#CFLTC13

CFL.ca Staff

TORONTO -- For the second-straight year, the CFL.ca Power Rankings will pit Matthew Cauz against The Machine. Last season, The Machine topped Cauz in a bitter competition that lasted until the final week.

Who will come out on top in 2012?

Click here for a more detailed explanation of the CFL.ca Power Rankings.

Here are the Week #8 Mathematical Power Rankings:

The Machine
Rank	Team	Points	Previous	Change
1		10.6	1
2		2.7	4
3		0.7	2
4		0.4	3
5		-0.1	5
6		-1.3	6
7		-2.1	7
8		-10.5	8

Matthew Cauz | CFL.ca Columnist

BC Lions (5-2)
It is now three-straight games that the Lions have given up less than 10 points. Fair to say they have taken the mantle from Edmonton of "Best defence in the league". He certainly didn’t have a good run as a head coach in Toronto, but Rich Stubler is doing an excellent job coordinating a highly talent group of players in BC. For the rest of the season I plan on using "British Columbia" instead of BC Why should the best team in the league be reduced to an abbreviation?

Montreal Alouettes (4-3)
There certainly have been games with larger margins of victory than Montreal's 38-25 win over Edmonton, but none have been as impressive. On the road, against the top defence in the league and with both Jamel Richardson and Brandon Whitaker out of the lineup, yet, Anthony Calvillo and the rest of the offence put up the four easiest touchdown drives you can imagine in the first half alone. Yet another virtuoso performance by Calvillo, his teammates, Marc Trestman and the rest of the coaching staff.

Toronto Argonauts (4-3)
Solid bounce-back game for Ricky Ray after an ugly outing against the Lions. Also, the Chad Kackertt era certainly kicked off in style, as the tailback rumbled his way to 135 total yards. The double deuce was rocking on Saturday night with five field goals from Swayze Waters!

Edmonton Eskimos (4-3)
The problem with the Eskimos is they're just not built to come from behind. The team has been getting it done with remarkable defensive play, opportunistic scoring and a whole bunch of Hugh Charles. However, let's be honest, when Montreal went up by a couple scores we all kinda knew they weren't coming back. I have no idea what happened behind closed doors but I'm rooting for Cory Boyd to bounce back in Edmonton.

Calgary Stampeders (3-4)
With Drew Tate out, the offence clearly revolves around Jon Cornish. In Calgary's three wins Cornish has averaged 126 total yards compared to 46 yards in the team's four losses.

Hamilton Tiger-Cats (3-4)
Any way Chris Williams can play defensive back as well?

Saskatchewan Roughriders (3-4)
I guess when Darian Durant blew out the candles for his 30th birthday he didn't wish for a turnover-free game against the Lions? Remember when the Roughriders beat the Lions and were 3-0? Seems like ages ago, doesn't it? What did you think would happen first? Saskatchewan would get their fourth win or the Summer Olympics would come and go? If you picked the Olympics, you've done something the Green and White haven’t done in ages, win.

Winnipeg Blue Bombers (2-5)
I have no idea how good Joey Elliot is or what his ceiling can be; but his game-winning drive against Hamilton is a solid building block. Four minutes to go, Hamilton has just tied it on a beautiful 84-yard touchdown catch by Chris Williams and a successful two point conversion. Instead of shrinking in the moment Elliot goes 4-4 for 60 yards to help set up the winning touchdown by Will Ford.