The Calgary Stampeders remained at the top of the power rankings as they won again to move their record to 11-1-1. It wasn’t their most impressive win of the season but they still collected a 15-9 win in Saskatchewan, handing the Roughriders just their second home loss of the season. This week, the Stamps get a bit of a freebie as they’ll host the Montreal Alouettes, who are tied for the fewest wins in the CFL (3). The Als have yet to win on the road (0-6) and the Stamps have yet to lose at home (6-0), which is why we see Calgary posted as a 17.5-point favorite. Now let’s take a closer look at this week’s CFL power rankings.
1. Calgary Stampeders
Last Week: 1
Grey Cup Championship Odds: +140
The Stampeders (11-1-1) clinched a spot in the playoffs and won their ninth game in a ro with a 15-9 win over Saskatchewan on the road. Bo Levi Mitchell was 24-of-32 for 222 yards, while Jerome Messam ran 23 times for 127 yards for the Stampeders, who had five sacks and forced three turnovers on the defensive side of the ball. The Stampeders are looking to lock up the top seed in the playoffs as they host Montreal on Friday; the Alouettes are the only team to beat Calgary this season.
2. Winnipeg Blue Bombers
Last Week: 2
Grey Cup Championship Odds: +350
The Blue Bombers (9-3-0) were up 16-2 by halftime and rolled to a 29-9 victory at home against Ottawa as Matt Nichols was 23-of-33 for 319 yards and a pair of touchdowns, while Andrew Harris had 11 carries for 83 yards and a score on the ground and he also caught six passes for 49 yards. The Blue Bombers are still five points behind Calgary in the West division and four points in front of Edmonton as they visit the Eskimos on Saturday.
3. Edmonton Eskimos
Last Week: 3
Grey Cup Championship Odds: +400
The Eskimos (7-5-0) had a bye last week and it couldn’t have come at a better time as they have lost five in a row after starting out the season on a red-hot winning streak of seven games. A lot of things have gone wrong for the season to go south for the Eskimos, but they’re not out of it yet and a win at home over Winnipeg on Saturday would go a long way towards getting them to the playoffs.
4. Toronto Argonauts
Last Week: 7
Grey Cup Championship Odds: +900
The Argonauts (6-7-0) got a big game from James Wilder in a 33-19 win over Montreal at home as he ran 10 times for 141 yards and a touchdown, and then he caught six passes for 77 yards. Ricky Ray was 18-of-24 for 182 yards and a touchdown for the Argonauts, who had no turnovers and forced three, and they also had four sacks. It might have been Toronto’s best game of the season and it put them in first place in the East division as they head to Hamilton on Saturday night.
5. Ottawa RedBlacks
Last Week: 6
Grey Cup Championship Odds: +1000
The RedBlacks (5-8-1) are a point behind Toronto in the East after their loss in Winnipeg, and Ryan Lindley looked like a quarterback making his first start in the CFL as Trevor Harris and Drew Tate are both injured. Lindley went 16-of-36 for 151 yards and a pick for the RedBlacks, although William Powell had 14 carries for 107 yards and a score. The RedBlacks wanted to run the ball, but they got down early and it was downhill from there, but they’re still in the hunt in the East as they get ready to host Saskatchewan on Friday night to kick off the Week 15 schedule.
6. Saskatchewan Roughriders
Last Week: 5
Grey Cup Championship Odds: +1800
The Roughriders (6-6-0) fell just short in their punishing win against Calgary at home, in which Kevin Glenn was 12-of-19 for 127 yards and a pick, but then had to be replaced by Brandon Bridge due to a hand injury. Bridge was 6-of-7 for 91 yards and a touchdown to keep the Roughriders in it, but now they’re fourth in the West, although they are still on track to get to the postseason due to the crossover rule of having more points than Hamilton right now. Still, a win in Ottawa on Friday night would really help their cause a lot.
7. British Columbia Lions
Last Week: 4
Grey Cup Championship Odds: +1800
The Lions (6-7-0) might end up looking back at their 24-23 loss to Hamilton at home as the game in which they sunk their playoff hopes as they’re in last place in the West and even though they’re level with Saskatchewan on 12 points, the Roughridgers have a game in hand. Jonathon Jennings was 22-of-33 for 345 yards through the air, then he ran for 34 yards on four carries while Jeremiah Johnson ran 14 times for 91 yards for the Lions. These are the games that you have to win if you’re going to get through to the postseason and the Lions threw it away, and now they have a week to think about it as they have a bye.
8. Hamilton Tiger-Cats
Last Week: 9
Grey Cup Championship Odds: +2200
On the other hand, the Tiger-Cats (3-9-0) are now in a race for the playoffs after that win and if they were to catch up with the fourth-place team in the West, it would be a minor miracle considering how awful they were to start the season. Jeremiah Masoli was 23-of-35 for 226 yards and a pair of touchdowns, while Alex Green ran 13 times for 140 yards for the Tiger-Cats, and Sergio Castillo kicked a 49-yard field goal with 10 seconds left to give Hamilton the win. The Tiger-Cats now host Toronto on Saturday night and they’re only five points out of first place in the East.
9. Montreal Alouettes
Last Week: 8
Grey Cup Championship Odds: +5000
The Alouettes (3-10-0) are now in last place in the East after their loss in Toronto as Darian Durant had a rough game, going 25-of-38 for 231 yards and three interceptions. Tyrell Sutton ran 15 times for 105 yards and a score for the Alouettes, but the turnovers were too much to overcome and there are definitely questions at quarterback. The Alouettes now have to head west on Friday to Calgary and the Stampeders will be coming into this game with revenge on their minds.
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