The Toronto Argonauts have won 15 of their last 16 meaningful games. The lone loss for the Boatmen during the team’s continuing hot streak came in Calgary against the Stampeders last October. A 29-2 loss by Toronto at McMahon Stadium. The same setting and opponent for the Argos in Week 9 of the current CFL season.
The 6-0 Argonauts are attempting to achieve something this Friday night that’s never been done in the franchise’s 150th year of existence. And that’s starting a CFL regular season at 7-0. The 1921 Football Club finished the season at 6-0, before running the table throughout the playoffs.
CFL Week 9 Preview: Toronto Argonauts (6-0) @ Calgary Stampeders (2-5), Friday, August 4, 9 pm ET, McMahon Stadium, TSN, CFL+ (U.S./International)/TSN1050 Toronto
- Point Spread: The Toronto Argonauts are 8-point road favorites. Over/Under: 51
- Projected Weather Forecast: Overcast with rain showers at times. Low 14C. Winds NNE at 10 to 15 km/h. Chance of rain 50%.
Toronto Argonauts Week 9 Depth Chart/Injury Report
Receiver Damonte Coxie (ankle) and Running Back Daniel Adeboboye (hamstring), who both missed Touchdown Atlantic, practiced in full this week. But only the latter will be dressing on Friday for Double Blue.
Jeremiah Haydel will make his second straight start at outside receiver.
A surprising scratch for Toronto is CB Jamal Peters. Who is replaced in the lineup by Qwantez Stiggers and Tarvarus McFadden.
Linebacker Henoc Muamba, Guard Dariusz Bladek, and DB Maurice Carnell IV will remain on the team’s injured list and not make their regular season debuts for Double Blue.
Calgary Stampeders Week 9 Depth Chart/Injury Report
The Stampeders had several key players questionable heading into Friday’s game. Running back Ka’Deem Carey (toe), Linebacker Cameron Judge (ankle), and running back Dedrick Mills. The latter two are listed in the starting lineup. Although Judge, a former Argo is a gametime decision.
Keys To The Game
It’s all about the coaching this week.
The key matchup to look for in this game is Argos head coach/play caller Ryan Dinwiddie against Stampeders defensive coordinator Brent Munson. The two former colleagues know each other so well from their time together in Calgary. But it’s been Munson who has had the upper hand in these friendly rivalry chess matches.
Particuarly the last two meetings, both of which Calgary has won over Toronto. Including a humbling 29-2 drubbing Dinwiddie’s squad was dealt at McMahon Stadium.
Munson has done a great job of scheming against Dinwiddie’s offence, particularly his passing attack. Don’t be surprised if Munson also adds to his playbook by borrowing some of what Saskatchewan successfully did a week ago. Blitzing the run and playing physical with Toronto’s receiving corps. The Riders were on the wrong end of a misleading score last week. They did a great job of limiting the Boatmen to only one offensive touchdown.
On the flip side, Corey Mace’s defence has to clamp down on a surprisingly underwhelming Stamps ground attack that will look to get back in gear this week. Quarterback Jake Maier has had an up-and-down season to this point, partially due to him trying to do too much without two dynamic playmakers in Kadeem Carey and Malik Henry.
The Argonauts will try to fluster Maier into making more mistakes (11 interceptions on the season). The Argos defence has been less aggressive in their last few outings. It might be time for Corey Mace to flip the switch and go back to the successful blitzing style the Boatmen used effectively earlier this season.
Toronto Argonauts @ Calgary Stampeders Week 9 Prediction
For all intents and purposes, this is Toronto’s fourth straight road game. They have played at Montreal, Hamilton, a neutral site Halifax game, and now finish up traveling to the west coast to square up with Calgary.
The work week leading in for Toronto has been less than ideal. Not only is Double Blue operating on a short week, but they have had makeshift practices at Michael Power high school.
On paper, it’s easy to understand why people would unanimously be picking a 6-0 Toronto team to triumph over a disappointing 2-5 Calgary squad. Despite the Stamps being at home, where they are winless this season at 0-3.
However, at some point, Toronto has to lose this season. And on the flip side, Calgary has to win at home.
Despite their lackluster results thus far, the Stampeders have been in almost every game this season.
They simply haven’t gotten the plays they’ve needed to win close games from their best players in clutch moments. Partly because not only have they lost difference makers from a year ago, but they’ve been without some of their best players this season.
I am taking Calgary to pull off the upset this Friday night, even though the Argos have a clear overall talent edge. Simply because Dave Dickenson and his Stampeders staff’s knowledge of Ryan Dinwiddie’s evens the playing field. The Argonauts will lose their first game of 2023.
Prediction: Calgary Stampeders 27 Toronto Argonauts 23
