Venue, Date & Time
Conference: U SPORTS – Ontario University Athletics (OUA)
Date: Saturday, September 6, 2025
Kickoff: 1:00 PM EDT
Venue: York Lions Stadium, 4700 Keele Street, Toronto, Ontario
Event Note: Annual Red & Blue Bowl rivalry game — one of the longest-running and most tradition-rich matchups in Canadian university football.
Weather Forecast (Toronto, ON – Game Day)
Conditions: Partly cloudy with sunny breaks
Temperature at Kickoff: ~26°C (79°F)
Wind: 10–14 km/h from the southwest
Precipitation Chance: 10%
Impact on Play: Warm, dry conditions with light wind — ideal for both passing and kicking games. No weather-related disruptions expected.
Injury Report (as of latest updates)
Toronto Varsity Blues
No major injuries reported after Week 1.
QB and WR1 healthy; OL depth intact after preseason camp.
York Lions
No confirmed absences entering Week 2.
Returning starting QB and top RB from 2024; secondary depth being monitored after minor knocks in opener.
Recent Team Form
Toronto Varsity Blues
2024 Record: 2–6 overall, missed playoffs.
Opened 2025 with a competitive game vs. Carleton.
Strength: Balanced offense with a slight lean toward the passing game.
York Lions
2024 Record: 0–8 overall, last in OUA.
Opened 2025 with a home win over McMaster (31–24) — snapping a long losing streak.
Strength: Improved offensive line play and a more balanced attack under new coaching staff.
Series History (since 2000)
All-Time (since 2000): York leads 13–12.
Last Meeting: Sept. 21, 2024 – York 19, Toronto 17 (Varsity Stadium).
Current Streak: York W1.
Largest Toronto Win: 70–0 (2014).
Largest York Win: 41–24 (2004).
Notable: The Red & Blue Bowl has been played annually since 1970; Toronto dominated the 2010s, but York has taken 2 of the last 4.
Betting Trends
Toronto is 6-4 SU in last 10 meetings vs. York.
The Under has hit in 3 of the last 5 matchups.
York is 1-9 SU in last 10 OUA home games (but 1-0 in 2025).
Toronto is 4-2 ATS in last 6 OUA road games.
Suggested Wagering Model
Model Inputs:
Toronto’s historical edge in the series vs. York’s momentum from Week 1 win.
Both teams’ Week 1 performances and returning starter impact.
Historical scoring averages in series (~48 total points/game).
Weather: Neutral impact.
Game Odds
Toronto Varsity Blues – 6.5
York Lions 49.5
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Friday, September 5, 2025
