Posted Wednesday, September 08, 2010 11:33 AMIt seems like these rankings get easier every week, as the gap between the top and bottom of the league continues to widen.
How did you guys do in Week 10? I ended up settling for a 1-1 split, missing with the B.C./Montreal under (the second time the Als have burned an under ticket with a meaningless TD in the final two minutes), before cashing the Tiger-Cats on Monday.
That leaves my record at 16-4 entering Week 11. Of course you can check out my CFL (along with MLB, NFL, and CFB) selections by heading over to Covers Experts.
Now let's get to this week's rankings.
1. Calgary Stampeders
Is there really any doubt? The Stamps are doing their best impression of the Alouettes when they were in their prime. The Battle of Alberta has become a complete mismatch, and we're about to see it again this week. Groan.
2. Saskatchewan Roughriders
I'm going to move the Riders ahead of the Als this week. It's time to make a statement in Winnipeg this Sunday, as the Rider need to prove they can get it done on the road. They've dropped three in a row away from home, and haven't won consecutive games since starting the season 3-0.
3. Montreal Alouettes
It's hard to evaluate this Als squad until Anthony Calvillo is given a clean bill of health. He'll miss Saturday's game in Hamilton, and so will Chris Leak (probably not a bad thing). That means it will be up to Adrian McPherson against the second-hottest team in the league.
4. Hamilton Tiger-Cats
A win on Saturday would probably move the Ti-Cats into the top three. They're firing on all cylinders right now, winning four games in a row, all against division opponents. Monday's dominating win over Toronto was exactly what they needed heading into the showdown with Montreal.
5. Toronto Argonauts
It's gut-check time for the Argos. They're no longer getting those key turnovers that helped them win five of seven games to start the season. Cleo Lemon is looking like, well, Cleo Lemon. Cory Boyd is having a tough time finding any room to move. I really feel that the game against B.C. represents the turning point in their season.
6. B.C. Lions
I'll rank the Lions ahead of the Bombers and Eskimos, only because I believe they have more talent on their roster. Montreal handed them a win last Friday. Now we'll see if they can pick up consecutive victories for the first time this season. Remember, they would have beaten the Argos in Toronto back in July were it not for a pick-six in the final minutes.
7. Winnipeg Blue Bombers
At least the Bombers know that Steven Jyles is going to be their man for the rest of the season. Having Buck Pierce in and out of the lineup just wasn't working. As bad as they've looked, Sunday's game at home against Saskatchewan is winnable in my opinion.
8. Edmonton Eskimos
It's easy to forget that the Eskimos did beat the Riders two weeks ago. Still, there's no excuse for giving up 50+ in back-to-back matchups with your biggest rival. Edmonton has more work to do than any team in the league, and now they have a short week to prepare for another meeting with the Stamps. This could get ugly.
I'm sure you guys have differing opinions on how the CFL shakes down at this point of the season. I would love to hear them.
Best of luck this week.
I'll admit, I was foolish enough to take the points with the B.C. Lions against the Calgary Stampeders on Friday night. Perhaps I was blind to the fact that their problems run even deeper than their ugly 1-7 record.
The loss dropped my record to 15-3 on the season over at Covers Experts. As always, I have to make my one shameless plug.
It's a scary prospect for a CFL team to lack a legitimate passing threat. The Lions have tried three different QBs this season in Casey Printers, Travis Lulay, and Jarious Jackson. The trio have taken turn representing various shades of awful each week.
On Friday, Printers made a couple of big completions in the first half, but both came as a result of desperation heaves that likely should have been picked off. His offensive line didn't do him any favors, but at this level, you have to overcome and make plays, especially when you're as athletic as Printers. He wasn't able to do that, in fact, he wasn't able to do much of anything, at one point missing on nine of 10 passes.
Now to my next point; has Wally Buono worn out his welcome in B.C.?
I think the answer has to be yes on all accounts. Is there a more clueless looking head coach roaming the sidelines in the CFL today? Eskimos boss Richie Hall gives him a run for his money, but at least he's showing some emotion, and sounds like a guy that believes his team can get better. Buono's body language indicates that he's all but given up on the season. His players seem to be emulating that attitude.
I'm not sure the oddsmakers can set the line high enough when the Lions travel to Montreal to take on the Alouettes next Friday. We should see a number in the neighborhood of two touchdowns I would guess, depending on whether Anthony Calvillo is able to suit up.
Does anyone think there's a light at the end of the tunnel for the Lions this season, or have they yet to hit rock bottom?
Bye weeks in the NFL are one thing; we lose a couple of games from the schedule, no big deal.
But when it comes to the CFL, we see the schedule get cut in half. Thankfully that two-week stretch comes to an end this week before the action ramps up again with four matchups on Labor Day weekend.
Week 8 was an uneventful one for me, as I settled for a 'push' with the under in the Bombers-Alouettes matchup. That was a bit of a tough one, as the Als scored a meaningless touchdown with under two minutes remaining, after it appeared they had been stopped on third down a few plays earlier. A curious unnecessary roughness penalty was called on Winnipeg, extending the drive, and ultimately keeping money out of my pocket.
Still, I can't complain about a 15-2-1 start to the season. You can check out my CFL plays each week. Just head over to my page at Covers Experts.
Enough rambling, let's get to this week's rankings.
1. Calgary Stampeders
The Stamps enjoyed their week off, and stand pat at the top of my rankings. They'll get back to work this Friday in B.C., and something tells me they'll be in for a tougher test than they faced back on August 7th. Calgary enters Week 9 with an impressive 6-1 SU and 5-2 ATS record.
2. Montreal Alouettes
The Als were forced to go without starting RB Avon Cobourne last week, but still churned out 127 yards on the ground thanks to a big game from Brandon Whitaker. They lost Anthony Calvillo to a chest injury in that game, but fortunately, they have a bye this week, and could get him back for September 3rd's date with the Lions.
3. Saskatchewan Roughriders
The Riders were considered to be the class of the CFL earlier this season, but they've become somewhat of a forgotten team in recent weeks. They've split their last four contests, but have managed to go 3-1 ATS over that stretch. They'll have ample opportunity to make a statement this week as they travel to Edmonton to face the lowly Eskimos.
4. Hamilton Tiger-Cats
The Ti-Cats still trail the Argos for second place in the East Division, but as far as I'm concerned, they're the superior team right now. Hamilton is suddenly one of the hottest teams in the league, having won three consecutive games both SU and ATS. They managed to sweep a tough back-to-back road set in Winnipeg and Toronto, and will get the Argos again at home on Labor Day.
5. Toronto Argonauts
The Argos peaked in their 37-22 romp over Montreal two weeks ago, but couldn't build on that positive momentum, dropping a tough one to the Ti-Cats last week. They'll get a chance to regroup during their bye week, before heading out on the road for back-to-back games in Hamilton and B.C. We should find out a lot about Jim Barker's squad in those two tilts.
6. Winnipeg Blue Bombers
With Buck Pierce sidelined indefinitely, the Bombers are in disarray. Steven Jyles has done an admirable job filling in this season, but he lacks consistency, as we saw last Thursday in Montreal. Perhaps even more important than injuries to Pierce and WR Terence Jeffers-Harris, are the losses on the defensive side of the ball. The Bombers have allowed 107 points over their last three games.
7. Edmonton Eskimos
Number seven and eight are interchangeable really. The Lions have been every bit as bad as the Eskimos this season, it's a case of what have you done for me lately, and Edmonton edged out B.C. in their most recent matchup on July 30th. The Eskimos are in a big-time bounce back spot this week as they host the Riders after that embarrassing 56-15 loss in Calgary prior to their bye week.
8. B.C. Lions
The QB carousel continues to turn in B.C. Casey Printers is now listed as probable for this week's game, and could even get the starting nod. I'm not sure it matters who Wally Buono goes with, as his offense has been dreadful, currently ranked 7th in the league in total yardage and dead last in points scored. At least their defense has gotten healthy following the bye week. It's desperation time at Empire Field this Friday.
Do you agree with these rankings? If not, be sure to let me know in the comments section below. Best of luck this week.
Things essentially went according to plan in Week 5, as the home teams were victorious in all four games, and not a single underdog won outright.
I finished with a 3-1 ledger in Week 5, extending my record to 11-1 on the season. You can check out this week's plays by heading over to Covers Experts.
Enough shameless promotion, let's get to the Week 6 rankings.
1. Montreal Alouettes
There's no reason to knock the Als from top spot after they rolled past the Argos last Thursday. There's no question, Montreal is the class of the East, and as far as I'm concerned, the entire league. The Als offense got rolling in the fourth quarter against Hamilton two weeks ago, and that carried over into last week's rout. Now they'll look to complete a perfect homestand with a win over the Roughriders on Friday.
2. Calgary Stampeders
The Stamps easily move past the Roughriders for second spot on this week's list. It's amazing what they've accomplished so far this season when you consider that RB Joffrey Reynolds has yet to get rolling. Henry Burris has put his turnover issues behind him, and has found the end zone eight times in the last three games. Defensively, the Stamps are the best in the West, hands down.
3. Saskatchewan Roughriders
The Riders kept pace with the Stamps last week, cruising to a 37-24 win over Hamilton, but that victory wasn't quite as lopsided as the final score indicated. The Ti-Cats actually outgained the Riders by 120 yards, and carried a lead into halftime. As I mentioned last week, Saskatchewan still has a lot of work to do on the defensive side of the ball if it wants to be considered an elite CFL team. A big test awaits in Montreal this week.
4. Winnipeg Blue Bombers
Even with Buck Pierce sidelined, the Blue Bombers continue to play competitive football. Their defense has been outstanding, particularly in the last two weeks, allowing just 44 points against the Eskimos and Stampeders. Steven Jyles has been serviceable in place of Pierce, and he should only get better with a third straight start on Saturday in Hamilton.
5. Toronto Argonauts
If you told Argos head coach Jim Barker prior to the season that his team would be 3-2 after five weeks of the season, he probably would have been ecstatic. That doesn't mean that last Thursday's 41-10 loss in Montreal didn't sting a little. I was high on Cleo Lemon earlier in the season, but now I'm not so sure. He's got a solid group of receivers to work with, but he doesn't seem to be progressing all that well. If the Argos are going to continue to be successful, their defense is going to have to lead the way. No surprise there.
6. Hamilton Tiger-Cats
Kevin Glenn continues to impress, having already thrown for over 1,500
yards and eight touchdowns this season. His wide receiving corps has
been second to none as well. The problem for Hamilton right now is its
defense. Since holding the Blue Bombers to seven points three weeks ago,
the Ti-Cats have been ripped for 37 points in back-to-back games.
Perhaps a return home will help, where they've allowed only 30 points in
two games this season.
7. Edmonton Eskimos
The Eskimos are much better than their 1-4 record indicates. Last week's narrow win over B.C. will certainly give them a much-needed boost of confidence, but will it be enough to carry them to a second consecutive victory this week? A lot of folks have knocked Ricky Ray this season, but the fact is, he's thrown for nearly 1,500 yards and completed 68% of his passes. If he can cut down on the number of turnovers, this offense could take off.
8. B.C. Lions
The Lions are an absolute mess right now. We've seen poor decision-making from head coach Wally Buono, but they've also been plagued by poor execution on the field. The Lions offense was built for Casey Printers, so it's no real surprise that Travis Lulay has struggled. This is a banged up team on both sides of the football heading into a critical home game against Calgary on Saturday. B.C. is still looking for its first victory at Empire Field.
Is it just me, or does the CFL have renewed life here in 2010?
The storylines seem a lot more intriguing, we've seen plenty of thrilling finishes, and we're only entering the fifth week of the season.
I'll admit, posting a perfect 8-0 record through the first four weeks of the season might have a little something to do with my excitement level.
I thought this would be a good time to rank the league's eight teams from top to bottom on the eve of Week number five.
1. Montreal Alouettes
We still haven't seen the Alouettes play their best football, yet they're tied for the best record in the league at 3-1, with their only blemish coming in a narrow three-point OT loss in Saskatchewan back in Week 1. Credit the Als for enduring three consecutive road games to start the season, and now they're enjoying a stretch of three straight games at home.
2. Saskatchewan Roughriders
I'll probably take some heat for ranking the Riders behind the Als, but hear me out. Saskatchewan actually trailed still-winless Edmonton entering the fourth quarter two weeks ago, and then got throttled in the second half in Calgary last Saturday. The combo of Durant and Cates is formidable, but the Riders defense still has some holes.
3. Calgary Stampeders
Give the Stamps credit for rebounding from that disheartening loss in Toronto two weeks ago. Their 40-20 drubbing of Saskatchewan proved that they can hang with the big boys and certainly silenced a lot of their critics. Henry Burris has had a tough time so far, but we saw what he's capable of last Saturday. He'll settle down, and their defense will continue to improve. Expect the Stamps and Riders to be in a dog fight in the West all season.
4. Toronto Argonauts
Who would have thought the Argos would be tied for the best record in the CFL four weeks into the season? Most were expecting the worst from the Boatmen, but they've taken advantage of every break that has come their way, and have made a few for themselves. Cleo Lemon is only going to get more comfortable in this offense, but the defense can't continue to live and die by the turnover.
5. Hamilton Tiger-Cats
It's safe to say the Ti-Cats are going to be in for an up and down year. They've got enough talent to pull a few upsets along the way, but they're also going to lose their share of winnable games. I feel like they're relying a little too heavily on Kevin Glenn right now. As we saw last week, the better defenses in the league will be able to shut him down.
6. Winnipeg Blue Bombers
The Bombers have looked dominant on a couple of occasions this season, but I can't say that I love the make-up of this team. Buck Pierce is expected to be ready to return this week, but it sounds as if they're actually considering giving Steven Jyles his second straight start. He's certainly more of a running threat, but there's a reason he's with his third team since breaking into the league in 2006. Look for the Bombers to return to Earth in Calgary this week.
7. B.C. Lions
I'm not convinced that the Lions are superior to the Edmonton Eskimos, but at least they have a win (against Edmonton no less), so I'll give them the benefit of the doubt this week. I'm not a big fan of Wally Buono at this stage of his coaching career, and I'm not convinced that Travis Lulay is the answer at quarterback. The Lions were banking on a big year from Casey Printers, and now that he's sidelined, they seem to be lacking an identity.
8. Edmonton Eskimos
A win would do wonders for the Eskimos right now, but earning one is easier said than done. Some are saying this is the best 0-4 team in CFL history. I wouldn't go that far. I will point out that they led both the Roughriders and Alouettes entering the fourth quarter in consecutive weeks so the talent is there. Things can only get better from here, right?
Sean Murphy is part of the Professional Sports Handicapping team at Covers Experts. Vist Sean Murphy's page to see a complete list of all his available action.