TORONTO - If you're going to be mayor of Toronto and bet on the home teams, you're going to lose a lot of bets.

Mayor Rob Ford found that out the hard way Tuesday, endorsing the Edmonton Eskimos on his official Facebook and Twitter accounts to settle a bet after the Toronto Argonauts lost Monday night.

Ford's bet on the CFL game between the Double Blue and the Green and Gold was a friendly wager with Edmonton Mayor Stephen Mandel.

On the line was civic pride and having to root for the winning mayor's team.

After the Boatmen went down 26-17 to Edmonton, Ford's staff were quick to update his Twitter account, @TOMayorFord, and his Facebook page to honour the bet.

"Go Eskimos Go (Mayor Mandel) you won fair and square," Ford's staff tweeted Tuesday, before directing the mayor's more than 23,000 Twitter followers to the Eskimos' website.

Ford's Facebook page was also emblazoned with the Eskimos' logo.

On the page, Ford's office posted a message explaining the bet.

"The Argos lost 26-17 ... so Go Eskimos Go!" the message concluded.

It is expected Ford - a die-hard Toronto sports fan - will be back cheering for the Argos after Tuesday's online show of support for the Eskimos.

The Argos next game is Labour Day Monday in Hamilton against the Tiger-Cats.

It's not the first time betting on the Argos has cost the mayor.

Last fall, Ford had to wear a Ticats jersey at a city council meeting to settle a bet between him and and Steeltown Mayor Bob Bratina.

The two mayors had a side bet this season on who would win the Ballard Cup - an annual series between the two teams.