Week saw two upsets take place first as the Hamilton Tiger-Cats got their first win of the season over the Toronto Argonauts 24-27 then the Calgary Stampeders defeated the BC Lions 25-24 the following day. The Edmonton Elks are still looking for their first win despite playing well for much of the season.
Predictions: CFL News Hub Writers’ Week 8 Picks
The Crown Holder and the Court Jester
Crown Holder 👑 – The Hamilton Tiger-Cats stole the Crown from the Toronto Argonauts in week 7 by defeating them 27-24. Toronto held the crown for 1 week after defeating Montreal in week 6.
Court Jester 🃏 – Edmonton Elks remained the Court Jester after losing to Ottawa on the road 14-20. They will have a chance to force the title onto Ottawa again on the road on Friday. The Elks will have a chance to force the title onto Hamilton and steal the Crown on Sunday.
If a team defeats the Crown Holder they steal the Crown and become the new Crown Holder.
If a team loses to the Court Jester they become the new Court Jester thus freeing the previous team from being the Court Jester.
#1 Montreal Alouettes (5-1)
Previous Rank: 1
Week 1: Defeated Winnipeg on the road 27-12.
Week 2: Defeated Edmonton on the road 23-20.
Week 3: Defeated Ottawa at home 47-21.
Week 4: Defeated Toronto on the road 30-20.
Week 5: Defeated Calgary at home 30-26.
Week 6: Lost to Toronto at home 18-37.
Week 7: Bye week.
On the bye in week 7.
Montreal Alouettes (5-1) Week 8 Preview vs Saskatchewan Roughriders (5-1): Prediction, Depth Chart, Injuries, Odds
Week 8: Hosting Saskatchewan on Thursday.
#2 B.C. Lions (5-2)
Previous Rank: 2
Week 1: Lost to Toronto on the road 27-35.
Week 2: Defeated Calgary at home 26-17.
Week 3: Defeated Winnipeg on the road 26-24.
Week 4: Defeated Edmonton at home 24-21.
Week 5: Defeated Hamilton on the road 44-28.
Week 6: Defeated Saskatchewan at home 35-20.
Week 7: Lost to Calgary on the road 24-25.
The BC Lions saw their 5-game winning streak come to a close as they lost to the Calgary Stampeders on the road 24-25. Coming into last week Vernon Adams Jr. was on pace for the most yards in a CFL before the Calgary Stampeders held him to 192 yards with 2 touchdowns and 2 interceptions. It was the first time this season he did not throw for more than 250 yards in a game. Justin McInnis led the team in receiving yards as he caught 3 passes for 55 yards and a touchdown. Stanley Beeryhill had the other receiving touchdown. William Stanback had a strong yards per carry as he averaged 7.11 yards over his 9 rushes for 64 yards. It was the first time this season he had less than 10 rushes in a game. On defense Sione Teuhema got rewarded for his efforts in pass-rushing his he got his first and second sack of the season in week 7.
Week 8: Bye week.
#3 Saskatchewan Roughriders (5-1)
Previous Rank: 4
Week 1: Defeated Edmonton on the road 29-21.
Week 2: Defeated Hamilton on the road 33-30.
Week 3: Defeated Hamilton at home 36-20.
Week 4: Bye week.
Week 5: Defeated Toronto at home 30-20.
Week 6: Lost to BC on the road 20-35
Week 7: Defeated Winnipeg at home 19-9.
The Saskatchewan Roughriders are 2-1 so far with quarterback Shea Patterson under center. Patterson completed 17 of his 25 passes for 261 yards and a touchdown and added 35 yards on the ground. All 3 of the leading receivers for the Riders in week 1 were Canadian. Canadian rookie Ajou Ajou led the team in receiving with 4 catches for 110 yards. Kian Schaffer Baker had 4 receptions for 60 yards, and Samuel Emilus had 6 catches for 53 yards. Clint Ratkovich caught the touchdown pass.
Saskatchewan has been Over the Riders’ first 4 games, A.J. Ouellete was under 5 yards per carry in each game and under 3 in the first 2 games. He has been over 5 yards per carry in each of the last 2 games. In the win over Winnipeg, he rushed 17 times for 88 yards, 5.18 yards per carry. The improvement in the run game has been highly positive and speaks well for the Riders chances of being a contender this season.
On defense, linebacker Jameer Thurman led the team in tackles with 6, Adam Auclair had an interception, and Caleb Sanders had a sack.
Week 8: Visiting Montreal on Thursday.
#4 Toronto Argonauts (3-3)
Previous Rank: 3
Week 1: Defeated BC at home 35-27.
Week 2: Bye week.
Week 3: Defeated Edmonton at home 39-36.
Week 4: Lost to Montreal at home 20-30.
Week 5: Lost to Saskatchewan 23-30.
Week 6: Defeated Montreal on the road 37-18.
Week 7: Lost to Hamilton on the road 27-24.
The Toronto Argonauts fell 24-27 in a close game to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats who were winless coming into week 7. Cameron Dukes completed 20 of his 27 passes for 180 yards before he was replaced by Nick Arbuckle with 8 minutes left in the 4th quarter. Arbuckle completed 8 of his 14 passes for 118 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Damonte Coxie led the team in receiving as he caught 5 passes for 87 yards. It was another positive day for Ka’Deem Carey who rushed 11 times for 66 yards, 6 yards per carry. On defense, Jake Ceresna and Derek Parish both recorded a sack and DaShawun Amos had an interception.
Week 8: Hosting Winnipeg on Saturday.
#5 Calgary Stampeders (3-3)
Previous Rank: 6
Week 1: Defeated Hamilton at home 32-24.
Week 2: Lost to BC on the road 17-26.
Week 3: Bye Week.
Week 4: Defeated Winnipeg at home in overtime 22-19.
Week 5: Lost to Montreal on the road 26-30.
Week 6: Lost to Winnipeg on the road 37-41
Week 7: Defeated BC at home 25-24.
The Stampeders had a successful day defensively as they held the high-powered BC passing offense to under 200 yards. Tyler Richardson and Kobe Williams both recorded an interception. James Vaughters recorded the lone sack for the Stampeders. Linebacker Micah Awe led the team in tackles with 6.
In week 7 it was Calgary with the high-powered passing game as Jake Maier completed 25 of his 32 passes for 307 yards and 3 touchdowns. Jalen Philpot led the team in receiving with 6 receptions for 79 yards and a touchdown. Clark Barnes and Reggie Begelton also had a receiving touchdown.
Week 8: Visiting Ottawa on Friday.
#6 Winnipeg Blue Bombers (2-5)
Previous Rank: 5
Week 1: Lost to Montreal at home 12-27.
Week 2: Lost to Ottawa on the road 19-23.
Week 3: Lost to BC at home 24-26.
Week 4: Lost to Calgary on the road in overtime 19-22.
Week 5: Defeated Ottawa at home 25-16.
Week 6: Defeated Calgary at home 41-37.
Week 7: Lost to Saskatchewan on the road 9-19.
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers fell to their rivals on the road in Saskatchewan 9-19 in week 7. After hitting a season high in points scored in week 6 the Bombers hit a new low in points scored in week 7 as they were prevented from scoring a touchdown. Zach Collaros threw for 266 yards and an interception. Brady Oliveira rushed 9 times for 49 yards (5.4 average) and also led the team in receiving as he caught all 9 of his targets for 80 yards. On defense Evan Holm led the team in tackles with 8 and Willie Jefferson recorded the only sack for Winnipeg in week 7.
Week 8: Visiting Toronto on Saturday.
#7 Ottawa RedBlacks (4-2)
Previous Rank: 7
Week 1: Bye Week
Week 2: Defeated Winnipeg at home 23-19.
Week 3: Lost to Montreal on the road 21-47.
Week 4: Defeated Hamilton at home 24-22.
Week 5: Lost to Winnipeg on the road 16-25.
Week 6: Defeated Edmonton on the road 37-34
Week 7: Defeated Edmonton at home 20-14.
Ottawa defeated Edmonton 20-14 in week 7 to sweep the season series between the 2 teams. It was Ottawa’s best game of the season yet as they only allowed 14 points and did not allow a touchdown. Deandre Lamont had a team-leading 9 tackles and an interception. Defensive linemen Bryce Carter and Lorenzo Mauldin both had a sack.
On offense, Dru Brown completed 22 of his 33 passes for 257 yards with 2 interceptions. Justin Hardy led the team in receiving as he caught 5 passes for 61 yards. Kalil Pimpleton and Dominique Rhymes both had over 50 yards receiving as well. Runningback Ryquell Armstead rushed 12 times for 53 yards and a touchdown.
Week 8: Hosting Calgary on Friday.
#8 Hamilton Tiger-Cats (1-5)👑
Previous Rank: 9
Week 1: Lost to Calgary on the road 24-32.
Week 2: Lost to Saskatchewan at home 30-33.
Week 3: Lost to Saskatchewan on the road 20-36.
Week 4: Lost to Ottawa on the road 22-24.
Week 5: Lost to B.C. at home 44-28.
Week 6: Bye week.
Week 7: Defeated Toronto 27-24.
Week 8: Visiting Edmonton on Sunday.
#9 Edmonton Elks (0-6)🃏
Previous Rank: 8
Week 1: Lost to Saskatchewan at home 21-29.
Week 2: Lost to Montreal at home 20-23.
Week 3: Lost to Toronto on the road 36-39.
Week 4: Lost to B.C. on the road 21-24.
Week 5: Bye Week.
Week 6: Lost to Ottawa at home 34-37
Week 7: Lost to Ottawa on the road 14-20.
The Elks are now on a 10-game losing streak having not won a game since September 15 of last year. They played great football much of this season but it’s already beginning to feel like they are out of the playoff race. The Commonwealth Curse is simply too powerful right now. McLeod Bethel-Thompson completed 27 of his 39 passes for 206 yards with 1 interception. It was his lowest yards per attempt so far this season at 5.3. On the ground, it was not much better for Edmonton as Kevin Brown was held to his lowest yards per carry as he rushed 9 times for 26 yards, 2.89 yards on average.
One positive was the fact that it was the fewest points allowed so far this season by Edmonton. 4 different players recorded a sack including Nyles Morgan, Noah Taylor, Noah Curtis, and Romeo McKnight. Kai Gray and Darrius Bratton both had an interception.
Week 8: Hosting Hamilton on Sunday.
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