Roughriders vs. Argonauts Prediction, Expert Picks & Odds 8-22

In Chad Kelly's first game back, he has a huge opportunity to lead the Argonauts to a win over the struggling Roughriders.

Rob Paul

Last Updated: August 22, 2024 11:52 AM EDT • 2 minute read

Toronto Argonauts quarterback Chad Kelly throws a pass against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. We're backing Kelly in his return as part of our Roughriders vs. Argonauts prediction. — Toronto Argonauts quarterback Chad Kelly throws a pass against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. Photo by Dan Hamilton/USA TODAY Sports via Imagn.

The reigning CFL Most Outstanding Player is back.

After serving a nine-game suspension, Chad Kelly is set to make his return with the Toronto Argonauts as 3.5-point favorites as they take on the Saskatchewan Roughriders Thursday at 7:30 p.m. ET (TSN/RDS, CFL+) from BMO Field in Toronto.

In our Roughriders vs. Argonauts prediction, we're banking on Toronto returning to being a Grey Cup odds favorite across our best sportsbooks in Canada.

Roughriders vs. Argonauts odds

Roughriders vs. Argonauts odds via Betway as of Thursday at 10:20 a.m. ET.

Teams	Moneyline	Spread	Total
Argonauts	-161	-3.5 (+100)	Over: 49.5 (-115)
Roughriders	+130	+3.5 (-120)	Under: 49.5 (-105)

Roughriders vs. Argonauts prediction: Kelly back in a big way

CFL picks confidence based on a 1-to-5-star scale.

Argonauts -3.5 ⭐⭐⭐

There was no better player in the CFL last season than Kelly. He threw for 4,123 yards with 31 total touchdowns in his first full-season as the Argos' starter.

More importantly, he helped Toronto go 16-2, which matched the best finish in CFL history - and they were 13-5 ATS. Behind Kelly's cannon of an arm, the Argos finished first in the East in yards per game (386.4), passing yards per game (272.7), QB rating (104.1), and points per game (32.8).

So even if Kelly is rusty, he's a complete game-changer for this offense and should be able to get after a Saskatchewan team that's 0-3-1 in its last four games.

The Roughriders defense has been particularly bad lately. It gave up 42 points to the Edmonton Elks and allowed two comeback wins by the Montreal Alouettes.

Stopping the pass has been a problem for Corey Mace's squad. Saskatchewan is allowing the second-most passing yards per game (304.1). And it's not as if it can sell out to stop the pass because Toronto has the league's third-leading rusher in Ka'Deem Carey (611 yards).

With Kelly leading the charge, Toronto should be able to take advantage of a banged up Roughriders squad - they're down A.J. Ouellette - and cover. If they do, a $10 bet pays a $10 profit.

Odds: +100 via Betway | Implied probability: 50%

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Roughriders vs. Argonauts game info

When: Thursday, Aug. 22 (7:30 p.m. ET)
Where: BMO Field (Toronto, Ont.)
How to watch: TSN/RDS, CFL+
Weather: 72 degrees, 6-mph winds, 20% chance of precipitation
Favorite: Argonauts -3.5 (+100 via Betway)

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Written by:
Rob Paul

Rob is a Publishing Editor at Sportsbook Review. He’s been with the team since early 2024, with this being his first full-time role in the sports betting industry. Before joining SportsbookReview.com, he contributed to various sports outlets, including FanSided and Pro Football Network. During that period, he spent five years working full-time as a local community journalist, after attending Durham College for journalism and Wilfrid Laurier University for history. He previously hosted an NFL draft and college football-focused podcast where he had the opportunity to interact with future NFL players such as Maxx Crosby and Quinn Meinerz. Rob has spent multiple years working as a freelance podcast producer for numerous sports-related podcasts while making guest appearances on several college football shows. He’s also made guest appearances on SportsTalk Mississippi on several occasions to talk all things NFL draft. Rob values the way sports betting acts as a catalyst for telling stories and growing interest in certain sports, particularly FCS football, WNBA, and mid-major college basketball. He’s always been drawn to the more obscure teams and conferences in major college sports, but most of all, Rob loves using stats to find the best player props to back.