The CFL power rankings are basically the same except for a switch between the top two teams in the East. In the bottom, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats continue to be miserable. The latest is that head coach Kent Austin is going to step aside for June Jones, who will take over. The Ti-Cats are still winless after eight games.
As for the cream of the crop, the Alberta teams continue to lead the way. The Eskimos (7-1) and Stampeders (6-1-1) are basically neck-in-neck in the standings and the power rankings. The odds makers continue to give the Stamps the slight advantage, which is why they’re at the top of our power rankings.
1. Calgary Stampeders
Last Week: 1
Grey Cup Championship Odds: +220
The Stampeders (6-1-1) showed they could win a defensive game as they held off British Columbia 21-17 on the road. Bo Levi Mitchell was 15-of-31 for 237 yards and a pick, while Jerome Messam ran 15 times for 69 yards and a score for the Stampeders. However, the defense forced four turnovers (including one on downs), and Calgary proved they also had a defense to work with their high-powered offense, which sputtered all game. The Stampeders are now a point behind Edmonton in the West as they return home to host Toronto on Saturday night.
2. Edmonton Eskimos
Last Week: 2
Grey Cup Championship Odds: +300
The Eskimos (7-1-0) finally lost their first game, but are still a point clear in the West after a 33-26 loss in Winnipeg. Mike Reilly was 20-of-33 for 356 yards, two touchdowns and a pick, and D’haquille Williams had four catches for 110 yards and a score. However, the defense allowed 500 yards of offense and were on the field for over 36 minutes, and it will always be hard to win those games. The Eskimos will surely be disappointed to have their unbeaten streak ended, but they have to shake it off as they host Saskatchewan on Friday.
3. British Columbia Lions
Last Week: 3
Grey Cup Championship Odds: +550
The Lions (5-4-0) are still only four points behind Edmonton after their loss to Calgary. Jonathon Jennings was 26-of-38 for 240 yards, a touchdown and two picks through the air, while he ran six times for 39 yards and a score as well. However, their vaunted ground game was held to 56 yards on 13 carries in total, and again, four turnovers is usually a recipe for a loss. But the Lions are still in the hunt as they get ready to head to Ottawa for the early Saturday game.
4. Winnipeg Blue Bombers
Last Week: 4
Grey Cup Championship Odds: +800
The Blue Bombers (6-2-0) are just two points back in the West after their huge win over Edmonton at home, and Matt Nichols went 32-of-40 for 390 yards and a score. However, the story was Andrew Harris, who continued his dual-threat destruction by running 11 times for 105 yards, and he also caught eight passes for 120 yards. The defense wasn’t great on the day, but they got stops when they needed to and that allowed the offense to keep Edmonton’s defense on the field. Winnipeg opens up Week 10 on Thursday with a trip to Montreal.
5. Toronto Argonauts
Last Week: 6
Grey Cup Championship Odds: +1000
The Argonauts (4-5-0) avenged a Week 9 loss in Montreal by walloping the Alouettes 38-6 at home, and Toronto was happy to have Ricky Ray back. He was 35-of-43 for 377 yards, four touchdowns and a pick on his return to the lineup through injury, and that opened everything else up. Brandon Whitaker had 18 carries for 89 yards, and S.J. Green caught nine passes for 145 yards and a pair of scores for the Argonauts, who had the ball for 39:33. It was a great game for the Argonauts, who head west to visit Calgary on Saturday night.
6. Montreal Alouettes
Last Week: 5
Grey Cup Championship Odds: +1000
It wasn’t the best night for the Alouettes (3-5-0), who fell two points behind the Argonauts and were utterly dominated from front to back. Darian Durant was just 14-of-27 for 93 yards and a pick for Montreal, who had 163 yards of offense and allowed 473 yards because their defense was on the field for almost 40 minutes. You’re never going to win games that way, and now the Alouettes don’t have long to turn things around. They open up the week on Thursday night against Winnipeg, but at least they’re at home; the Alouettes have yet to win on the road this season.
7. Ottawa RedBlacks
Last Week: 7
Grey Cup Championship Odds: +1200
The RedBlacks (2-6-1) took care of business in a 37-18 win Hamilton, although they had to outscore the Tiger-Cats 22-8 in the second half to make sure they came away with the victory. Trevor Harris was 36-of-48 for 394 yards and a pair of scores for the RedBlacks, who had 443 yards of total offense and had the ball for 36:51. It was just the type of game that the RedBlacks needed as they stay in the playoff hunt, although British Columbia is still five points ahead. Ottawa hosts the Lions on Saturday in a huge game.
8. Saskatchewan Roughriders
Last Week: 8
Grey Cup Championship Odds: +1600
The Roughriders (3-4-0) had the week off as they try to make a push in the West. The Roughriders might have a better shot than Ottawa as they’re sitting on six points, which is only four points behind the Lions in the West, so they’re not completely out of it yet either, and they’ll be keeping a close eye on Saturday’s game in the nation’s capital as well. However, the Roughriders have to take care of business themselves and they have a very tough trip to Edmonton to look forward to on Saturday night.
9. Hamilton Tiger-Cats
Last Week: 9
Grey Cup Championship Odds: +1600
The Tiger-Cats (0-8-0) are at least batting hard consistently now, but they still lost at home to Ottawa. Zach Collaros was 9-of-17 for 102 yards and a touchdown, but he also had a fumble that was returned for a score and he was replaced by Jeremiah Masoli, who went 7-of-12 for 68 yards. It was just another poor day for the Tiger-Cats, who just aren’t good enough this season on both sides of the ball, especially offensively, and now they’re just playing for pride. They’ll get a much-needed week off this week to do some soul-searching, and there could be some major changes.
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