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Montreal Alouettes vs Toronto Argonauts Preview
The Montreal Alouettes travels to BMO Field to face the Toronto Argonauts on June 28 with kick-off scheduled for 7:30 pm. Both sides enter the clash undefeated in the league with 3-0 and 2-0 records, respectively.
This fixture will be the first time Toronto and Montreal have met since last season’s East final. Can Toronto gain a measure of revenge against the Alouettes or does Montreal have the Argos’ number?
Montreal Alouettes vs Toronto Argonauts Head-To-Head and Key Stats
These sides last met in the CFL East Final in November last year. Toronto came into the game on the back of their best campaign since the league expanded to an 18-game regular season in 1986. They finished with a 16-2 record, topping the division with 32 points and not losing a single game to any of their rivals in the East.
The Alouettes finished in second place, 10 points behind the Argos with an 11-7 record. They had lost all three meetings with Toronto in the regular season, losing 35-27, 39-10, and 23-20.
Toronto was the favourite for the game and was fancied to go all the way and lift the Grey Cup. The Alouettes were certainly not to be underestimated, but few could see past the Argos’ incredible regular season run. This is why there was such surprise at Montreal’s 38-17 underdog victory. The Alouettes kept Toronto scoreless in two quarters to run out deserved winners. Toronto quarterback Chad Kelly had a woeful day at the office, throwing four interceptions.
Toronto’s unexpected end to 2023 seems to have driven them forward at the start of the season and they are 2-0 in their first two games. Ryan Dinwiddie’s team most recently played against the Edmonton Elks in their second regular-season game at BMO Field. Fans were treated to a 75-point thriller.
There was barely time to catch your breath at BMO Field in an all thriller no filler fixture that saw 10 touchdowns. It was a tale of two offences, with Edmonton focusing on chunk-play passes while Toronto was formidable in the running game. Argos running back Ka’Deem Carey secured 104 yards and a touchdown from 19 carries and Elks quarterback Mcleod Bethel-Thompson threw for 342 yards.
Deonta McMahon, Cameron Dukes, Damonte Coxie, and Rasheed Bailey scored a touchdown each. Lirim Hajrullahu’s field goal in the final second of the game was the only thing that separated the two sides, ending in a 39-36 barnburner in favour of Toronto.
Their forthcoming fixture against Montreal will be their third straight home game, having not played on the road yet in 2024. They defeated fellow Grey Cup contenders, the BC Lions, 35-27 in their season opener.
The Montreal Alouettes have also had an impressive start to the season. They opened as favourites for the Grey Cup in the CFL betting markets and have shown why. Jason Maas’s team is 3-0 and comes into this fixture on the back of a dominant victory over the Ottawa Redblacks.
Montreal set the tone early, scoring a touchdown on their first drive and made it three consecutive scoring drives. The game was as good as over at halftime, with the Alouettes leading 30-1. They scored a further 17 in the second half, dismantling the Redblacks 47-21.
Quarterback Cody Fajardo had a super game with three touchdowns from 393 yards and a rushing touchdown for himself. Wide receiver Tyson Philpot had an incredible 150 receiving yards from eight receptions. Fellow receiver Kaion Julien-Grant also pulled down eight passes, securing an excellent 116 yards for his team.
Montreal Alouettes vs Toronto Argonauts Prediction
Montreal Alouettes 27-25 Toronto Argonauts
This is an incredibly tight game between two of the best teams in the league. Toronto will be out for revenge following their disappointing downfall in the East final in 2023. However, Montreal is the defending Grey Cup champion and has proven they have no intention of giving up their title. They have improved this season, and our football prediction is a narrow victory for the Montreal Alouettes.
Montreal’s Fajardo has been in incredible form early in this season. The former Argo signed for the Alouettes in 2023 and immediately delivered a Grey Cup. He has kicked on in 2024 and lit up the scoring charts in the CFL. No quarterback in the league has thrown more touchdowns, finding the end zone seven times in three games. That passing game will be integral to victory here.
Toronto conceded four passing touchdowns to Edmonton in their previous game. Although MBT is an elite quarterback, the Elks are a considerably weaker team than Montreal. The Argonauts had to be saved by a last-second field goal and their defensive performance raised a few red flags. With Fajardo and Philpot linking up so well, they can punish their opponents in the air and continue their excellent start to the season.
The Argos’ main threat comes in the running game. Ka’Deem Carey has been in excellent form so far. He has 169 rushing yards, placing him second overall in the league despite playing a game fewer than most teams. However, Montreal has been impressive against the run so far. Their defence is yet to concede 100+ yards on the ground in a game, and they can stop Carey where others have struggled.
The Alouettes have established a great running game themselves. Walter Fletcher is third in the league for rushing yards with 163. Fajardo has also established himself as a dual-threat QB and rushed for 39 yards and a touchdown in his most recent game. They can hurt Toronto through the air and on the ground.
Reigning Grey Cup MVP Cody Fajardo gets the Montreal Alouettes on the board first with a drive to the End-Zone.
Alouettes lead 6-0. #CFLGameday pic.twitter.com/ucnrxYlXjL
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) June 20, 2024
Toronto has the home-field advantage, however. They have not lost a regular-season game since the final fixture of the 2022 season. Which team beat them on that day? The Montreal Alouettes. Their last loss in all competitive games came in the post-season last year. Who beat them on that day? You guessed it, the Montreal Alouettes. Jason Maas’s team has a history at BMO Field and will not be intimidated by playing on the road.
Montreal Alouettes vs Toronto Argonauts Betting Tips
Montreal are the favourites to win this game despite Toronto having a home advantage. The visitors are worth -175 with our online sportsbook. However, both sides come into the clash undefeated, and this will be tight. We do not recommend a moneyline wager, but there are several markets we like the look of for this fixture.
The spread line is 3.5 and with a tight game expected, we like a bet on Toronto against the spread. They have done so in their last six regular season games, dating back to last season. The Argos also covered that line in all three of their regular season games against Montreal in 2023. There is every chance that Toronto can win this game despite being underdogs in the football betting markets. Even if they lose, we are not expecting Montreal to run away with the game.
Philpot and Fajardo have formed one of the best partnerships in the league. The wide receiver has caught three touchdowns from Fajardo already and is still riding the high of being named the Most Valuable Canadian in last year’s Grey Cup game. He will once again be the go-to target for Fajardo in this game. Back him to score his fourth touchdown of the season at -105.
Another player enjoying an excellent season is Toronto running back Ka’Deem Carey. He has 169 yards over two games, notching up 104 of those in his previous game against the Edmonton Elks. That number against a weaker team has elevated his line here with his player prop rushing line at 77.5 yards. Montreal has a strong rush defence and we like a bet on the under here at -115.
With this game looking tight on paper, it could be beneficial to wait for kick-off and look at the live betting markets. You can wager with reduced risk when signing up at Novibet. New customers receive a welcome bonus of a 100% matched deposit of up to $500.
Montreal Alouettes Team News
Régis Cibasu picked up a hand injury in the game against Ottawa and is out. Linebacker Alexandre Gagné made a return to training on Wednesday and is fit for a return on Friday.
Toronto Argonauts Team News
Wide receiver Dejon Brissett injured his knee in Toronto’s week three game and is out against Montreal. Offensive lineman Darius Ciraco missed last week’s fixture and remains out with a hip injury.
Linebacker Jonathan Jones also missed out last week with a hamstring injury but returned to full training and is available for Friday. Ka’Deem Carey was carrying a groin injury but returned to full training on Wednesday and will be fit to play. Wide receiver DaVaris Daniels has also returned to full training from his groin injury and is available.
