The CFL season is past Labour Day and the push for the playoffs is now in full swing, and the races for playoff positions is heating up once again. The crossover is well in play, meaning that the fourth place team from the West, if they have a better record than the third place team in the East, the west team would take that spot. If the records are identical then the team in the East gets the spot.
WEST
Saskatchewan 9-2
Calgary 8-3
Winnipeg 6-5
BC 5-6
Edmonton 4-7
EAST
Hamilton 6-5
Montreal 5-6
Toronto 4-8
Ottawa 3-8
WEST DIVISION
Calgary has the tiebreaker over both Winnipeg and Saskatchewan firmly securing second in the West and on track to host a playoff game with a 3 game lead over the Bombers. A loss by the Riders will put the Stamps into first place if the Stampeders don’t lose another game for the rest of the season, which is entirely possible given the remaining schedule: at Edmonton, vs. BC, at Montreal, at BC, at Hamilton, vs. Toronto, at Edmonton. The Stampeders magic number to secure a playoff spot is currently 4 games. The Stampeders are also 6-0 vs West division teams.
Saskatchewan have beaten every team in the CFL except for the Calgary Stampeders, if this trend continues the Riders would end up 16-2, matching one of the best regular seasons in CFL history, it’s possible but a tough task with their remaining schedule: at Winnipeg, vs Montreal, at Edmonton, at Ottawa, vs Toronto, at Winnipeg, vs BC. The Riders magic number to get a playoff spot is 3 games with first place and hosting the West Final sitting at 6 games
Winnipeg’s run of dominance in the West has come to a crashing end with the Bombers vs the West record sitting at 3-4, including 3 losses to the Stampeders, the first time they’ve been swept by the Stamps since 2016, sitting in the last playoff spot in the West with BC right on their tails. However there is the possibility of a cross over, meaning they may not be missing the playoffs after 5 straight Grey Cup appearances. Remaining schedule for the Bombers: vs Saskatchewan, at Hamilton, at Ottawa, vs Hamilton, at Edmonton, vs Saskatchewan, vs Montreal. Their magic number to enter the West playoffs is 4 games.
The BC Lions are in a battle for both the crossover and the last spot in the West, although the path through the East seems the easier path, no team has ever managed to crossover and appear in the Grey Cup. Their remaining games are: at Ottawa, vs Ottawa, at Calgary, vs Toronto, vs Calgary, vs Edmonton, at Saskatchewan. Of those games all are winnable with exceptions to Calgary and Saskatchewan. Their magic number to elimination from the West is 6 games. From the crossover is 8.
Edmonton has turned it around although it didn’t look like that against the Stampeders on Labour Day, before that game they were on a 3 game win streak. They’re not out of it yet but their magic number to elimination from the West is 5 games.
EAST DIVISION
Hamilton are in a battle for first in the East with a team behind by 2 points, another by 4 and yet another by 6, by no means is this race over. Their remaining schedule is: at Montreal, vs Winnipeg, vs Edmonton, at Winnipeg, at Toronto, vs Calgary, vs Ottawa. The Tiger-Cats are 4-1 vs the East. The magic number to clinch a playoff spot is 4 games, to win the division is 6 games.
Montreal are reeling without Davis Alexander suffering 4 straight losses. While still in second the gap between them and third is closing fast. Their remaining games are: vs Hamilton, at Saskatchewan, at Toronto, vs Calgary, vs Ottawa, at Ottawa, at Winnipeg. The playoff clinching number for Montreal is 5 games.
Toronto come off a stunning walk off on Labour Day, without their “starting QB” Chad Kelly all season, Nick Arbuckle really buckled down this season. Pun intended. The remaining schedule for the Argos is: vs Edmonton, vs Montreal, at BC, vs Hamilton, at Saskatchewan, at Calgary. They are currently in danger of being forced out of the playoffs by way of the crossover as the third place team in the East, with a worse record than West 4.
Ottawa…I don’t know what to say, the skill that this team possesses for them to be in the basement of the CFL boggles the mind. Their remaining schedule: vs BC, at BC, vs Winnipeg, vs Saskatchewan, at Montreal, vs Montreal, at Hamilton. They are the closest to being eliminated for any playoff contention at 6 games.
The push for the Grey Cup has begun. It is on.
Sports Take 