We are now officially past Labour Day. With the Classics in the books, it’s now time to venture into the part of the campaign one might compare to the NFL post-U.S. Thanksgiving. There are no more dog days of summer. A faint freshness hangs in the air. The tensions are heightened. Things are about to get real.

Before we begin with the latest edition, don’t forget to check out our CFL odds for all your Canadian Football League action.

1. Montreal Alouettes (10-1, ATS: 7-4, +150 to win Grey Cup)

Rarely does the team who enjoyed a bye between Power Rankings editions get to stay in the same spot. However, at 10-1 straight up and a with relatively healthy 7-4 record against the spread, there isn’t much of an argument against putting the Alouettes here. Worse – for the rest of the CFL, that is – QB Cody Fajardo is healthy and the receiver corps has Austin Mack back.

2. Ottawa Redblacks (7-3-1, ATS: 7-4, +700 to win Grey Cup)

The trickiness of this edition begins right now. We all saw Saturday’s game in Victoria, B.C. The Redblacks were blown to smithereens 38-12. But they’re still a strong team overall, can win with either Dru Brown or Jeremiah Masoli under centre, and are a respectable 7-4 ATS. More results like Week 13’s are not permissible, but we don’t mind giving the Redblacks the benefit of the doubt for another fortnight.

3. Edmonton Elks (4-8, ATS: 4-8, +5500 to win Grey Cup)

If you thought keeping Ottawa in second place after the shellacking they suffered on Saturday is odd, how about a 4-8 Edmonton Elks squad in third? There are two main reasons for this. First, they’ve gone from the worst team in the CFL to a respectable side, winning four of the last five outings. Second, they’re an incredible 8-4 ATS and this is a sports betting website. That has to count for something. Jarious Jackson is coaching the Elks up these days, no doubt about it.

4. Winnipeg Blue Bombers (6-6, ATS: 4-8, +550 to win Grey Cup)

The surprises keep rolling. A team with a 4-8 ATS tally in fourth place! There is more explaining to do here. Regarding the spread, Winnipeg has covered three of its last four opportunities so they’re doing something right for betters. Furthermore, this team was 2-5 at one point and now it’s 6-6 and in first place in the West.  How about secret weapon QB Chris Streveler, who has rushed for nine TDs so far? They may need him more than they care to admit after the hit Zach Collaros took last weekend.

5. BC Lions (6-6, ATS: 5-7, +300 to win Grey Cup)

Lions faithful can breathe a sigh of relief. Their team won a game, won it easily, and Nathan Rourke looked awesome. Given that Rourke is looking like his old self again and Vernon Adams Jr. is close to coming back to action, this is a nicely competitive quarterback room to have. If they can rekindle the magic of June and early July, the Lions can potentially roar their way back to being one of the tougher sides in the CFL. There’s plenty of football left to play.

6. Saskatchewan Roughriders (5-6-1, ATS: 7-5, +1500 to win Grey Cup)

This isn’t looking very good. The Roughriders are experiencing the opposite of what the Blue Bombers are. Lo and behold, they lost to them at home on Labour Day weekend and now head to Manitoba for the Banjo Bowl. A loss on Saturday will deal a heavy blow to their confidence and their capacity to stay afloat in the West. One bright spot is WR Samuel Emilus, second in the CFL with 65 receptions.

7. Calgary Stampeders (4-7, ATS: 6-5, +6000 to win Grey Cup)

This ranking is not controversial. Do not be fooled by the slightly above .500 record versus the spread. Calgary hasn’t covered three weeks in a row and only once in its last five. The Labour Day Monday beatdown suffered at home at the hands of their provincial rivals didn’t do them any favours either. Edmonton was supposed to be a laughing stock this season, but Calgary looked incompetent in Week 13. Four interceptions by Jake Maier. Ouch.

8. Toronto Argonauts (6-5, ATS: 4-7, +650 to Win Grey Cup)

Maybe Argonauts fans won’t like seeing their team ranked next-to-last. First and foremost, they aren’t good against the spread this season. There are no two ways about that. Second, their most recent victory was on a patently bizarre rouge via a missed field goal as time expired. Third, they fell on Labour Day against the last team they’re supposed to lose to. Maybe QB Chad Kelly, like Rourke in BC, needs a few weeks to find a rhythm.

9. Hamilton Tiger-Cats (3-9, ATS: 4-8, +11000 to win Grey Cup)

Congratulations, Tiger-Cats. You made Labour Day miserable for archrivals the Toronto Argonauts. It was a solid performance on a beautiful September afternoon. That’s about as many plaudits as we can award Hamilton. They’re 3-9 straight up and 4-8 ATS. What’s more, they almost lost Monday’s game after claiming a 21-3 lead. This is a fragile team and often looks like it on the field. They’ll have to dig deep to avoid what feels like imminent mathematical elimination from the postseason.