toronto using its depth on offense to earn a first-round playoff bye. The Blue Bombers, meanwhile, allowed a league-worst 585 points and managed one victory at brand-new Investors Group Field.

Winnipeg overhauled its roster in the offseason starting at quarterback, where former Saskatchewan Roughriders backup pivot Drew Willy will have a chance to establish himself as a starter. If the preseason is any indication, Argonauts veteran Ricky Ray looks healthy and ready to resume running the offense with capable backups Trevor Harris and Mitchell Gale behind him on the depth chart. The big question for Winnipeg will be whether its injury-depleted defense can handle Toronto’s pace and give Willy a shot at his first victory as a Blue Bomber.

LINE HISTORY: Toronto opened as a 5-point home favorite (-106) and jumped to -5 (-108). The total opened 53.5 points (Over -106) and has moved to Over -109.

INJURY REPORT: Winnipeg: Paris Cotton RB (Doubt/knee), Graig Newman DB (Out/Ankle)

WHAT SHARPS SAY: "Toronto will be forced to go with a running back by committee approach after Chad Kackert’s sudden retirement. Losing cornerback Patrick Watkins and versatile QB Zach Collaros won’t help matters either. It remains to be seen whether the Argos have enough depth to contend in the East." - Covers Expert Sean Murphy.

WHAT BOOKS SAY: "Opening night of the CFL pits the Toronto Argonauts vs the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. We have instilled the Argos as 4.5-point favorites on the road with a 53.5 point total. The early action is coming in on the home dog Blue Bombers, but as we get closer to game time we will start seeing money come in on the Argos. The Argos are +700 to win the Grey Cup this year while the Blue Bombers are +1200." Michael Stewart, CarbonSports.ag.

ABOUT THE ARGONAUTS (2013: 11-7, 9-8-1 ATS): Former Montreal Alouettes linebacker Shea Emry is the new face of Toronto’s defense, bringing his impressive resume to a group that faced a lot of turnover in the offseason. Changes will be notable on offense as well after veteran wide receiver Romby Bryant was released in the final round of cuts and running back Chad Kackert announced his retirement. Recently released slotback Jamel Richardson is rumored to be joining the Argonauts, giving Ray another option alongside Chad Owens.

ABOUT THE BLUE BOMBERS (2013: 3-15, 5-12-1 ATS): Linebacker Korey Banks, cornerback Donovan Alexander and defensive back Alex Suber are all injured to start the season, leaving plenty of holes in pass protection. Former starting quarterback Max Hall was among the final round of cuts for Winnipeg, an indication the team seems confident in Willy as the No. 1 option. Willy will have former training partner Nick Moore and a host of new receiving options to work with as the Blue Bombers try to rebuild an offense that never really came to life in 2013.

TRENDS:

* Argonauts are 3-0-1 ATS in their last four meetings in Winnipeg.
* Argonauts are 3-1-1 ATS in their last five meetings.
* Under is 10-4 in the last 14 meetings in Winnipeg.

COVERS CONSENSUS: 55 percent of bets are on Toronto -5. 53.5 percent of bets are on Over 53.5.