Eternal optimist

In 2017, the situation you're describing applied. A fourth place team (Saskatchewan, 10-8) crossed to the East, and had to play on the road in Ottawa (8-9-1), despite SSK having a better record. That year, SSK actually even had a better record than the East Division Champion (Toronto, 9-9). Your solution however, still doesn't quite make sense though... if SSK did get to host Ottawa instead (because they had a better record), how is that fair to Edmonton? They finished 12-6 (3rd in the West), and would've been the only Western team in the semis to play on the road, despite having a better record than SSK.

They would play in the 2nd place team in the East division semi-final. In this scenario, the 3rd place team in the East wouldn't make the playoffs. The change you're describing doesn't make any sense... if playoffs happened right now, a cross-over would cause EDM (6-6) to play MTL (6-4), in MTL... this makes perfect sense, MTL has the better record. I think what you mean is if the 4th place team in the West has a better record than the 2nd place team in the East...which in that case, I agree that doesn't make sense.

I understand the gripe here, but if the entire league were one division, season series would be much less important, and playoff positions would be all but set 2/3 through the season. If today, the league were one division it'd look like this: HAM: 9-2 WPG: 9-3 CAL: 7-4 SSK: 7-4 MTL: 6-4 EDM: 6-6 ************ OTT: 3-8 TOR: 2-9 BC: 1-10 Overall, it'd make the stretch run much less exciting, because there is a lot less for the teams to play for. By no means is the current system perfect, but consolidating things into one division wouldn't help, it'd make the imbalance between good and bad teams that much worse. Teams would be coasting into the playoffs easily with 3-4 games left, without much (if anything) to play for.

By definition, isn't every team winless in Grey Cup berths since their last Grey Cup win?

IN OTHER NEWS... nobody has kicked the tires on Roc Carmichael again, ever. Happy?

Oddly enough, Montreal's inconsistency really shows when you look at their wins/loss record. They have six wins, all against different teams (HAM, OTT, EDM, CAL, TOR, BC). They also have 4 losses, also all against different teams (EDM, HAM, OTT, SSK). The only team they've won the season series with is EDM, by virtue of point differential. Down the stretch, they'll have a lot to play for. For the Blue and Gold, I think if we win in SSK and split the remaining 2 with CAL, then go .500 in the other 4 (4-2 overall), that should be enough to clinch 1st.

Yeah, people seem to forget that Augustine had a very respectable game yesterday (16 carries for 75 yards, 4.7 yards per carry average) against SSK's run D, which was ranked 3rd in the league coming in yards given up per game (91.1 yards per game)... only teams better at stopping the run is CAL (89.5 yards per game) and us (69.2 yards per game)

After yesterday? Yes... we should go back to running thunder & lightning... Harris (lightning), Streveler (thunder) lol.

If a Judge gets trucked on a Streveler run, does it make a sound? Yes. That sound is fans cheering at IGF... which is also louder than New Mosaic.

HH to LaPo for having the balls to call that QB draw on 2nd and 17 at the start of the game.

This will bear fruition when playoffs come, just like last year.

Gameday! Game is against the insufferable Riders (7-3). It (could) decide the season series, and is always a pivotal part of the regular season. Go Bombers!

I'd say we have about a 1 in 9 chance.

He probably saw Matt Nichols in a local bar lifting the beer bottle with his left arm... that's how credible a source Friesen is...

Fixed that for you...

So, if they've released Santiago, does that mean Augustine is flying solo - no backup? This seems like a risky move to me, RBs get hurt all the time.

Most barn animals in Saskatchewan, at any time of day.

...and people were losing their minds because we lost by 2 yesterday... what's happening HAM?!?

No. I said he wasn't ready and you all laughed at me. Well, who's laughing now??? None of us... this situation sucks.

I want to see how well Mr. Fajardo plays at 108 decibels.

Respectfully, I would counter your argument as follows: 1) Andrew Harris - heart and soul of the team and our leading rusher and MOP candidate, did not play a single snap. On top of that, his suspension was a significant distraction for the team this week. 2) The release of Matthews also arguably could be seen as a distraction. 3) Nichols was out for this game, it was only Streveler's 5th career start as a QB (I think). 4) They lost by two points on Labor Day, the 'Riders have won 13 of the last 14 LDC games going into today. They. own. Labor Day. 5) As much as I hate to admit it, the Riders are 2nd in the West - they have a good team - it's not like they just lost to BC. 6) Mosaic Stadium is not friendly to visitors, we just have to make sure IGF is just as loud and hostile. All things considered, this team had every excuse to rollover and die being down 10-0 in the first, with the place going nuts, a backup QB, a backup RB and a venue that in recent memory has been an absolute house of horrors for this franchise. They fought hard, came back, and almost pulled it off. Valiant effort but that's how the chips fall sometimes. Go out there and get after 'em in the Banjo Bowl.

It's not so bad if you consider the football gods are just taking away the gifted win we got against CAL from that fortunate INT late...it all evens out in the end.

Gotta give some props to Kenny Lawler, 4/4 for 67 yards, and our leading receiver in a losing effort.

With it being the LDC, I was pleasantly surprised that they lost by so little.

Instead of burning cash on an all-star wide receiver that this offense clearly won't use effectively, why not a bruising full back to take the heat off of Harris? Another guy like Mike Sellers would be fantastic, and running backs/full backs are a dime a dozen, no?