Power rankings

The ninetieth quest for Lord Grey's silver chalice began on June 27 with the Montreal Alouettes defeating the BC Lions, 27-20. Coming up to week five of the 2002 Canadian Football League season, there have been things that haven't surprised fans, such as the Als being unbeaten to this point and the new/old West Division being super-rivalry-rific.

But there are some pleasant surprises, such as the expansion Ottawa Renegades being very competitive thus far, and some not so pleasant surprises, like defending Grey Cup champion Calgary being held without a win in the first four weeks of the season.

This brings us to the power rankings, the most irreverent of all sports rankings. Power rankings are statistically averaged out rankings that will either make sports fans smile a bit more because of the success of their team or royally piss them off because they feel their team gets gypped.

Enter my power rankings for the CFL, which are derived from four criteria: breakdown rank, number of losses, strength of schedule, and average margin of victory.

The team with the top ranking in the respective categories gets nine points, second gets eight, and so on and so forth. Why? Because it's part of the formula! (By the way, much props to my friend Dan for inspiring my formula via his BCS standings for our fantasy baseball league.)

Disclaimer: If you feel your team doesn't deserve to be so low in the power rankings, don't blame me. Blame the formula!

Breakdown Rank: This is the ranking for the total number of victories your team would have recorded if they had played every team in the league this past week.

1. Winnipeg (7-0) 2. BC (6-1) 3. Saskatchewan (5-2) 4. Montreal (4-4) 5. Hamilton (3-5) 6. Calgary (2-6) 7. Edmonton (1-7) 8. Ottawa (0-8)

Toronto does not get points because they did not play this past week. Winnipeg is the top team; then again, if your team scored 55 points in a game, you'd be the top team too. That is, unless someone else scored 56.

Losses: Self-explanatory; the team with the least losses gets the most points.

1. Montreal (4-0) 2. Winnipeg (3-1) 3. Saskatchewan (3-1) 4. Edmonton (3-1) 5. Hamilton (2-2) 6. Ottawa (1-3-0-1) 7. BC (1-3) 8. Toronto (1-3) 9. Calgary (0-4-0-1)

The second category goes to Montreal for their perfect record. Even though they all have even records, Winnipeg finishes ahead of Saskatchewan by virtue of quality wins. But don't fret Rider fans: your team is ahead of Edmonton by virtue of the 45-11 stomping of the Eskimos last week. Strange how Ottawa is ahead of BC, but that's because they have an overtime loss from week one. Lame, yes, but alas, that's how the system works. Read the disclaimer again if you don't believe me.

Strength of Schedule: A compilation of the combined record of your team's opponents in the first four weeks.

1. Ottawa (total SOS: 12-4) 1. Calgary (total SOS: 12-4) 3. Toronto (total SOS: 11-5) 4. BC (total SOS: 9-7) 5. Saskatchewan (total SOS: 8-8-0-2) 6. Montreal (total SOS: 5-11-0-2) 6. Winnipeg (total SOS: 5-11-0-2) 6. Edmonton (total SOS: 5-11-0-2) 6. Hamilton (total SOS: 5-11-0-2)

Ottawa and Calgary are around the bottom of the league standings, yet are tied for first in schedule of strength. Have you noticed that the further down you go, the worse the strength of schedule is? And have you noticed that some of the better teams have the lighter end of the strength of schedule? Hmmm. how is that a coincidence?

Average Margin of Victory: This one is pretty self-explanatory as well.

1. Winnipeg (+37) 2. BC (+30) 3. Saskatchewan (+16) 4. Montreal (+12) 4. Edmonton (+12) 6. Hamilton (+8) 6. Toronto (+8) 8. Ottawa (+1) 9. Calgary (0)

Calgary does not have a margin of victory because they have not won any games yet.

After all the points have been added up, here are the first of my many power rankings for the 2002 season:

1. Winnipeg (30 points) 2. Saskatchewan (26 points) 3. Montreal (25 points) 3. BC (25 points) 5. Edmonton (19 points) 6. Hamilton (18 points) 7. Ottawa (16 points) 8. Calgary (15 points) 9. Toronto (13 points)

Remember, the records are thrown out when it comes to power rankings. That's why BC is ahead of Edmonton; it's the consequence of: a) squashing your opponent for the week and b) getting squashed by your opponent for the week.

At the end of week four, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers are ahead of the pack, but the Saskatchewan Roughriders and Montreal Alouettes are close on their trail. This is an important week for the Bombers, who have two games on their schedule, including one against third-ranked Montreal. Saskatchewan can gain some ground as well if they can put the hurt on the Stampeders in Calgary.

The BC Lions and Edmonton Eskimos square off in an important power ranking match-up that could see either BC increasing its lead over Edmonton or the Eskimos inching closer to the Lions. The Ottawa Renegades can gain some ground on, or overtake, Hamilton's spot if they can beat the Tiger-Cats at home.