CFL Power Rankings wrap up

The deed is done, playoff spots are set and the final power rankings in the Canadian Football League can be compared to how the CBC thought it would go 19 weeks ago.

Once again, it proves predictions are for fun, not profit. Put another way, nobody knows nuthin'!

1. Calgary Stampeders

Record: 13-5 (First in the West) | Our prediction: 11-7 (Second in the West)

The big concern about the Stamps at the start of 2010 was whether they could produce big numbers without offensive co-ordinator George Cortez, who went to the NFL. Right.

Calgary led the league with 626 points scored, and were tops in more than half the offensive stat categories. Nice job by coach and GM John Hufnagel, who hired himself to run the attack.

Defensively, they were third in lowest points allowed, just 17 back of first place Toronto, and while you can toss this and that category around as proof of this, that and the other, the bottom line is still found on the scoreboard.

The White Stallions look strong and confident and have two weeks to get ready for B.C. or Saskatchewan.

2. Montreal Alouettes

Record: 12-6 (First in the East) | Our prediction: 11-7 (Second in the East)

This was the season the Alouettes were going to be too old, too injured to pull off a first-place finish. Well, maybe next year.

Anthony Calvillo went down for four weeks and Montreal still managed to be first or second in most of the offensive categories.

Look deeper and dangers are revealed. Such as the Als were shockingly the CFL's most undisciplined squad (just one flag from being the worst in the league) and they gave up by far the most penalty yards.

The defensive backfield takes too many pass interference calls because it takes too many chances to earn its league-leading interception totals.

Hamilton can beat these guys in the final. Toronto, not so much.

3. Saskatchewan Roughriders

Record: 10-8 (Second in the West) | Our prediction: 12-6 (First in the West)

Losing defensive ends Stevie Baggs and John Chick off the 2009 club was thought to be the Riders' biggest problem for 2010. But the Green Wave had just one less sack on the way to allowing about 500 more total yards.

So where did the two games go? How to intercept opposing quarterbacks still escapes these guys. The giveaway-takeaway ratio dropped by 11, and that's not good. Points were down 17. All of that adds up

Saskatchewan did show against Edmonton in Game 18 — one the Eskies desperately needed — that they can pull things back together in time for the Western semi on Sunday.

4. Hamilton Tiger-Cats

Record: 9-9 (Second in the East) | Our prediction: 12-6 (First in the East)

Strange being disappointed about a team that finished second two years in a row after the car wreck that was the rest of this century.

Those three extra wins we called for were out there, as the Kitties lost a trio of contests by a total of five points (to Calgary, Edmonton and B.C.). A little mistake there, a small error of judgment there, and first place disappeared.

Another factor was kicker Sandro DeAngelis, who hit on 85.7 per cent last year in Calgary, moved to Hamilton and was 76.2 per cent as he fought to learn the swirling winds at Ivor Wynne.

5. Toronto Argonauts

Record: 9-9 (Third in the East) | Our prediction: 4-14 (Tied for third in the East)

This is by far the biggest miss for this column and most other prognosticators, though in our defence we did say the team could be 10 times better and only win one more game than the three in 2009. So, we were half right.

New coach Jim Barker worked with GM Adam Rita to make two huge additions in running back Cory Boyd (who led the league in rushing and yards from scrimmage) and Chad Owens (first in combined yardage, punt returns, kickoff returns and missed field goal returns).

On the other hand, quarterback Cleo Lemon has ranged from average to disappointing and, as a result, this was the worst offence in the league.

Somebody mentioned (OK, it was us) that the Argo defence would be key and they were — best in the CFL if you count points allowed, and that's the stat that counts the most.

The Ticats should be wary preparing for a team that lives and dies on the big play and can defend like this. 

6. B.C. Lions 

Record: 8-10 (Third in the West) | Our prediction: 10-8 (Third in the West)

If you combine the stats of Casey Printers (now released) and Travis Lulay, they threw for 4,333 yards, 19 touchdowns and 17 interceptions. Well, that was better than Cleo Lemon. Hardly a compliment.

Coach Wally Buono points out this was a young, rebuilding team that was going to make errors early, but we bet he didn't count on a 1-7 start that needed a wild 7-3 second half to make the playoffs.

For half a season, these guys simply could not score enough points. Then they turned it around in an emotional final run down the stretch. 

They can't possibly have enough left for the Riders. Can they?

7. Edmonton Eskimos

Record: 7-11 (Fourth in the West) | Our prediction: 8-10 (Fourth in the West)

Now unemployed GM Danny Maciocia made nine changes on defence to start the year, something we supported at the time because last season's unit wasn't very good. This year has turned out to be a touch worse so the personnel choices were in question, especially after giving up 545 points.

What also hurt the Eskies, as they built a 1-9 mark before waking up to go 6-2 and miss the playoffs on the last weekend was an inability to finish drives. In 2009, they scored 46 majors. This year, just 31.

Quarterback Ricky Ray and backup Jared Zabransky spent so much time on the run, thanks to a poor offensive line, the Eskimos saw their sacks go up from 29 to 39 and the interceptions jump from 15 in 2009 to 28 this season.

8. Winnipeg Blue Bombers

Record: 4-14 (Fourth in the East) | Our prediction: 4-14 (Tied for third in the East)

This one was not that hard to figure out.

Winnipeg started the schedule with so many new bodies (everybody but nine changed in two seasons), and they were coming off such a psychological downer from 2009 that they were expected to play like an expansion team, and did.

The brittle Buck Pierce didn't last long as the new quarterback, but the Bombers found a silver lining because Steven Jyles emerged as a solid pivot.

Losing Barrin Simpson and his 84 tackles as a free agent to Saskatchewan (where he led the league with 105) was a killer.

Bad teams can be either those that are easily trounced week after week, or those who are in games every time out only to find a way to lose. Bombers are the latter.