The 2016 CFL season kicks off tonight as the Hamilton Tiger-Cats visit the Toronto Argonauts at their new home at BMO Field.
Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. eastern and you can catch the game on TSN.
As of 1 p.m. eastern, Toronto was a 5 point favourite at 1.95 odds at Sports Interaction and the Over/Under was set at 53 points and 1.91 odds. (For current odds, visit our CFL Odds page.)
Proline Ontario point spread odds listed the Argos at -4.5 (but only 1.59 odds) and the total at 53 (Over at 1.8 odds, Under at 1.6 odds).
Tiger-Cats/Argos CFL Betting Odds At Sports Interaction
Tiger-Cats/Argos Betting Preview
We previewed what to expect from both of these teams this season in our 2016 CFL Season Win Totals article earlier this week, but we’ll repeat some of those points here as well as highlight a couple of other things that might impact tonight’s season opener.
Home Sweet Home
This is the first game for the Argos at BMO Field as they move outdoors from the Rogers Centre.
If you’re not familiar with football in Toronto, you might not understand what a big deal this is for the Argos.
The Rogers Centre was an awful place to watch a CFL game, mostly because it has 50,000 seats and it always looked empty, but also because it’s indoors (even when the roof is open, it feels that way) and on artificial turf.
Now they’re playing in a more intimate stadium with a beautiful view of the Toronto skyline as a backdrop, on grass, and with fans able to tailgate.
It could lead to a bigger home field advantage for the Argos this year, and we can see them being especially motivated to show well in Game 1 at BMO.
Quarterback Questions
Due to an injury suffered last season, Ticats star QB Zach Callaros won’t be under centre for tonight’s opener.
Instead, it will be Jeremiah Massoli, who helped the Oregon Ducks reach the 2009 Rose Bowl and started 3 games last year for the Ti-Cats, including a playoff win over Toronto.
Callaros’ unavailability for tonight’s game is no secret and has already been factored into the betting line. The question is, did the oddsmakers compensate enough or too much for Callaros’ absence?
Rivalry and Revenge
This is one of the biggest rivalries in the CFL, with the teams separated by an hour’s drive on the Queen Elizabeth Way.
They’re also likely to battle it out for top spot in the East Division this year, so you can expect both teams to be jacked up for this one even more than a regular season opener.
Then add the fact that the Argos are out to avenge last year’s playoff loss, and that several players switched teams this year and aren’t happy with their former squads – including ex-Argos star Chad Owens.
It all points to a hard-fought, competitive game tonight.
Tiger-Cats/Argos Betting Prediction
Toronto 25, Hamilton 24 – Toronto ekes out a tight victory in its curtain-raiser at BMO, but the Ticats keep things close and cover the spread against the Argos for the 7th straight time.