Toronto Argonauts vs Ottawa Redblacks Prediction & Preview For CFL Week 3 - 6/20/2026
Updated June 19, 2026
Updated June 19, 2026
Toronto and Ottawa enter Week 3 looking for their first victory of the 2026 CFL season. While both clubs sit at 0-1, they arrive here from very different performances. Toronto dropped a 37-30 shootout against Montreal, but Chad Kelly's return to the starting lineup produced one of the most productive passing efforts of the young season. Ottawa, meanwhile, has had extra time to prepare after opening the year with a loss to the Edmonton Elks and now returns home to TD Place Stadium for a divisional game that could carry early significance in the East Division.
Toronto's defense clearly has work to do after surrendering 37 points and 441 passing yards to Montreal in Week 2, but the offense showed enough explosiveness to believe better days are ahead. Chad Kelly threw for 445 yards and three touchdowns in his first regular-season start since returning from a lengthy injury absence. The Argonauts moved the ball consistently and generated big plays throughout the game.
Ottawa benefits from home-field advantage in this contest. However, Toronto appears to have the higher offensive ceiling. If Kelly builds on last week's performance and avoids turnovers, the Argonauts should create enough scoring opportunities to cover the number.
Parlay Odds: +264
The foundation of this parlay is Toronto's passing game. Kelly immediately looked comfortable in his return, posting 445 passing yards and three touchdown throws against Montreal. Ottawa's secondary has shown vulnerability at times over the last two seasons, making another productive outing a realistic expectation.
The over is attractive because Toronto's offense appears capable of carrying its share of the scoring while its defense remains a work in progress. The current total sits in the mid-50s at several sportsbooks, and both clubs possess enough skill talent to push this game into the high 20s. Pairing Toronto with the over creates a correlated ticket built around another strong performance from the Argonauts quarterback.
The biggest storyline entering this contest is the return of Chad Kelly to the Toronto offense. After missing all of 2025 following a serious leg injury suffered during the 2024 East Final, Kelly immediately reminded fans why he remains one of the CFL's most dangerous quarterbacks. His 445-yard effort against Montreal was one of the top passing performances of Week 2 and demonstrated that Toronto's vertical passing attack remains intact.
Toronto's receiving corps consistently generated separation against the Alouettes. Even though the Argonauts lost by seven points, they accumulated enough offense to win many games. The concern is on the defensive side. Montreal's Davis Alexander carved up the secondary for 441 passing yards, exposing coverage issues that Ottawa will try to exploit.
The Redblacks enter this game looking to bounce back from an opening-week defeat. Ottawa was viewed as a competitive East Division club entering the season, and returning home offers them a chance to stabilize after a disappointing start. The offense must produce more explosive plays, particularly against a Toronto defense that struggled with downfield coverage last week.
The difference for me is quarterback play. Kelly looked sharper than many expected after such a long absence. While there may be some inconsistency as he settles back into regular action, his ceiling is higher than what Ottawa has displayed offensively so far. Toronto's defense may allow points, but the Argonauts should answer with enough big plays of their own.
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