CFL Power Rankings 2022: Down Goes Winnipeg

Winnipeg Loses, Grey Cup Odds Remain Unchanged

Upset alert! The Montreal Alouettes walked into Winnipeg as sizable underdogs and snapped the Blue Bombers’ undefeated streak. Despite Winnipeg’s loss, the CFL Power Rankings for 2022 remain unchanged. Based on the Grey Cup outright odds, everything is almost the same as the previous week.

1. Winnipeg Blue Bombers (9-1)
2. BC Lions (7-1)
3. Calgary Stampeders (5-3)
4. Toronto Argonauts (4-4)
5. Saskatchewan Roughriders (5-4)
6. Montreal Alouettes (3-6)
7. Hamilton Tiger-Cats 3-6)
8. Ottawa Redblacks (1-7)
9. Edmonton Elks (2-7)

Every team loses at some point. The Bombers also lost to the Alouettes last season albeit with many of their starters not playing the full game. The loss at IG Field is also Winnipeg’s first at home since September 27, 2019. The team now goes on its first bye as the only team that has yet to go on one. They will remain atop the CFL standings heading to Week 12. However, another contender is catching up.

Lions Cement Status as CFL’s Second-Best

And that’s the BC Lions. The “Leos” edged Calgary via some late-game heroics to improve to 7-1 for the season. Their only loss is to Winnipeg as they further establish themselves as the second-best team in the CFL. Led by quarterback player Nathan Rourke, the Lions have the CFL’s most explosive offense. They average 36.9 points per game, which is six more than the second-placed Stampeders.

On defense, the Lions are second only to Winnipeg in points allowed per game at 21.9. They are also in the top three in turnovers-forced, sacks, and passes defended. What separates BC from Winnipeg, statistically, is the turnover differential. The Lions are +4 in this category while Winnipeg is +10. BC averages over two turnovers per game while Winnipeg only averages 1.3.

The Lions are one of only two teams along with Winnipeg to rank in the top three in both offensive and defensive categories. They face Saskatchewan, whose defense is the best at forcing turnovers, for two consecutive weeks. This will be a challenge for Rourke and the offense as they will need to better protect the ball. If they show improvements here, BC may just stay unbeaten until their rematch versus Winnipeg in Week 19.

What to Make of the East Division

The East Division just got a bit more complicated after Week 10’s results. The Hamilton Tiger-Cats beat the Toronto Argonauts to inch closer to a tie at the top while the Alouettes stunned the Blue Bombers to tie things up with Hamilton. Ottawa is coming from a bye but faces Edmonton at home this Week 11, which just got a lot more interesting.

The Argos remain a frustrating team and if we were to this 2022 CFL Power Rankings without relying on the odds, it would be confusing to rank the Eastern teams. Toronto remains consistently inconsistent. This team beats Saskatchewan for two straight weeks then hands Ottawa its first win. And against Hamilton, it looks like a world-beater for most of the game then has one abysmal quarter and loses.

The Tiger-Cats get some redemption in its comeback win against Toronto. In Week 9, they fell apart after going up 10-0. Last week, Hamilton outscored Toronto 17-3 in the fourth to even their back-to-back series. As for the Alouettes, the win over Winnipeg snapped a two-game skid.

Week 11 Preview

Week 10 did not move the Grey Cup odds but Week 11 will. Eastern matchups pit Hamilton and Montreal in a game that will break the tie on the CFL standings between the two. Toronto and Calgary both look to bounce back. A loss from either could move them down the CFL Power Rankings in 2022.

Edmonton visits Ottawa in a battle of the two worst teams in the league per the betting odds. However, a win from either could mean a glimmer of hope for the playoffs. And last but certainly not least, Saskatchewan hosts BC in what should be the “Game of the Week”. If you bet on CFL, the visiting Lions are the favorites.