CFL Week 6 Power Rankings, Grey Cup Odds: Roughriders Ride to the Top

We’re thrilled to present the return of the CFL Power Rankings for the 2024 regular season. It was a fascinating exercise in 2023 insofar as unexpected teams rose and fell as the months went along.

The rules are simple but bear repeating. First, this will be a bi-weekly affair. As such, the next edition will be on the eve of Week 8, then on the eve of Week 10 and so on and so forth.

Second, although straight-up records can influence a club’s position, so too do their efforts against the spread. In fact, given that this is a sports betting website, we’ll give the edge to the ATS tally. If the figures are very close or even equal, we reserve the right to split the difference based on statistical rankings in the major categories (points scored, points against, yards gained, etc).

Of course, don’t forget to check out our CFL odds for all your Canadian Football League action.

CFL Week 6 Power Rankings

1. Saskatchewan Roughriders (4-0, ATS: 4-0)

Stand up, Rider Nation! Despite a significant setback at the quarterback position, Saskatchewan is off to a rollicking start. Trevor Harris is, once again, out due to an injury. He was placed on a six-game injured list on June 30. In Week 5 they outduelled the Argonauts in a game that suggested perhaps this year will be different. Time will tell if Shea Patterson can guide them until late August, but so far so good. Rolan Milligan Jr. is having a heck of a campaign, with 28 total tackles and three picks.

2. Montreal Alouettes (5-0, ATS: 3-2)

Do not fret, Alouettes fans. Your team’s second-place ranking is unquestionably only due to the good but not great 3-2 ATS record. It might have been 4-1 but a wild comeback was required over the weekend at home to the Stampeders, who legitimately looked like the better team for three quarters. But a win is a win, and the defending champs are a perfect 5-0 straight up. WR Tyson Philpot is playing out of his mind, with 40 receptions for 564 yards and four scores.

3. BC Lions (4-1, ATS : 3-2)

In 2023 the Lions were pretty good, just not good enough. Will 2024 be any different? It started slow with an awful defeat in Toronto in Week, but since then BC has strung together four victories and covered the spread each time. Heading West was the best thing QB Vernon Adams Jr. ever did. He was great last season and, through five games, is lighting it up in 2024 with 1,752 yards, a 68.6 pass completion, and 11 TDS to only one interception.

4. Calgary Stampeders (2-2, ATS: 3-1)

Normally a 2-2 record wouldn’t impress many people, but Calgary is an honourable 3-1 ATS, which includes a valiant if ultimately unrewarded effort in Montreal last week. It might be baby steps, but the team appears to be heading in the right direction. We’ve argued something similar before, but this team’s MVP is kicker Rene Paredes. There are a lot of offensive drives that would have ended with goose eggs were it not for his supremely reliable foot.

5. Edmonton Elks (0-4, ATS: 3-1)

A winless team as fifth-best? Yes, essentially because they’ve covered three-quarters of their spreads. Think of it this way. If one enjoys placing bets and has been watching the CFL closely this season Edmonton is prime real estate to make money. They don’t have to win (and aren’t winning), they just need to avoid getting blown out of the sky (which they have). Although McLeod Bethel-Thompson’s TD-to-INT ratio isn’t great (seven TDs, five picks), he’s slinging it (1,225 yards).

6. Ottawa Redblacks (2-2, ATS: 2-2)

The Redblacks are second-last in points scored (21.0 per game), sixth in points allowed (28.3), second-last in yards per match (316.8) and seventh in yards conceded per tilt (377.3). Yet here they are at 2-2, both outright and ATS. Thank RB Ryquell Armstead, second in the CFL in total yards (275) despite having played a game less than many other backs. He’s also burst for seven runs for over 10 yards and another two over 20.

7. Toronto Argonauts (2-2, ATS: 1-3)

Is this a case of how the mighty have fallen? That’s probably premature. Suffice it to say that 2024 does not, so far, resemble 2023. After starting the campaign brightly with a big win over the Lions, the Argonauts followed up with a narrower win against the Elks, then bad defeats to the Alouettes and Roughriders. For our purposes, 1-3 ATS doesn’t help their cause in the slightest. QB Cameron Dukes was shell-shocked in Regina last week, getting picked off four times!

8. Winnipeg Blue Bombers (1-4, ATS: 1-4)

No, this is a case of how the mighty have fallen. If this is truly the end of the Bombers domination era (a bit early), fans will be left to wonder how in heaven’s name they couldn’t win a third Grey Cup against either the Argos or the Als. Not having Zach Collaros (injured) hurts but the drop-off is staggering: 19.8 points per game (last) and 312.8 yards per game (last). The bright spot has been DB Alexander Brandon, tied for 8^th in total defensive and special teams plays combined (28).

9. Hamilton Tiger-Cats (0-5, ATS: 0-5)

What in the world was that on Sunday night? The 44-28 home defeat to the BC Lions (including a meaningless TD scored as time expired) put the season into perspective for Ticats faithful: 2024 might be painful. No wins, no covered spreads, and deflating losses in two of their last three games. Bo Levi Mitchell is a good QB, but he’s clearly not enough to make this a good team. There are 13 games to turn this around, but Hamilton must start immediately.