CFL Update For Mid-October 2023

    

The CFL is quickly coming to the end of the 2023 regular season, and the playoff picture is quickly clearing up. In fact, the East is now all set. Toronto will be the number one seed, and will host the winner of the Eastern Semifinal Game between Hamilton and Montreal, where the game will be played.

Out West, it looks like Winnipeg will once again be the number one seed for a fourth season in a row. They sport an impressive 12-4 record, and should be able to clinch the West's top seed. British Columbia will likely get to host the Western Semifinal Game, barring an unlikely Winnipeg collapse, which could allow the Lions to snatch that top spot away from the Blue Bombers. Whichever way, the second seed will host either Calgary or Saskatchewan. The Roughriders blew a golden opportunity to effectively clinch a playoff spot by dropping the game against the Stampeders, so there is still some real intrigue out West. 

It is interesting, and this past weekend helped make it more so. Let's review this past weekend in the CFL:

British Columbia 33, Hamilton 30 - The 12-5 Lions kept their slim chances at the top seed in the West alive by knocking off Hamilton, who had been hot and nipping on the heels of the Alouettes for the second seed in the East. Now, the 8-9 Tiger-Cats will definitely have to hit the road to Montreal in their playoff game.

Calgary 26, Saskatchewan 19 - The Stampeders despite could have been eliminated, but won this very important game, which was almost like a playoff game. With the win, they improve to 5-11, which is only half a game behind the 6-11 Roughriders, who really missed an opportunity to clinch that final playoff spot in the West.

Montreal 35, Edmonton 21 - The 10-7 Alouettes took care of business and beat the lowly 4-13  Edmonton Elks. In the process, they clinched the number two seed in the East, and will get to host a playoff game by virtue of Hamilton's loss to the BC Lions.

Toronto 40, Ottawa 27 - The defending champions, the Toronto Argonauts, remained the hottest team in the league by blasting the Ottawa Redblacks in this one. The Argos raised their league best record to 14-2, while the Redblacks fall to 4-13.