Week 3 CFL Power Rankings

[Qbins Missile Crisis]

CFL Football Betting – Week 3 Power Poll

1: Saskatchewan Roughriders (2-0/1-0) (2-0 ATS) (LW: 2) The defending Grey Cup champions move up to the top spot in the football wagering CFL power poll after marching into BC Place and knocking off the Lions. The 26-16 victory proved to be an upset, as the Lions were six-point home choices. The offences never threatened the ‘total’ of 51, marking the second straight under for the Riders on the season. The win came with a price though, as starting QB Marcus Crandell, DB Leron Mitchell, and WR DJ Flick all could miss substantial time due to injuries suffered in the game. QB Darian Durant will make his first career CFL start when Saskatchewan travels east to take on the Ti-Cats in Ivor-Wynne.

Next up: Away @ Hamilton (1-1)

2: Montreal Alouettes (2-0/1-0) (2-0 ATS) (LW: 5) For a team that sportsbooks tabbed to win only six games on the season, the Alouettes have come out of the gates with their guns blazing. After a sound 33-10 victory in Hamilton in Week 1, Montreal opened up their home schedule against the highly touted Blue Bombers on Friday night. Not only did the Als knock off the Bombers, they beat them 38-24, making a mockery of the fact that they were one-point home underdogs. The combined 62-points shattered the closing ‘total’ of 45.5. QB Anthony Calvillo has thrown for a league-best six touchdown passes, and leads the best offence in the CFL at 510.0 yards per game. Montreal takes on three straight Western Division teams in the coming weeks, beginning with what should be an offensive showcase against the Stampeders.

Next up: Home vs. Calgary (1-1)

3: Toronto Argonauts (1-1/0-1) (1-1 ATS) (LW: 1) Oddsmakers opened up CFL online betting last Monday by tabbing the Argos 10.5-point favorites over the Tiger-Cats. There was a reason why the line dipped below double-digits as not only did Toronto fail to cover the 10-point closing spread, but they lost SU as a -500 favorite. The team never looked in sync, only scoring 13 points against a defence that surrendered 33 in Week 1 to Montreal. We’ll give Toronto the benefit of the doubt for overlooking the perennially bad Ti-Cats, but anything less than a split in their upcoming two game set with Edmonton will cause the Argos to fall off of the radar and towards the bottom of the poll.

Next up: Away @ Edmonton (1-1)

4: Hamilton Tiger-Cats (1-1/1-0) (1-1 ATS) (LW: 8) There may not be a bigger statistical upset in a CFL game this season than when the Tiger-Cats marched into Toronto and knocked off the beasts of the East by the count of 32-13. The 10-point spread makes them the biggest underdog of the young season to win outright, and also marks the first time Hamilton has won a game outside of Ivor-Wynne Stadium since 2006. The 43.5-point ‘total’ set by the oddsmakers resulted in a narrow victory for over bettors. Hamilton catches a break this weekend, taking on a Saskatchewan team that might be at the top of the poll, but is without its starting quarterback.

Next up: Home vs. Saskatchewan (2-0)

5: Calgary Stampeders (1-1/0-1) (1-1 ATS) (LW: 3) Round 1 of the “Battle of Alberta” went to Edmonton in Week 2 action. The 2.5-point chalk Stampeders found themselves on the short end of both the scoreboard and betting action. The Eskimos upset Calgary 34-31 in the CFL’s highest scoring game of the young season. The Stamps showed some promise, fighting back after finding themselves in an early 21-7 hole to take the lead late in the 4th. however, the suspect defence caved in the closing moments, surrendering a late touchdown to send them to the narrow defeat. With a cross-country road trip to McGill Stadium on the horizon, Calgary could fall even lower in the poll next week.

Next up: Away @ Montreal (2-0)

6: Edmonton Eskimos (1-1/1-0) (1-1 ATS) (LW: 7) It was a long seven-game losing streak for the green and gold, but the Eskimos found themselves breaking into the win column with their 34-31 come-from-behind victory over their rivals from Calgary in Week 2 CFL wagering action. For a team that was ahead by two touchdowns at halftime and nine points late in the third quarter, needing a touchdown with 0:55 remaining to win leaves room for skepticism. That is why the Eskies only move up one spot this week. Despite a ‘W’ ATS against Calgary, they will likely face their first test as favorites in 2008 when they host Toronto in Week 3.

Next up: Home vs. Toronto (1-1)

7: British Columbia Lions (0-2/0-1) (0-2 ATS) (LW: 4) All signs pointed to an easy victory for the BC Lions in Week 2 CFL action. They were at home, where they are 22-5 SU the L/3 years and they knocked Saskatchewan QB Marcus Crandell out in the first half. However, even as six-point home favorites, the Lions suffered a 26-16 outright defeat. For the second time this year, BC has failed to cover the spread or reach the ‘total’ for the game. Only Toronto has a worse offence, and there is clearly a QB controversy between Jarious Jackson and Buck Pierce that is making things difficult for HC Wally Buono.

Next up: Away @ Winnipeg (0-2)

8: Winnipeg Blue Bombers (0-2/0-1) (0-2 ATS) (LW: 6) It may be time to panic for HC Doug Berry and the Bombers. Losing to Toronto in Week 1 was understandable, but a bad 38-24 defeat in Montreal as 1-point favorites leaves cause for concern. Now Winnipeg has back-to-back games with the BC Lions, who are also a major disappointment thus far in 2008. RB Charles Roberts only has 87 yards on the ground this year. He’s averaged over 1500 yards the past five seasons, so Winnipeg must find ways to get “Blink” involved more in the offence for them to become a factor in the East once again.

Next up: Home vs. BC (0-2)

The 2008 CFL betting season is here, so bet on the CFL today at Betus Online Sportsbook.