Former Eskimo quarterback Ricky Ray makes an emotional return to the city he called home for his entire nine-year CFL career Saturday when the Toronto Argonauts visit the Edmonton Eskimos in CFL betting action
RB Cory Boyd rushed for 1,141 yards in 2011 and the Argos will look to Boyd for increased production in 2012
WEEK 1 CFL
TORONTO ARGONAUTS AT EDMONTON ESKIMOS
CFL Odds by Pinnacle: Eskimos ‘Pick em’ and Over/Under 48.5
Coming off a season where he threw 24 touchdown passes, QB Ricky Ray was shipped to the Argos in an offseason trade that included QB Steven Jyles going to Edmonton. The move didn’t sit well with Esks’ fans that saw Ray bring two Grey Cups to Edmonton during his stay. Jyles, who has bounced around the league for several years, has failed thus far to prove himself as a starting CFL QB. Aside from the QB swap, both teams had sweeping changes during the winter that changed the landscape for 2012.
Edmonton loaded up on offensive talent with the likes of WR Greg Carr and RB Hugh Charles but lost some key competitors such as Jerome Messam to the NFL. Meanwhile, the Argos paid a price for the signing of Ray and had to make room for his contract. The Boatmen lost some key defensive talent in DB Lin-J Shell and 2011 CFL All-Star Byron Parker who walked in free agency. The retirement of LT Rob Murphy and the free agent loss of Dominic Picard only compound the problems for the Double Blue.
Each of these clubs could struggle with chemistry early this year as they work to deal with such a high rate of turnover but if we had to give an edge it goes to the Eskimos and Kavis Reed, who demonstrated last season how quickly he can bring a club together.
CFL PICKS
Pinnacle Sports has CFL odds for this total listed at 48.5. With an Eskimos team that failed to score more than 20 points in each of its two preseason games, we like this game to stay below the total.
Pick: Take the Under
It’s not too late to enter the free EveryEdge CFL Handicapping Contest to win cash prizes from the top online sportsbooks in the industry. Read our 2012 CFL Previews for more information on all eight teams. Click East Division Preview or West Division Preview