Saturday 6/23/18 thread for free handicapping service plays and expert predictions for MLB, WNBA & CFL games.
Calgary Stampeders vs. Toronto Argonauts Preview and Predictions
The Calgary Stampeders make the trek east to face the Toronto Argonauts in a rematch of the 2017 grey cup on Saturday. the stampeders dropped a 27-24 decision to the Argonauts despite being heavy favorites in the championship game, but opened the new campaign with a 28-14 win against the Hamilton Tiger-cats, and hope to exact a measure of revenge by notching their seventh straight regular-season victory against an east division opponent.
"We're moving forward, it's 2018 and we like the way we've started," Calgary head coach Dave Dickenson told reporters. " I know for a fact they're going to be ready for us and we'll have to play well to beat them." the Argonauts began defense of their grey cup with a 27-19 setback against the Saskatchewan Roughriders. ricky ray, who decided to come back for one more year after pondering retirement in the offseason, was held without a touchdown pass for the first time since Aug. 26, 2017 and hopes to bounce back by leading Toronto to its first regular-season victory against Calgary in nearly five years. the Argonauts have dropped eight consecutive regular-season games to the Stampeders, with the last four defeats coming by at least 16 points.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, TSN
About the Stampeders (1-0): Bo Levi Mitchell overcame a slow start to throw for 297 yards and a touchdown as Calgary recorded its 13th straight victory against Hamilton. Wide receiver Marken Michel caught five passes for 67 yards before rolling his ankle against the Tiger-Cats but is likely to play on Saturday. offensive lineman Derek Dennis returned to practice on Tuesday after suffering a leg injury during the week 1 victory and is expected to suit up on the weekend while Ricky Stanzi was released earlier in the week after serving as the third-string quarterback since the start of the 2017 season.
about the Argonauts (0-1): ray finished with 233 yards through the air, but threw a costly pick-six in the fourth quarter while short-yardage quarterback James Franklin tossed a touchdown pass and added another on the ground in the loss to Saskatchewan. james wilder jr. registered 84 yards of total offense after a sensational rookie campaign, which saw him finish with 1,405 yards from scrimmage. defensive back Darius Ford is likely to miss Saturday's clash after suffering an upper-body injury against the Roughriders and will be replaced by either Abdul Kanneh, who was acquired in a trade with Hamilton on June 10, or Trumaine Washington.
Extra Points
1. Calgary has won six consecutive games against east division teams by an average margin of 26 points.
2. The Stampeders are 12-4-2 on the road since the start of the 2016 season.
3. Wilder has racked up at least 80 yards of total offense in each of his last seven regular-season games.
Prediction: Stampeders 31, Argonauts 30
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