1: Saskatchewan Roughriders (6-1/0-0) (6-1 ATS) (LW: 1) If there was one team disappointed to partake in their bye last week, it was the Riders. Even though they lost their last time out to the Stampeders two weeks ago, there’s no doubt that Saskatchewan is the class of the CFL heading into the second portion of the season. Sledding will be tougher in the coming weeks with several games against fellow Western Division teams; especially when considering the rash of injuries that exists at the wide receiver position.

Next up: Away @ Edmonton (4-3)

2: Montreal Alouettes (5-3/1-0) (5-3 ATS) (LW: 5) It’s incredibly difficult to let a victory against a 3-5 team move the Als up three spots in the CFL Power Poll, but the manner in which they impressively disposed of division rival Toronto made the decision that much easier. Montreal bettors found their 32-14 victory to be an easy cash, upping their mark to 5-3 both SU and ATS in ’08. QB Anthony Calvillo is on pace to throw for just about 6,000 yards on the season, while RB Avon Cobourne leads the league in both rushing yards and receptions. Both are good candidates for the Most Outstanding Player honors early in the season.

Next up: Bye

3: Edmonton Eskimos (4-3/0-0) (4-2-1 ATS) (LW: 2) The Eskimos did nothing wrong in their bye week, but Montreal’s performance was too good to overlook. The green and gold sport the second best ATS mark in the league at 4-2-1, and would make a really strong case to move back into that #2 spot in the poll by knocking off Saskatchewan this week.

Next up: Home vs. Saskatchewan (6-1)

4: British Columbia Lions (4-3/0-0) (3-4 ATS) (LW: 3) HC Wally Buono is still insistent that former Notre Dame QB Jarious Jackson will remain his starter over Buck Pierce. Lions fans are calling for the switch to be made, especially since Jackson leads the CFL in interceptions (10) and has the lowest completion percentage amongst starting quarterbacks (55.9%). Winning is the perfect remedy for any situation, and a ‘W’ against their hated rivals from Calgary will go a long way in getting the fans back on good terms in BC.

Next up: Home vs. Calgary (4-3)

5: Calgary Stampeders (4-3/0-0) (4-3 ATS) (LW: 5) Calgary put up two very impressive performances against Saskatchewan before heading into its bye week. This next month will determine whether the Stamps are for real or not, as they have BC, Montreal, and two games with Edmonton on the horizon. Former Buckeye Ken-Yon Rambo leads all receivers in receptions (41), and has played a huge role in stretching the opposition’s defense all season.

Next up: Away @ BC (4-3)

6: Toronto Argonauts (3-5/0-1) (2-5-1 ATS) (LW: 6) With all of the talk surrounding the future of Doug Berry with the Blue Bombers, perhaps the coach that should be on the hot seat is Toronto’s Rich Stubler. The Argonauts were +120 favorites to win the East at the outset of the season, but are now a disappointing 3-5 and two games behind Montreal. Friday night marked the second straight extremely uninspired effort for the double blue, dropping the game to the Alouettes by a 32-14 count at home. Their once proud defence has given up 77 points in the last two weeks, and has surrendered the most points in the CFL (242). The bye week came at a perfect time. Their Labour Day Classic against Hamilton lurks in Week 10, and a third loss to the lowly Ti-Cats will surely spell the end for Stubler.

Next up: Bye

7: Winnipeg Blue Bombers (2-6/1-0) (2-6 ATS) (LW: With his team up by a score in the 4^th quarter of their Week 8 game against Hamilton, HC Doug Berry made the call to go for it on 3^rd down and short pinned deep in his own territory. The Bombers converted, and proceeded to march down the field on the Ti-Cats defence. Though they only walked away with a point on the drive, the tide had turned, and the Bombers put away Hamilton 37-24, covering the spread for just the second time this season. The call might’ve saved Berry’s job, but the same probably won’t be said for K Alexis Serna, who missed the short field goal that ended the drive with just a point. Serna is now just 16/26 on field goals for the season, easily the lowest in the CFL, and leads the league in the dubious rouge category with nine.

Next up: Bye

8: Hamilton Tiger-Cats (2-6/0-1) (3-5 ATS) (LW: 7) Once again, the question around Ivor-Wynne Stadium is why Hamilton can’t play Toronto every week. Their 37-24 loss in Winnipeg dropped the Ti-Cats to 0-6 SU and 1-5 ATS against the rest of the league. The good news is that after their bye week, they’ll take on the double blue for the third time this season in the Labour Day Classic. Unlike in years past, Hamilton is fighting hard against all of their opponents, and their reward very well could be a playoff birth when it’s all said and done. There’s still a lot of work to do in Steeltown, though.

Next up: Bye