POWER RANKINGS

1.

Hamilton (1)

The Tabbies surely enjoyed the bye week, watching the Alouettes stub their toes in Winnipeg. With first place wrapped up and games against Ottawa, Montreal and Toronto on tap, do the Ticats keep the pedal to the metal or put it on cruise control?

2.

Calgary (4)

Clutch catches from the unsung Hergy Mayala delivered a crucial win over the Roughriders. Though the team’s injured list is growing and it’s tough sledding ahead in a home-and-home series with Winnipeg before a trip to B.C., the Stamps are still a good bet to win the West Division.

3.

Saskatchewan (2)

The Riders’ loss in Calgary cost them a shot at first place if it comes down to a tiebreaker with the Stampeders. Ouch. They own the tiebreaker over Winnipeg and their schedule — two contests with Edmonton and one against B.C. — isn’t as tough as Calgary’s. Stay tuned.

4.

Winnipeg (6)

If that’s how they have to win, so be it. The Bombers ran for 266 yards and passed for just 174 in a victory over Montreal. QB Chris Streveler is still throwing the ball to the wrong uniform at crucial moments, so he probably should keep handing it to star running back Andrew Harris instead.

5.

Montreal (3)

QB Vernon Adams Jr. threw four interceptions in a loss to Winnipeg. If that version of Adams shows up too often down the stretch, the Als’ unlikely dream season will end badly and earlier than any of them would like. He knows he has to be much better.

6.

Edmonton (7)

The word is the Eskimos are getting QB Trevor Harris back for their homeand-home series with the Riders and he’ll freshen up a stale offence as he knocks the rust off to get ready for the crossover playoff game in Montreal, which is their most likely fate.

7.

B.C. (5)

No playoffs and now no QB Mike Reilly. That’s going to hurt attendance, which averages 17,425, well below the league mark of 23,047 and down from 19,975 last season. The Lions simply haven’t won enough to make any noise in their market.

8.

Toronto (9)

Undefeated under GM Mike Clemons, but nowhere near the playoffs, the Argos can beat up on the Redblacks again in two weeks. Oh joy. But they’re likely to take more lumps in Montreal first and finish by taking a beating in Hamilton. It’s been a tough year.

9.

Ottawa (8)

So many shortcomings, so little time left in their season to care about them. Even kicker Lewis Ward has lost the magic from last year. The Redblacks will need to be more aggressive than most other CFL teams in free agency in 2020.