CFL Super Power Rankings: The perils of the division crossover playoff game

Welcome to the new 55-Yard Line CFL super power rankings. Every Thursday we'll look back at the previous week and look ahead to the upcoming week, and rank the best teams and anything else we see fit to rank.

With two weeks left to play in the CFL regular season, there is still so very much to be decided. One thing we do know, however, is that there will be a crossover playoff game. Either the B.C. Lions or Saskatchewan Roughriders will crossover to the East and play the second-place team on the road. Traditionally, that is not a recipe for playoff success.

In the 18 full seasons since the end of U.S. expansion, a team has crossed over to the other side of the playoff bracket seven times. This year will mark the eighth. In those seven previous crossover seasons there is a grand total of two wins. The 2009 Lions beat the Tiger-Cats 34-27 on the road before being trounced by the Alouettes in the East final 56-18. The 2008 Eskimos beat the Blue Bombers before losing to Montreal.

It is interesting to note that every crossover team since 1996 has been a West team crossing over to the East. In the other five crossover years (2012, 2005, 2003, 2002, 1997) the West team moving to the East bracket was a one-and-done team, losing by an average margin of 14.6. The last two crossover teams, the aforementioned '09 Lions and the 2012 Eskimos, both lost to the eventual Grey Cup champion.

Why the lack of success? It may simply be the disadvantage of playing on the road. Over the same 18 season period playoff road teams won an average of just 1.5 games per year (out of the four playoff games, not including the neutral site Grey Cup).

Whatever the reason, it doesn't bode well for any hopes of the first-ever all-West Grey Cup this year in Vancouver.

Team rankings:

1.

Calgary Stampeders (14-2; Previous: 1) - On cruise control with two weeks to go. They're wise to limit how much action Jon Cornish sees. He's questionable for Saturday's game.

2.

Edmonton Eskimos (11-5; Previous: 2) - They had the week off and are a win away from clinching a home playoff game. Three of their five losses were against the Stamps -- clearly the second-best team in the league.

3.

Montreal Alouettes (8-8; Previous: 3) - Their win over the Redblacks wasn't pretty, but Ottawa tends to bring out the worst in teams. Win this week and they're in.

4.

B.C. Lions (9-7; Previous: 4) - Almost let a crucial win slip away against Winnipeg but they clinched a playoff berth. What remains to be seen is whether they stay in the West or head East.

5.

Toronto Argonauts (7-9; Previous: 6) - Kept their season alive with a big home win over the Ticats. Win this week and they clinch.

6.

Hamilton Tiger-Cats (7-9; Previous: 4) - The loss to Toronto leaves them, for now, on the outside of the playoff picture. Need to take care of business this week against Ottawa on the road.

7.

Saskatchewan Roughriders (9-8; Previous: 7) - They should be lower if not for the dreadful teams below them. Losers of five in a row and gave up 25 unanswered points in the loss to Calgary. Where's the defence gone?

8.

Winnipeg Blue Bombers (6-11; Previous: 8) - Admirable performance against the Lions. So what do we make of Mike O'Shea's first year as a head coach?

9.

Ottawa Redblacks (2-14; Previous: 9) - They deserve to be better than a two-win team. Why is 39-year-old Henry Burris still getting the majority of the snaps?

Coming up in Week 19:

Hamilton at Ottawa, Friday, 7:30 ET - A must-win for Hamilton. They're a dismal 1-7 on the road but a sparkling 6-2 at home (5-0 at Tim Hortons Field). Ottawa is playing for pride and little else. Pick: Tiger-Cats.

Winnipeg at Calgary, Saturday, 4 ET - A meaningless game between a team that has clinched the division and a team that has lost eight in a row. It's Winnipeg's last game of the year due to next week's bye. We don't see them going out on a high note. Pick: Stampeders.

B.C. at Edmonton, Saturday, 7 ET - Now we get to the good stuff. This is very likely a West semi-final playoff preview. The Lions still have a shot at catching the Eskimos and hosting that game but need the win this week. Both teams have been playing well but Edmonton is rested. Pick: Eskimos.

Toronto at Montreal, Sunday, 12 ET - Win and you're in. One of these teams will clinch a playoff berth, the other will be a loss away from missing the playoffs. Montreal earned a surprise win in Toronto two weeks ago and here's another chance to prove they're for real. Toronto is coming off a win in which they turned the ball over four times. Fix that, they might be the team to beat. Pick: Argonauts.

Picks -- Last week: 3-1; Season: 44-24

Bye: Saskatchewan -- Need to fix this five-game losing skid. Over the losing streak they've surrendered an average of 32 points per game while scoring only 15.8. And that's not on the QB carousel they've employed.

Disagree with our rankings and picks? Join the conversation on Twitter with @IanDenomme and @YahooSportsCFL.