CFL West Crown Will Come Down To The Wire: Part Two

Since the beginning of the season, everyone has seen the difference in calibre between the East and West divisions in the CFL. The West Division has shown itself to be a much stronger division, and has shown that each team could fight for first place at any given time.

With eight weeks left in the season, it looked to me that it could be very tight in the West coming up to the playoffs. It was almost a given that all four teams would make the playoffs(with one team crossing over to the East).

With eight games left each, this is how I figured it would end up based on the schedules each team had:

Calgary 6-2, BC 6-2, Edmonton 4-4, and Saskatchewan 4-4.

That being said, it would leave Saskatchewan and Calgary tied for first at 12-6, but Calgary taking the crown based on points in the season series. BC would end up in third at 11-7, and Edmonton would end up fourth at 10-8.

These predictions were made four weeks ago, and I am thinking it may just come down that way.

Due to injuries, I wasn't surprised that BC beat Saskatchewan in both of their match ups. I was also not surprised that Montreal beat the Riders. Even though I predicted a split between the Riders and Stamps, the out come of the previous three games led me to believe that Calgary may sweep. The Riders surprised everyone with their win over Calgary, and have kept themselves in the hunt for first.

If my prediction is going to cme true, the Stampeders will need to go 3-1 in the remaining four. Playing Saskatchewan in the rubber match will most likely(I say that carefully) be a win for Calgary. After that, the Stamps play Winnipeg, Hamilton and BC. The east is never a given, but BC is the only real threat to give Calgary their only loss of the last four.

Saskatchewan is going to need to go 3-1, which could happen, especially with some key players could be coming back from injury. After surprising the Stamps with a victory last week, it would be reasonable to think that Calgary will take their home of the home and home.

That would mean the Riders would have to run the table after. This is definitely possible with the Riders taking on Hamilton, Edmonton and Toronto. Edmonton is definitely playing better football right now, but the Riders should have a few key players back to strengthen the Saskatchewan push to the playoffs, and I think the Riders could easily win this one.

The BC Lions had won five in a row before their 27-20 loss this week against Edmonton. With that loss the Lions still have one more loss available if they want to finish at 11-7, where I predicted.

They could go 3-1(including the loss this week to Edm), with the rubber match against Edmonton next week, the Argonauts in week 18, and finishing off with the Calgary Stampeders. The Stampeders do have the season series already against the Lions, so being tied at the end of the year won't be good enough to win, so who plays in the final game could depend on who is where going into week 19.

The Edmonton Eskimos could be the sleeper and ruin my whole prediction if they can follow up the win in BC with another win at home against the Lions, and if they can catch the Riders of guard. They do have the hardest schedule of anyone in the West, so it will be tougher.

That is what makes me think it will be the Eskies that move to the East for the Playoffs, and again leaving open the possibility for a Battle of Alberta Grey Cup.

Many things could happen to change that, and the way the west in unrolling, any team could end up first and any team could move to fourth. It's a remarkable thing to watch an completely unnerving week to week.