1: Edmonton Eskimos (5-3/1-0) (5-2-1 ATS) (LW: 3) A 5-2-1 mark ATS and a 27-10 victory over the #1 team in the CFL Power Poll is more than enough to jump the Eskimos all the way up to the top spot this week. They easily covered the spread as six-point favorites against the Roughriders, and used a stifling defensive effort to hold Saskatchewan scoreless for the final three quarters and keep the game well under the closing ‘total’ for CFL bettors. QB Ricky Ray is making a good push for Most Outstanding Player honors, as he is second in the league in passing (2,584 yards) and has been the glue that has pushed the green and gold within a game of the Western Division lead.

Next up: Away @ Calgary (5-3)

2: Saskatchewan Roughriders (6-2/0-1) (6-2 ATS) (LW: 1) After back-to-back poor performances against Calgary and E

dmonton, it’s time to move the Riders out of the top spot of the poll. The offence was serviceable in the first quarter of their Week 9 betting affair, putting up ten points against the Edmonton defense, but they failed to score again after that. The 27-10 loss was the second consecutive game in which the Riders failed to cover the spread after six straight covers to start the season. It looks like Saskatchewan is set to turn to their fourth different quarterback of the year, as the team has traded for former Kansas State QB Michael Bishop, presumably to take over the reigns from Marcus Crandell, who has struggled since coming back from an injury a month ago.

Next up: Home vs. Winnipeg (2-6)

3: Montreal Alouettes (5-3/0-0) (5-3 ATS) (LW: 3) Montreal bettors hope that the Alouettes don’t change a thing going into the second half of the season. These next two games are huge for the Als, hosting the slumping Lions and Argonauts. If they can win both of these match-ups, they’ll be coasting towards an Eastern Division title after being 10-1 long shots to win the division at the beginning of the season.

Next up: Home vs. BC (4-4)

4: Calgary Stampeders (5-3/1-0) (5-3 ATS) (LW: 5) In their Week 9 betting match-up, the Stamps posted their most significant victory of the season, breaking a long hex of bad luck in BC Place with their 36-29 victory over the defending Western Division champs. They easily covered the spread as three-point underdogs, and their game-winning touchdown with inside 3:00 remaining pushed the game over the ‘total’. The Stamps can still be players for the Western Division title, but they need to at least manage a split with the Eskimos, beginning with their Labor Day Classic in Calgary on Monday.

Next up: Home vs. Edmonton (5-3)

5: British Columbia Lions (4-4/0-0) (3-5 ATS) (LW: 4) It appears as though the BC Lions are really in deep trouble after dropping into last place in the West following their 36-29 home loss to the Stampeders. For the second straight game, HC Wally Buono has pulled the plug on Jarious Jackson in favor of Buck Pierce, once again stirring up the controversy over which quarterback should be under center for the remainder of the season. If there’s good news for the slumping Leos, they’re still comfortably in the playoffs because of the crossover spot, and they’re still just two games behind Saskatchewan for the Western lead. They’ve got two road games against Eastern Division opponents this week, which could be the perfect remedy for moving back into the Western playoff picture.

Next up: Away @ Montreal (5-3)

6: Toronto Argonauts (3-5/0-0) (2-5-1 ATS) (LW: 6) While there is quarterback controversy throughout the rest of the CFL, the Argonauts erased all doubts about who their starting QB is when they used their bye week to deal Michael Bishop to the Saskatchewan Roughriders for a conditional draft pick. HC Rich Stubler has unconditionally turned the ball over to Kerry Joseph, the 2007 Most Outstanding Player, in hope that things will begin to turn around on Monday, when they head into Ivor-Wynne Stadium to take on the Ti-Cats as part of the Labour Day Classic.

Next up: Away @ Hamilton (2-6)

7: Winnipeg Blue Bombers (2-6/0-0) (2-6 ATS) (LW: 7) Winnipeg is about set to embark on a stretch of games that will decide their season. They have back-to-back betting match-ups with the team with the best record in the CFL, then travel to Toronto and Hamilton. It is very possible that the Bombers could be 2-10 in another month, and if that’s the case, Winnipeg will certainly miss the playoffs for the first time since they were a part of the Western Division. HC Doug Berry still has his job, but the bye week made a good forum for fans all around Winnipeg to wonder why.

Next up: Away @ Saskatchewan (6-2)

8: Hamilton Tiger-Cats (2-6/0-0) (3-5 ATS) (LW: Hamilton has had two weeks to prepare for their annual Labor Day Classic against the Toronto Argonauts, the only team in the CFL they have registered a victory against. Much like Winnipeg, it could be all over but the crying for the black and gold in these next three weeks. After hosting their provincial rival, they take on BC and Edmonton, and losses in those three games could leave the Tabbies at 2-9 and a long way behind the fourth place team in the West or Toronto for the final playoff spot. It would be a tremendous statement to beat the Eastern Division pre-season favorites for a third time this week.

Next up: Home vs. Toronto (3-5)