CFL Power Rankings, Grey Cup Odds: BC Lions Roar to Top

Hello, dear readers. This is the first edition of Sports Interaction’s CFL Power Rankings. Like with the MLB version, this exercise will be bi-weekly.

For those who don’t follow baseball, it’s extremely important to note that this isn’t any ordinary ranking. Of course, wins and losses matter, as do seasonal stats, but this being a sportsbook, results against the spread carry weight as well.

Before we forget, check out our CFL odds for all your Canadian Football League action.

And now, without further ado…

CFL Power Rankings

All data was collected prior to Week 4’s action.

1. BC Lions (3-0, spread: 3-0)

How could the BC Lions not be the number one team? At this stage in the 2023 season, they are doing everything a better can ask for. They win their games and cover all their spreads. Through three weeks they have the single-best defence in the CFL, having conceded only 21 points (Montreal is second with 24 points). They plastered the Blue Bombers’ offence in Week 3 and that was in Winnipeg. BC has also scored the second-most points. QB Vernon Adams Jr. and WR Dominique Rhymes are in sweet synchronicity, having connected for three TDs already.

2. Montreal Alouettes (2-0, spread: 2-0)

Jason Maas’ Als earn the second-best ranking. They’ve only played two games, but the defensive play was so emphatic both times that they certainly give the impression that they could be on the level with BC. Two caveats. First, Montreal has played twice to BC’s three challenges. Second, the Alouettes have not faced a juggernaut yet. WR Austin Mack is quickly making a name for himself, having already caught for over 200 total yards.

3. Toronto Argonauts (2-0, spread: 2-0)

Third place was either for the Argonauts or the Blue Bombers, but the latter got punched in the mouth at home last week. Similar comments to those about Montreal concern Toronto. They haven’t played as many games as other clubs and the opposition has been relatively light. Both are true. Even so, the Argos passed both tests with flying colours. It’s a bit too early in the season to let teams with losses rank higher than undefeated clubs. It remains to be seen if RB A.J. Ouellette can operate at the level he did in Week 3 against Edmonton (three TDs) but it was a heck of a game.

4. Winnipeg Blue Bombers (2-1, spread: 2-1)

It’s tempting to place the Roughriders here for what they did in Week 3, whereas the Blue Bombers got burned at home, but statistically overall this is the superior outfit. They have the best offence in the CFL. Zach Collaros is still a QB who most have tremendous faith in and will rise again. What’s a bit worrisome is how they’ve given up 88 points through three bouts. Sometimes it’s the defence, sometimes special teams, and sometimes awful turnovers committed by the offence. It doesn’t look as clean an operation as in 2022.

5. Saskatchewan Roughriders (2-1, spread: 2-1)

Yes, Rider Nation. We hear you. Your boys went into Calgary for Week 3 and pulled out a pleasant overtime win against a bitter rival. Make no mistake about it, the victory was fully deserved. On the flip side, the team is 2-1 yet has given up 11 more points than its scored (73 for, 84 against). It’s evidently not all roses in Regina. That said, QB Trevor Harris leads the CFL with 867 yards, and RB Jamal Morrow leads the league with 233 yards.

6. Calgary Stampeders (1-2, spread: 1-2)

It’s only three weeks, but 2023 is looking strangely like 2022. This team just can’t perform up to par at home. Should they fail to play consistent football, their chances of challenging in the West will be greatly hampered, to say nothing of the fact that now Saskatchewan has to be dealt with this year too. Micah Awe is the defensive leader with 27 tackles so far.

7. Ottawa Redblacks (0-2, spread: 0-2)

The bottom three are winless teams. Ottawa gets preferential treatment for having only played two games. Plus, their third game is against a team arguably worse than them (Edmonton), so this could change come Friday night. But winless is still winless. Before anyone has an issue with us stating that Ottawa has the worst offence but has only played twice, so has Montreal and they’ve scored 30 more points. And the Als beat them. Will it be Tyrie Adams to the rescue?

8. Hamilton Tiger-Cats (0-3, spread: 0-3)

We had to dig a little deeper for this one. Hamilton hasn’t won. They looked pitiful in their home opener against Montreal in Week 3. However, statistically, they are not rock bottom in some categories. Seventh in points per game (19.0), fourth in total yards per game (258.3), and fifth in passing yards per game (274.7). None of those are great, but trust us, something worse is coming right up. The bright spot here is WR Duke Williams, who leads the CFL with 260 yards.

9. Edmonton Elks (0-3, spread: 0-3)

The more things change, the more they stay the same. The worst part is that at halftime in Week 3 at home to the Argonauts, it was an 18-17 game. It was right there for the taking. And then Edmonton got obliterated 25-0 in the second half before scoring two meaningless TDs late to make the final score look somewhat respectable. They’re no higher than seventh in any of the four major offensive categories: points per game (eighth), total yards per game (ninth), passing yards per game (ninth), or rushing yards per game (seventh).  Nyles Morgan has been a busy man, tallying 20 tackles so far.