- The Toronto Argonauts extended their lead in the CFL East Division and record to 7-1 following a 44-31 win over the Ottawa Redblacks.
- Chad Kelly torched the Redblacks’ secondary for 417 yards, four touchdowns, and one interception in the winning effort.
- At online betting sites, the Argonauts are now favored to win their second consecutive Grey Cup title.
On Sunday, the Toronto Argonauts rolled over the Ottawa Redblacks behind an impressive start from quarterback Chad Kelly. The Argonauts edged away in the high-scoring shootout for a 44-31 win at BMO Field. Oddsmakers reacted swiftly, as the Argonauts’ 2023 Grey Cup odds have shortened to +180 at Bovada.
Now, the Argonauts are favored to win the Grey Cup over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. The Blue Bombers entered the season as the betting favorites to win the 2023 Grey Cup. In June, Winnipeg was a +250 favorite to win their 13th title in the 110th Grey Cup.
With uncertainty at quarterback following McLeod Bethel-Thompson’s departure to the USFL, the Argonauts were not as highly regarded. The BC Lions had the second-best Grey Cup odds at +450 and then the Argonauts at +500.
Following the late-game heroics from Kelly in the 109th Grey Cup, the Argonauts were confident that he could be their starting quarterback. Kelly signed with the Argonauts in February 2022 after failing to stick with an NFL team.
Chad Kelly Making A Name For Himself In CFL
Jim Kelly’s nephew is carving out quite the career for himself in the CFL. After spending four seasons in the NFL as a backup, Kelly was released from the Colts in 2020. A year earlier, Kelly received a two-game suspension for a bizarre incident that occured after Von Miller’s Halloween party.
Kelly entered a woman’s home that he did not know and was subsequently charged with trespassing. As a result, the former Ole Miss star received a two-game suspension from the NFL. Kelly’s most notable performance in the NFL, came in the 2017 preseason with the Denver Broncos.
Despite NFL teams not giving Kelly a chance, he’s been having success north of the border. Already with a Grey Cup ring, Kelly is making the most out of his first opportunity as a starter since college.
In eight games, the 29-year-old has passed for 2,041 yards, 13 touchdowns, and five interceptions on 129 passing attempts. Additionally, Kelly has rushed for 126 yards and five touchdowns on more than five yards per carry.
CHAD KELLY TO DAVARIS DANIELS!
TD Argos! pic.twitter.com/TAzM5jQbEy
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) August 13, 2023
He is coming off his best performance on Canadian soil. Kelly throttled the Ottawa secondary for 417 yards, four touchdowns, and one interception. The second-year CFL quarterback also scampered for 17 yards on the ground.
Notre Dame’s DaVaris Daniels exploded for six receptions, 180 yards, and three interceptions. Cam Phillips had a strong showing as well. The receiver hauled in five catches for 115 yards.
The victory gives the Argonauts control of the East Division. They own a two-game lead over the 5-3 Montreal Alouettes going into the bye week. On Friday, August 25, Toronto is back on the field versus the Calgary Stampeders at home.
Blue Bombers and Lions In Strong Contention For Grey Cup
The Argonauts are favored to win the 110th Grey Cup. However, that doesn’t mean the Blue Bombers and Lions can be ignored. The Blue Bombers and Lions are on the Argonauts’ heels at 7-2 in the West Division.
Featuring the two-loss Blue Bombers and Lions, the West has been the more competitive division. The Saskatchewan Roughriders are hanging in there for a playoff spot at 4-5 on the season. Currently, the Blue Bombers are +195 to win the Grey Cup, while the Lions are within reach at +325.
The Blue Bombers and Lions are both coming off wins this past week. Quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. made his return to the starting lineup for the Lions and impressed in a blowout over the Stampeders, 37-9. Adams passed for 322 yards, four touchdowns, and one interception.
Vernon Adams Jr. had himself quite the night in his return 🔥
322 Passing Yards
4 TD passes
23/32 ATT/COMP
His 4th 300-yard passing game this season#BCLions #RoarLikeNeverBefore pic.twitter.com/Yiiw4iQ6Kc— BC LIONS (@BCLions) August 15, 2023
The former Eastern Washington and Oregon star hooked up with Keon Hatcher for nine receptions, 170 yards, and a touchdown at home in Vancouver. This past Thursday in Edmonton, the Blue Bombers’ backup Dru Brown passed for 407 yards and four touchdowns in a 38-29 comeback win over the Elks.
Following these three squads, the odds to win the Grey Cup fall off drastically. Currently, the Alouettes have the fourth-best odds at +700. In 2023, the talent level is heavily skewed towards the Argos, Blue Bombers, and Lions.
Bombers’ Zach Collaros Absent From Practice
Zach Collaros, who is the highest-paid player in the CFL, suffered a neck injury in the first half against the Elks. There is no word on the seriousness of the injury. However, Collaros has not been present in practice this week.
The Elks’ Kony Ealy delivered a hard hit to Collaros, which resulted in Collaros exiting the game. If Collaros misses an extended period of time, the Blue Bombers’ Grey Cup odds will certainly take a hit. In 2023, Collaros passed for 2,298 yards, 16 touchdowns, and six interceptions.
Brown entered cold off the bench and delivered a standout performance in Edmonton. The native of Palo Alto, California, made it to the CFL’s weekly honour roll after the four touchdown effort. Brown had the highest grade of quarterbacks in the CFL at 89.4.
Nonetheless, Winnipeg is keeping their fingers crossed that the two-time CFL Most Outstanding Player is not off the field for long. The first place Bombers and Argos are set to meet in a highly anticipated clash on September 29.
