The CFL season enters Week 5 and only one undefeated team is left remaining. That’s the Edmonton Eskimos, who have won all three of their contests to start the season. Defense continues to be their bread and butter as they’ve allowed just 67 points through three games so far. Even though the Eskimos are in first place in the standings, the Calgary Stampeders continue to be the favorite to win the 2017 Grey Cup. They are just 2-1-1 through four games so far, but their league-leading offense has them at the top of the totem pole for this week’s power rankings.
1. Calgary Stampeders
Last Week: 1
Grey Cup Championship Odds: +240
The Stampeders (2-1-1) lost their first game of the season as they fell 30-23 in Montreal as they were outscored 14-3 in the fourth quarter. Bo Levi Mitchell was 34-of-50 for 379 yards, but he found the end zone just once, while Kamar Jorden had nine catches for 140 yards. However, the defense gave up 143 yards on the ground and is now second-last in the CFL in points allowed. The Stampeders will try to get back on track when they host Saskatchewan on Saturday night.
2. Edmonton Eskimos
Last Week: 2
Grey Cup Championship Odds: +425
The Eskimos (3-0-0) are the only undefeated team remaining in the CFL after their 23-21 win at home over Ottawa, A 17-point second quarter keyed the Eskimos’ win as Mike Reilly went 27-of-39 for 265 yards and a score, while Travon Van failed to find the end zone, but he ran 18 times for 103 yards. That allowed the Eskimos to hold the ball for over 35 minutes and then the defense took over from there. The Eskimos will take their unbeaten record to Hamilton on Thursday night.
3. British Columbia Lions
Last Week: 3
Grey Cup Championship Odds: +475
The Lions (3-1-0) hit double digits in three of four quarters in a 41-26 win in Hamilton, putting up 517 yards of offense. Travis Lulay came in for an injured Jonathon Jennings and went 29-of-36 for 436 yards (a CFL record for passing yards off the bench), three touchdowns and two picks. Jeremiah Johnson ran nine times for 69 yards and a score for the Lions, who had three turnovers for the game, and only Toronto and Ottawa have more. They have to fix that before they head home on Friday night to host Winnipeg.
4. Winnipeg Blue Bombers
Last Week: 4
Grey Cup Championship Odds: +700
The Blue Bombers (2-1-0) got a boost from their special teams as Ryan Lankford ran the opening kickoff back 105 yards to set them off to a 33-25 win over Toronto at home. Matt Nichols was 20-of-36 for 228 yards through the air, while Andrew Harris ran 17 times for 81 yards and two touchdowns for the Blue Bombers, who had two interceptions of the Argonauts and also forced them to turn it over on downs once. The Blue Bombers are in the middle of the pick in both points scored (sixth) and points allowed (fifth), so getting a little help from their special teams might be needed more often. The Blue Bombers will head west on Friday to British Columbia.
5. Montreal Alouettes
Last Week: 8
Grey Cup Championship Odds: +800
Montreal’s (2-2-0) rushing offense was the story in their 30-23 home win over the Stampeders as Tyrell Sutton ran the ball 17 times for 85 yards and a score. The Alouettes also got a rushing score from Vernon Adams Jr., while Darian Durant ran four times for 20 yards. That made up for an inconsistent passing day from Durant, who went 17-of-22 for 296 yards and a touchdown, but he was picked off twice. Still, it was probably Montreal’s best offensive day of the season, which means they still have a long way to go. The Alouettes will kick off Week 5 on the CFL schedule with a trip to the nation’s capital in Ottawa.
6. Hamilton Tiger-Cats
Last Week: 5
Grey Cup Championship Odds: +800
Hamilton (0-3-0) is still looking for their first win of the season after falling 41-26 at home to British Columbia, and the offense simply couldn’t keep up with the Lions. Zach Collaros was 30-of-48 for 361 yards, a touchdown and a pick, while Ross Scheuraman ran eight times for 58 yards and a score for the Tiger-Cats. Those are solid numbers, but it was a day where their defense couldn’t hold on for a change. The offense has to step up for its defense when that happens, and the Tiger-Cats couldn’t against the Lions. The Tiger-Cats will welcome Edmonton to Hamilton on Thursday night.
7. Toronto Argonauts
Last Week: 7
Grey Cup Championship Odds: +900
The Argonauts (2-2-) also got a special-teams score in their 33-25 road loss in Winnipeg as Martese Jackson ran a punt back 78 yards, and he also ran a kickoff 105 yards for a touchdown. However, that was called back for a penalty on the Argonauts, who could have used that score as Ricky Ray was 27-of-46 for 330 yards, but he didn’t find the end zone and was picked off twice. The Argonauts also managed just 30 yards on the ground on 12 carries and only Hamilton has fewer rushing yards. The Argonauts need to try and be more balanced as they host Ottawa on Monday night.
8. Ottawa RedBlacks
Last Week: 6
Grey Cup Championship Odds: +900
The Red Blacks (0-3-1) are still on the hunt for a win after their 23-21 loss in Edmonton, and an inability to stop the Eskimos on the ground kept their offense off the field. Trevor Harris 23-of-35 for 284 yards and a touchdown, while William Powell ran 15 times for 46 yards and a score and Ryan Lindley added a rushing touchdown. It’s a big week for the RedBlacks, who host Montreal on Wednesday and then head to Toronto on Monday.
9. Saskatchewan Roughriders
Last Week: —
Grey Cup Championship Odds: +1200
The Roughriders (1-2-0) were idle this week before they head to Calgary on Saturday night, and that might be a bad thing. The Roughriders pounded Hamilton 37-20 in Week 3 for their first win of the season and they were just getting some momentum going before the bye week. Saskatchewan will look to get their mojo working once again, this time against arguably their most bitter rivals.
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