CFL Power Rankings, Grey Cup Odds: Toronto Argonauts Grab Number One

It’s time for another edition of the CFL Power rankings. With two more weeks of action in the books, things are slowly taking shape in the Canadian Football League. Remember, win-loss records and stats count, but so do performances against the spread.

All data as of Monday, July 10.

Be sure to check out our CFL odds for plenty more action.

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

The only quibble about the top ranked Toronto Argonauts is that they have played the least amount of game. For some reason through five weeks Toronto has already benefited from two byes. Even so, undefeated is undefeated and the third victory was a thumping of the Lions, who at the time were considered the best team in the league.

What impresses most – again, only three games – is that they score almost twice as many points as they concede. They don’t just win, they put the beatdown on opponents. The defence is doing tons of damage, which it’s had to as Chad Kelly has thrown only two touchdowns to two interceptions.

2. BC Lions (4-1, spread: 4-1)

The team in first place two weeks ago gets bumped to second place. Then again, their only defeat came against the Argos and they were clearly the second team on the field that night. The blip that was Week 4 for Vernon Adams Jr. already feels like a distant memory. He leads the league with 1,532 passing yards and is tied for first with nine TDs.

On the other side of the ball, Mathieu Betts is tearing up the field and giving opposing quarterbacks nightmares with his nine sacks. The contest two weeks ago in Toronto really felt like an anomaly. Other than that game, they’ve looked like a genuine contender. Just recently in Week 5 they essentially made mincemeat of the Alouettes, who themselves needed a bounce back game.

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

There is something about Winnipeg this season. Granted, they’ll take 4-1. It puts them in prime position to challenge for the West. Therein lies the catch. Challenging for the West. Unlike in years past, even if the Bombers claim top spot and home field in the playoffs, it doesn’t look as though they’ll run away with it. They’re involved in fairly close games this season too. The 24-11 win over Calgary in Week 5 is a final score that looks more convincing than it really was.

Dalton Shoen is challenging for top spot in receiving yards, Willie Jefferson is second in sacks (six), and Zach Collaros is second in passing yards. All good numbers, all second best. This year might be more difficult, albeit for a talented squad already replete with championship experience.

4. Saskatchewan Roughriders (3-1, spread: 2-2)

There is a lot operating in the Roughriders’ favour and a few less impressive indicators that stand out. As such, they land in fourth place. Not bad at all, but not great. Their only defeat of the campaign came against the Blue Bombers. No shame in that. They’ve played a horribly discombobulated Elks team twice and won … by a combined five points.

So who are the Saskatchewan Roughriders? A team that’s going to challenge for a playoff spot or a club just getting by that will benefit from games against the Elks, Redblacks, and Tiger-Cats? They have a nice trio of receivers in Shawn Bane Jr., Trevin Jones, and Samuel Emilus, all of whom have tallied or are flirting with 250 total yards receiving.

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

Montreal drops a few spots to fifth. What a difference a fortnight can make, especially in the CFL. A pitiful display on a rainy Canada Day followed by a meek showing in Vancouver in Week 5 against the Lions. Suddenly, a club that was 2-0 and feeling decent about itself is 2-2 and has a lot of questions to answer.

Scoring a big problem in Montreal. The Cody Fajardo experiment has not gotten off to a brilliant start even though he’s thrown for over 1,100 yards already. This team simply can’t punch it into the end zone. Too many field goals, not enough touchdowns. On the flip side, one could argue they have one of the best defences in the CFL, having conceded only 76 points in four games.

6. Calgary Stampeders (1-3, spread: 1-3)

From this point onwards things get a bit rough. Why should the Stampeders be considered the best of the teams with losing records? Honestly, even though they haven’t won much, the truth is they keep their games close. They gave Winnipeg a good run for its money last week before falling off in the fourth quarter and lost a heartbreaker the week before to Saskatchewan.

Losing is still losing, but the team is competitive. Micah Awe still leads the CFL with 37 tackles, averaging almost 10 per game, a crazy figure.

7. Hamilton Tiger-Cats (1-3, spread: 1-3)

The difference between the seventh ranked squad and the eighth ranked squad is twofold. First, the Tiger-Cats defeated the RedBlacks in Week 5. Second, and this is unfornate, but Ottawa is dealing with problems we’ll get to in a moment. Not that things are rosy in hammer town. They’re doing their best with Matthew Shiltz under centre, although the offence at times looks a lot like Montreal’s – they can get yards but don’t score majors often enough. WR Duke Williams was a little quiet in Week 5, but he’s still tallied over 300 yards receiving so far.

8. Ottawa RedBlacks (1-3, spread: 1-3)

The Ottawa RedBlacks are not allowed to have nice things happen to them. Not only did they lose to Hamilton in Week 5 – a team that had been winless – but they lost, again, starting quarterback Jeremiah Masoli. What is the nature of the lower body injury and how long he’ll be out, Ottawa has been mum about. But things are looking bad in the nation’s capital.

Browse the major offensive statistical categories and there is one player in the CFL top 10. It’s running back De’Montre Tuggle in eighth place with 176 yards on the ground through four games. It’s a bit more difficult to play against their defence, to be fair. Both Lorenzo Mauldin IV and Douglas Coleman III have a trio of sacks.

9. Edmonton Elks (0-5, spread: 0-5)

They were so close in Week 5. So close and yet, given the manner in which they fell to Saskatchewan, they are clearly very far from success. Was CJ Sims’ situational football wonky? Did he forget about the rouge? In either case, that’s not good playmaking and not good coaching.

And so here are the Elks at 0-5, sadly deservedly so. If Toronto impresses for scoring almost twice as many points as they give up, guess what the opposite of that is. And that’s despite losing twice to the Roughriders by a combined five points. Head coach Chris Jones has a lot of work to do.