The Toronto Argonauts and Hamilton Tiger-Cats are coming off their first wins of the 2025 CFL season. It’s fitting that the two eternal rivals square off in Week 5, in a pivotal rubber-meets-the-road game Friday night at BMO Field.
CFL Week 5: Hamilton Tiger Cats @ Toronto Argonauts Preview
Date: Friday, July 4, 2025 Time: 7:30 PM ET Location: BMO Field, Toronto, ON Broadcast: TSN, CFL+ (international streaming) Point Spread: Hamilton Tiger-Cats -2.5 (-110) Over/Under: 53.5 points
The defending Grey Cup champion Argos are still trying to find themselves after missing so many pivotal players from last year’s improbable title run. Toronto is coming off a 29-16 road victory in Ottawa, which saw CFL rookie Derek Slywka score game-winning and ultimately deciding touchdowns on a missed field goal for 120 yards and a 105-yard fumble recovery.
The Boatmen needed every bounce of the ball to go their way to notch its first victory.
Argos safety Derek Slywka recorded the 4th longest fumble return touchdown in #CFL history at 105 yards on Sunday vs. Ottawa.
Then, he returned a missed field goal 120 yards for his second TD of the game.
Coming off a bye, Hamilton snapped a two-game skid with a commanding 35-17 upset over the previously unbeaten Montreal Alouettes in Week 4. Veteran quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell was sharp, completing 25 of 31 passes for 247 yards and two touchdowns, while the defense stepped up with two interceptions, including a standout performance from the secondary. The Ticats caught the Als at the right place at home, and at the right time, with Montreal missing starting quarterback Davis Alexander, but they played the right kind of balanced game they hadn’t in their first two games.
Week 5 Hamilton @ Toronto Depth Charts/Injury Report
With Deonta McMahon and now Miyan Williams injured, out of extreme necessity, Khalan Laborn was brought back to Toronto because the Argos were down to only one active running back in Kevin Brown.
On the flip side, Hamilton’s Greg Bell will be in the lineup at running back despite dealing with a calf injury.
The Argos are once again missing several key starters, including All-Star linebacker Wynton McManis, who is still on the shelf with a knee injury. The Double Blue’s depth is being tested early in the young CFL season.
Key Matchups
Toronto’s Run Game vs. Hamilton’s Front Seven: The Argos face a continuing challenge with a depleted backfield that has made management’s decision to part ways with Kadeem Carey look all the more foolish. Hamilton’s defense, bolstered by a revitalized front, will aim to force Nick Arbuckle to carry the load offensively. Toronto’s offense is among the league’s worst units. The Argonauts’ inability to run the football has also hurt their defense, which has had to play an excessive number of snaps every week, due to Toronto’s deficiency in controlling the clock.
Bo Levi Mitchell vs. Toronto’s Secondary: The Argos secondary has held up admirably, despite all the team’s issues in the front seven. Toronto’s defense needs to find a way to pressure Mitchell and get him out of his comfort zone. With a struggling offense, the Boatmen’s best bet is to force turnovers defensively. For Hamilton, they must keep Mitchell clean in the pocket to operate effectively.
Special Teams: A year ago, Toronto eked out several wins without Chad Kelly in the lineup, by tilting games and the scales in their favor through big plays on special teams. Ottawa kept a returning Janarion Grant in check last week. Hamilton must do the same. The Ti-Cats can’t allow Grant to flip field position and give a struggling Double Blue offense a boost.
Prediction
The Argos started the week as slight favorites, but the line shifted with Hamilton as 2.5-point road favorites. The main reason for a shift is on the pivot. Bo Levi Mitchell, even at an advanced age, is playing at a top level, while Nick Arbuckle has not. However, the reason for Arbuckle’s struggles has more to do with his supporting cast not being as good as it was last season. Gone are Carey, Makai Polk, and the team’s best linemen, Dejon Allen.
The Ti-Cats have a much more balanced overall team than the Argos. Toronto doesn’t have the difference-makers it had a year ago to counter that.
