Sean_Murphy

The Riders fell from the ranks of the unbeaten last week, and from top spot in the rankings in the process. Here's how I see the CFL shaking down entering Week 8 action. Best of luck in all your wagers this weekend.

Last week's ranking in parentheses.

1. Calgary Stampeders (2) If you want to be the best, you have to beat the best, as the Stampeders did just that in impressive fashion against the Riders last week at McMahon Stadium. Now comes perhaps an even tougher matchup as Calgary hits the road to face a hungry Lions squad at B.C. Place on Saturday. The Stamps have been the best 'over' bet in the league so far this season, recording a 5-1 o/u mark.

2. Saskatchewan Roughriders (1) The Riders weren't going to run the table this season, so last week's loss shouldn't be all that discouraging. In fact, I came away impressed by the fight they showed after falling behind big at halftime. Even with last week's poor defensive performance, the Riders have still allowed fewer points than any other team in the league (129).

3. Toronto Argonauts (4) It took some time, but the Argos appear to be over their Grey Cup hangover. It's been their defense that has fueled their turnaround. This is a young group that has put its early season struggles behind it and will have another opportunity to pad its stats against a reeling Eskimos squad this Sunday. The Argos already own a two-game advantage atop the East Division and could stretch that margin this week.

4. B.C. Lions (3) I don't like dropping teams coming off a bye week but the Argos strong play forced my hand, moving the Lions down a spot this week. They'll get a chance to make a major statement against the Stamps on Saturday night. I'm looking for QB Travis Lulay to really take control of the offense and turn in his best game of the season. We've yet to see him really shine, but it's coming.

5. Hamilton Tiger-Cats (6) The bye week came at a good time for the banged-up Ti-Cats. They'll have a good opportunity to make a move over the next couple of weeks with back-to-back winnable games against the struggling Blue Bombers. Andy Fantuz's return can't come soon enough as Hamilton has scored just 129 points through six contests this season. He's unlikely to suit up again this week in Winnipeg.

6. Montreal Alouettes (5) Even though they sit in a second place tie in the East Division, it's getting close to desperation time for Jim Popp's Alouettes. The post-Dan Hawkins era didn't exactly get off to a positive start last week with the Als getting smoked by the Argos at McGill Stadium. Things won't get any easier this week as they travel to Regina to face the Riders.

7. Edmonton Eskimos (7) The Eskimos received a major blow this week with the news that LB J.C. Sherritt will be sidelined for an indefinite period of time after suffering a broken thumb on August 2nd. This is a deep defense, but losing last year's Most Outstanding Defensive Player certainly stings. That means the Esks will need even more from a much-maligned offense that has yet to get rolling this year.

8. Winnipeg Blue Bombers (8) Another week, another QB move in Winnipeg as Max Hall will take over the reins against Hamilton this week. I don't think I'm alone in thinking that the Bombers didn't give Justin Goltz long enough to gel with the offense. He had shown plenty of positive signs, but apparently not enough for Winnipeg management. We'll see if the move pays off, but I'm guessing Buck Pierce's turn in the QB carousel is right around the corner.

I was on the 'under' with you as well. Had to sweat it out for four quarters basically, but all's well that end's well. Just like we drew it up, right? I expected more from the Als defense - not that they can shoulder all of the blame - turnovers were obviously the difference.

As for tonight's game - I thought for sure I would be on the 'over', but something is telling me to lay off (perhaps it's the fact that we're seeing 56.5 and 57's across the board). The books have made the necessary adjustment to the total after the first meeting - in fact, I'm beginning to think they may have over-adjusted. We'll see if the total gets any higher today - if it does, I might even consider playing the 'under'.

As for the side -  your guess is as good as mine. As dominant as the Riders have been, they're still only one game up on the Stamps in the West so I certainly don't expect to see them let their foot off the gas one bit in this spot. The revenge angle is clearly on the Stamps side and they actually controlled Saskatchewan for a half - in Regina no less - back in Week 2. That's tough to ignore. Just not sure if the QB carousel catches up with the Stamps here.

Should be a great game to watch - I'll likely be a spectator only.

DDH420: Thanks for taking the time to check it out. Best of luck this weekend.

Buquim: I appreciate it. Best of luck today.

No major changes this week, with the byes in full effect. Best of luck this week.

Last week's ranking in parentheses.

1. Saskatchewan Roughriders (1) The Riders remain undefeated entering Week 7 and should be rested and ready following their bye week. Unfortunately, so will this week's opponent, the Calgary Stampeders. Saskatchewan took the first meeting this season at home thanks to a dominant second half. Friday night's showdown should be a beauty at McMahon Stadium.

2. Calgary Stampeders (2) The QB carousel continues to spin around in Calgary, with Kevin Glenn expected to start Friday's game against Saskatchewan after Drew Tate suffered a setback in his recovery. There are those that believe Bo Levi Mitchell should be the man to lead the offense this week but John Hufnagel has elected to go with the proven veteran. Probably a wise choice against an opportunistic Riders defense.

3. B.C. Lions (4) I'll bump the Lions up a spot this week as they showed me just enough in Monday's narrow win over Winnipeg. I do think it's only a matter of time before the B.C. offense gets rolling. Perhaps an extra week of practice will allow them to fine-tune. Defensively, the Lions have been good, but not great. Again, the bye week should serve them well in that regard.

4. Toronto Argonauts (3) The Argos will have an opportunity to make a statement and take full control of the East Division on Thursday night in Montreal. They'll have Ricky Ray back in the fold but it sounds like WR Dontrelle Inman will be a no-go once again. RB Chad Kackert remains sidelined as well, but Curtis Steele filled in admirably in his first start last week.

5. Montreal Alouettes (5) It will be interesting to see how the Als respond on Thursday in their first game following the dismissal of much-maligned and short-lived head coach Dan Hawkins. With WR Jamel Richardson and RB Brandon Whitaker sidelined, it's beginning to look a lot like 2012 all over again. We'll see who steps up and fills the void.

6. Hamilton Tiger-Cats (8) Last week's win in Edmonton had to feel awfully good for a Ti-Cats squad that has been ravaged by injuries and marred by its share of bad luck early in the campaign. They'll have a chance to build some solid momentum with a winnable road game in Winnipeg coming up following their bye week.

7. Edmonton Eskimos (6) I like the fight the Eskimos have shown in recent weeks, but they're having a tough time getting over the hump with the personnel they have on board. I'm not sure they've ever recovered from the Ricky Ray trade last year. Until they find a quarterback to lead the offense in the long-term, they'll continue to struggle to reach the in column. Mike Reilly doesn't look like the answer.

8. Winnipeg Blue Bombers (7) Justin Goltz is the right man to lead the Bombers offense this season but he's going to need some guys to make plays for him moving forward. The Bombers came up just short in B.C. on Monday, thanks in large part to an inspired effort from the defense. The good news is, the East Division is still wide open but I suspect the Bombers will ultimately be the odd-team out.

KING_B-24: You might be onto something with that line of thinking ;)

We've won with the Cardinals and White Sox the last two nights, and I'm hoping to make it three in a row with this afternoon play featuring the Brewers vs. Giants. Best of luck.

I won't make the argument that the wrong team is favored here. As bad as the Giants have been, they've still been slightly better than the Brewers this season and they do have an edge on the mound with Tim Lincecum going up against Donovan Hand.

With that being said, I don't believe San Francisco should be laying close to 60 cents in this spot. I'll gladly take the value being offered with the Brewers, who are suddenly exuding a little confidence now that they've put the Ryan Braun circus behind them.

Milwaukee has taken the last two games in this series after dropping the opener on Monday night. The Brew Crew check into today's game a respectable 6-4 over their last 10 games.

As I mentioned, Donovan Hand will get the nod for Milwaukee. To be honest, I'm not sure how much success he'll have today against a Giants lineup that is certainly in position to bust out. However, I do expect Hand to at least keep his team in the game for five innings before handing it over to the bullpen - which I should add has been terrific on the road this season, posting a collective 3.02 ERA.

Giants right-hander Tim Lincecum has been sharp in his last two outings, allowing only three earned runs on 10 hits over 14 innings of work. However, he's been wildly inconsistent this season, particularly here at home, where he's just 3-5 with a 4.78 ERA. The last time he faced the Brewers was last season - a game the Giants lost 6-4 right here in San Francisco. The Brewers are by no means an offensive juggernaut, but they did show they can hang a crooked number on the board last night, scoring six runs in the eighth and ninth innings combined.

The Giants are a great team to fade right now - a veteran club that had its sights on repeating as World Series champions this year, not on playing out the string in August. The value is there, and I'm confident we'll see another scrappy performance from the Brewers on Thursday afternoon. Take Milwaukee.

CHANGCHANG: Appreciate it - thanks. BOL tonight.

We won with the underdog Cardinals last night, and we'll take aim at the Yanks and ChiSox tonight. Here's my quick take on Wednesday's matchup.

It will be up to CC Sabathia to right the ship for the Yankees on Wednesday night, as they try to avoid the series sweep in Chicago. While Sabathia has owned the Sox in the past, he hasn't faced them since 2011 and the big lefty is a much different pitcher today than he was back then.

Sabathia checks in 9-10 on the season with a 4.78 ERA and 1.35 WHIP. Those numbers get even worse on the road and over his last four starts, he's quite simply been one of the most hittable pitchers in baseball, allowing a whopping 37 hits and 22 earned runs in only 19 2/3 innings of work.

The White Sox will counter with Hector Santiago. He won't reach the radar of most bettors, but the fact is, he's been quietly effective, allowing two earned runs or less in five of his last six starts. He's been a hard-luck loser in all six of those outings, however. The good news is, he'll be facing a Yankees club that has had a tough time facing a pitcher for the first time, as is the case here. While Chicago's offense has been weak, the Yankees haven't been any better at the dish lately, scoring three runs or less in seven straight games.

Chicago's bats have at least shown signs of waking from their slumber in this series, plating 11 runs on 24 hits through the first two games. I look for them to get to Sabathia on Wednesday night, as they complete their second consecutive home sweep of the Yankees (they did it last August as well). Take Chicago.

Hopefully some of you cashed this one. Wish all underdogs came through this easy.

matheney2k: Liked the under last night but laid off. Can't say I see a lot of value in the under at 6.5 tonight. Best of luck.

This may not appear to be an ideal spot to fade one of the hottest teams in baseball, as the Dodgers send their ace, Clayton Kershaw, to the hill. However, a deeper look indicates that the price is more than fair to support the underdog Cardinals on Tuesday night.

L.A. took the opener of this series in somewhat surprise fashion as Zack Greinke outdueled Adam Wainwright in a 3-2 victory.

Let's not lose sight of the fact that the Cardinals are still a terrific home team at 32-18 this season. While they were slumping last week, that's not the case now, as they've gone 3-2 over their last five games, plating a whopping 41 runs in those three victories.

As I mentioned, L.A. will hand the ball to Clayton Kershaw on Tuesday. He was the pitcher of the month in July, and for good reason. However, he's by no means invincible, as the Dodgers have gone just a modest 13-10 in his 23 starts so far this season. That includes a loss to the same Cardinals he'll face tonight, suffered back in late May in L.A. In fact, the Cards are 2-0 in their last two games against Kershaw, roughing him up for 14 hits and 12 earned runs in 12 2/3 innings.

Joe Kelly will counter for St. Louis. He's been pitching very well lately, but he's been doing it well beneath most bettors' radar. Since joining the rotation a week-and-a-half ago, he's made two starts, tossing 12 1/3 shutout innings of 10-hit ball. The Dodgers did get the better of Kelly in his two starts against them last year, but it's not as if they crushed the right-hander, scoring only five earned runs in 11 innings.

While the Cardinals continue to soldier on without one of their best players, Yadier Molina, the Dodgers are also playing without a key cog in Hanley Ramirez, who is expected to miss his second straight game on Tuesday due to a shoulder injury. I feel these are two very evenly matched clubs, and while Clayton Kershaw offers the Cardinals a daunting task, I believe they'll be up for the challenge. Take St. Louis.

Last week's ranking in parentheses.

1. Saskatchewan Roughriders (1) The Riders aren't going to run the table this season but that doesn't change the fact that they've looked awfully good through five weeks, outscoring the opposition by a whopping 96 points in racking up five straight wins. They'll enjoy a week off before facing their toughest test of the season to date, a matchup with the Stampeders in Calgary.

2. Calgary Stampeders (3) With Drew Tate and Kevin Glenn both injured, Bo Levi Mitchell stepped in under centre last week, and the offense didn't miss a beat. Now Tate and Glenn get a week off to recuperate and the Stamps defense gets a chance to get even more in sync before next week's showdown with the undefeated Riders at McMahon Stadium.

3. Toronto Argonauts (4) The Argos picked up a statement win over the Lions on Tuesday night, doing so without their starting quarterback (Ricky Ray) and running back (Chad Kackert), not to mention a key cog at wide receiver (Dontrelle Inman). Zach Collaros isn't about to overtake Ray's starting job, but if Tuesday's performance was any indication, the former college standout has a bright future in the CFL.

4. B.C. Lions (2) Something isn't quite right with the Lions offense. They've topped out at 32 points this season, and that came in a losing effort against Calgary back in Week 1. I do expect the B.C. defense to respond with a big effort this week after getting ripped by the Argos on Tuesday. They still rank number one in the league in total yards allowed and second in points allowed.

5. Montreal Alouettes (7) I'm willing to give the Als a major boost in the rankings this week following the firing of Dan Hawkins on Thursday. His hiring was simply perplexing to me, and to be honest, I'm surprised he lasted as long as he did. Expect an immediate turnaround from the Als, as the personnel is still in place for this team to compete for the East Division title.

6. Edmonton Eskimos (6) This may be a rebuilding year, but I still feel the Eskimos have the potential to be a solid bet moving forward, provided they can stay healthy. They'll get a chance to pick up their second win of the season against the Ti-Cats on Friday night and after a strong second half in Montreal last week, have some momentum on their side. The Esks are 0-2 at home this season and should be desperate to give the Commenwealth Stadium faithful something to cheer about.

7. Winnipeg Blue Bombers (5) Credit the Blue Bombers for doing the right thing and officially handing the reins of the offense over to QB Justin Goltz. Buck Pierce is on the downside of his career due to injuries and otherwise, and it's become clear that he's not the man to lead this team back to glory. With that being said, Goltz faces a tough task against an angry Lions squad in B.C. this week.

8. Hamilton Tiger-Cats (8) I had the Ti-Cats lower than most in last week's rankings, but I don't think I was far off. If this team were healthy, it would be competitive, but that simply isn't the case. Revenge will be on the Ti-Cats minds on Friday night in Edmonton, but whether they can put together four solid quarters of football and steal a win on the road remains to be seen.

Not many changes in this week's rankings. It's hard to believe the East Division leader is just 2-2 on the season. The league is fairly top-heavy right now. Best of luck this week.

Last week's ranking in parentheses.

1. Saskatchewan Roughriders (1) The Riders look like a CFL juggernaut right now. I guess the only concern is, are they peaking too early? Remember, they'll host the 101st Grey Cup in Regina this fall. A loss is coming, but I'm certainly not interested in standing in Saskatchewan's way right now.

2. B.C. Lions (2) B.C. has benefited from a rather soft schedule over the last few weeks, hosting the Argos before a home-and-home set with the Eskimos. Things will get a little tougher this week (or should I say next week - the game will be played on Tuesday) as they head to Toronto for their toughest road test of the young season.

3. Calgary Stampeders (3) Drew Tate is hurt. Now Kevin Glenn is banged up as well. No big deal. The Stamps have more QB depth than any team in the league, with third-stringer Bo Levi Mitchell more than capable of holding his own as we saw last weekend against Montreal. We'll see if the Stamps can avoid a letdown against a hungry Bombers squad in Winnipeg on Friday.

4. Toronto Argonauts (4) Toronto desperately needed a strong showing in Winnipeg last week and got just that, rolling to a 35-19 victory. Unfortunately, they'll have to soldier on without RB Chad Kackert for the next few weeks, and to make matters worse, QB Ricky Ray is nursing a knee injury but should be good to go by Tuesday night when the Argos host the Lions.

5. Winnipeg Blue Bombers (5) The Bombers aren't doing anything to instill much confidence in their home faithful, but with that being said, neither are the teams below them. Despite winning only once in four games this season, Winnipeg still finds itself just one game back of the East-leading Argos. The Bombers have dropped seven in a row against the Stampeders but will try to reverse that trend on Friday.

6. Edmonton Eskimos (8) I'm going to give the rebuilding Eskimos the benefit of the doubt and bump them up a couple of spots this week. They're just 1-3, but those three losses have come against Saskatchewan and B.C. (twice), arguably the league's two best teams. They didn't quit last Saturday at B.C. Place, and have a winnable game on deck in Montreal on Thursday night. Obviously, QB Mike Reilly's injury status will be key.

7. Montreal Alouettes (7) The Als looked great last week. For a quarter. It was all downhill from there as the offense couldn't punch back once the Stampeders made the necessary defensive adjustments. QB Anthony Calvillo and offensive coordinator Mike Miller are saying all the right things, but body language during games seems to indicate otherwise. Needless to say, the Dan Hawkins era is off to a miserable start in Montreal.

8. Hamilton Tiger-Cats (6) Until the Ti-Cats can get healthy, there will continue to be a few stinkers here and there. We certainly saw one on Sunday as they were trounced 37-0 by the Riders in Saskatchewan. Hamilton won't have to wait to get a shot at revenge as it will host the Riders on Saturday night in Guelph. The good news is, Saskatchewan hasn't swept the season series since 2010.

I'm sure there are differing opinions on spots five-through-eight in particular this week. Still early in the year, so still plenty of changes on a week-to-week basis. Here's my take heading into Week 4. Best of luck this weekend.

Last week's ranking in parentheses

1. Saskatchewan Roughriders (1) Regina is bursting at the seams with Rider pride thanks to the team's perfect 3-0 start. Not only have the Riders reeled off three straight wins to open the year, they've also covered the spread in all three contests. Sunday's game against Hamilton looks like a gimme, but the Riders will have to be careful as they've had an extended layoff and could be missing QB Darian Durant.

2. B.C. Lions (2) Perhaps the Lions 'are who we thought they were'. Back-to-back dominating defensive efforts have B.C. back on track after that hiccup in Calgary to open the season. It's tough to guage offensive progress after watching the Lions slosh past the Eskimos in a washout at Commonwealth Stadium last weekend. It will be interesting to see which Lions offense shows up in a rematch with Edmonton at B.C. Place on Saturday.

3. Calgary Stampeders (4) You could make a strong case for the Stamps being in second spot ahead of the Lions, after all they did crush B.C. 44-32 back in Week 1. I still have some questions when it comes to the Calgary defense - last week's strong performance against the Als didn't say much given how bad the Montreal offense has been out of the gate. With back-to-back games against the Als and Bombers on deck, the Stamps should have a full head of steam before facing the Riders again on August 9th.

4. Toronto Argonauts (3) The Argos are finding life as the hunted rather than the hunters awfully tough. They're getting every team's best shot each week and currently find themselves with just one win through three games. A winnable matchup awaits with the Bombers on Thursday, but there's no question the Boatmen will need to tighten up their pass defense after giving up a pair of long scores over the top against the Riders last week.

5. Winnipeg Blue Bombers (5) Winnipeg couldn't build off of its big road win in Montreal a week earlier, falling in a narrow decision against the Ti-Cats last Saturday. With all four teams in the East Division stuck at 1-2, there's no need for the Bombers to panic, but they could certainly use a division win in front of the home faithful at brand new Investors Group Field.

6. Hamilton Tiger-Cats (8) I'll give the benefit of the doubt to the Ti-Cats as they do their best to tread water in the absence of Andy Fantuz. He means everything to this offense, especially with Chris Williams a holdout and Dave Stala sidelined. Kent Austin has called Fantuz doubtful to suit up this week against the Riders, meaning Hamilton will need to lean heavily on its inconsistent defense to keep it in the game for four quarters.

7. Montreal Alouettes (6) Last week I said it's important not to put too much stock in one bad result. Well, make it two stinkers in a row for the Alouettes. While it's far too early to panic, there are major reasons for concern in Montreal. With so much talent on hand, particularly on the offensive side of the football, there's reason to believe the Als can turn it around but they'll be in tough in Calgary this week. Losing veteran Scott Flory on an already struggling offensive line won't help matters.

8. Edmonton Eskimos (7) Perhaps dropping the Eskimos to last spot is a little harsh given the fact they've been involved in a pair of monsoon games. But when management says the team is rebuilding, I tend to put stock in that. The offense will continue to struggle but the defense can more than hold its own, as we've seen in the last couple of games. Consider this Saturday's tilt with B.C. in Vancouver as a true 'measuring stick' game.

Bad call on my part tonight. Had a shot late, but it would have been a truly 'lucky' win given the way the game played out. Riders look like the real deal, but let's face it, the Argos have a lot of work to do defensively.

Rocky339: You're right, it's difficult to make a strong case for another team in top spot with only one undefeated squad. We'll see if that changes after tonight's game. Still early so these rankings can shift a lot on a week-to-week basis.

Total has been on the move. Looks like 54.5 juiced to the 'over' just before kickoff. Let's cash this one guys.

purpledays: Power rankings lend themselves to some knee-jerk reactions, and that very well could be the case here. We'll see how Thursday's game in Toronto plays out. Best of luck.

Last week's ranking in parentheses

1. Saskatchewan Roughriders (4) Talk about a statement win. The Riders rallied from an early deficit to take down the defending West Division champion Stampeders in their home opener last week. Darian Durant appears to be at the top of his game while the Rider defense has punished its first two opponents. Next up is a tough matchup with the Boatmen in Toronto on Thursday.

2. B.C. Lions (3) That's more like it. The Lions looked every bit like the dominant squad most expected them to be this season in last week's win over the Argos. While the offense still hasn't kicked into high gear, the defense came up with a huge bounce-back effort off that ugly showing in Calgary to open the season. We'll see if Travis Lulay can shine against a tough Eskimos defense in Edmonton this Saturday.

3. Toronto Argonauts (1) There's no reason to get too down on the Argos off one bad game but that's not to say there isn't reason for concern. Toronto has a very green defense this year, and that's been evident in its first two games. Slow starts have been troublesome and things won't get any easier against a high-powered Riders offense this week.

4. Calgary Stampeders (2) It pains me to drop the Stampeders to fourth in the rankings, as I do believe they're a legitimate Grey Cup contender but off a discouraging loss in Saskatchewan and with Drew Tate banged up, things aren't looking all that rosy. With that being said, they might be catching the struggling Alouettes at precisely the right time this week. A trip to Montreal is never easy, but the Stampeders should be up to the challenge.

5. Winnipeg Blue Bombers (7) The Bombers hold steady in the fifth spot this week. They answered the bell in Montreal last Thursday, with their defense returning to the form that saw them terrorize the league two years ago. It might be asking a little much for them to deliver back-to-back road wins, but another favorable matchup awaits in Hamilton this Saturday.

6. Montreal Alouettes (5) It's important not to put too much stock in one result, especially at this early point of the season. But things haven't gone particularly well for the Als in the first two games of the Dan Hawkins era. I'm not sure Anthony Calvillo has ever looked as frustrated with his offense, whether due to play-calling or otherwise. Montreal hasn't lost its first two home games since way back in 2007.

7. Edmonton Eskimos (8) Mike Reilly looked much sharper in his second game at the helm of the Eskimos offense while the defense dominated in a rain-soaked win in Hamilton last Sunday. That was a much-needed victory following an embarrassing opening week no-show against the Riders. Edmonto takes a step back up in class this week, hosting the Lions on Saturday night.

8. Hamilton Tiger-Cats (6) Andy Fantuz means an awful lot to the Ti-Cats offense - perhaps that was never more apparent than in last week's disjointed effort against Edmonton. Head coach Kent Austin doesn't sound confident that he'll be able to return this week, meaning the Ti-Cats will need some of their secondary offensive threats to step up against an aggressive Blue Bombers defense.