Matchup: BC Lions vs Toronto Argonauts
Date: Saturday, August 23, 2025
Venue: BMO Field, Toronto, ON
Broadcast: TSN
Betting Odds: BC Lions favored by 3 points
On Saturday, the Toronto Argonauts (2-8) will host the BC Lions (5-5) at BMO Field, with the Lions opening as 3-point favorites. The over/under for the game is set at 55.5 points. Starting quarterbacks for this matchup are expected to be Nathan Rourke and Nick Arbuckle.
In their last outing, the Lions faced the Alouettes, achieving a decisive 36-18 victory. Nathan Rourke had an impressive performance, completing 26 of 34 passes for 382 yards and throwing 4 touchdown passes, although he also threw 1 interception. On the ground, James Butler led with 81 rushing yards on 16 attempts, averaging 5.0 yards per carry, and his longest run was 26 yards. In receiving, Keon Hatcher topped the charts with 156 yards from 11 catches, averaging 14.2 yards per reception.
Discover all our expert CFL predictions
When evaluating the Lions’ scoring capabilities, they rank 5th in the CFL, averaging 27.3 points per game. To date, the Lions have accumulated 3,197 passing yards and average 319.7 passing yards per game, placing them 1st in the league. They also average 108.4 rushing yards per game, totaling 1,084 rushing yards across the season. This gives the BC Lions an impressive average of 428.1 total yards per game, ranking 1st overall.
Defensively, the Lions sit at 4th in the league, allowing 27.2 points per game. They concede 5.1 yards per carry, totaling 107.9 rushing yards allowed per game. So far this season, they have given up 1,079 rushing yards over 10 games. In terms of passing defense, the Lions have allowed 2,317 yards, which is 1st in the league. They allow an average of 231.7 passing yards per game with a completion percentage of 67.6%. Overall, they’ve conceded 339.6 total yards per game, placing them 2nd in the CFL.
In their previous game, the Argonauts battled the Elks but fell short with a score of 28-20. Deonta McMahon led the Argonauts in rushing, gaining 12 yards on 4 carries, with a best run of 6 yards, but no rushing touchdowns. Dejon Brissett excelled in receiving, collecting 96 yards on 7 catches, averaging 13.7 yards per reception. Nick Arbuckle completed 30 of 42 passes for 382 yards and secured 1 touchdown, without any interceptions.
Throughout the season, the Argonauts have amassed 2,905 passing yards, averaging 290.5 yards per game, which ranks them 3rd in the CFL. Overall, they average 338.7 total yards per game, placing them 7th in the league. Their ground game averages 48.2 yards per game, totaling 482 rushing yards for the year. In terms of scoring, the Argonauts are 3rd in the league, with an average of 27.7 points per game.
Defensively, the Argonauts are allowing 32.0 points per game, which ranks them 9th in the league, with a total of 320 points conceded. They have given up 1,144 rushing yards this season, averaging 114.4 yards per game and allowing 12 rushing touchdowns. In the passing game, they have yielded 16 touchdowns while allowing 253.4 passing yards per game, ranking them 2nd in the CFL.
Who will emerge victorious in this exciting matchup against the spread?
Josh Schonwald’s Prediction: Pick BC Lions (-3)
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