The CFL season starts tonight and it should be a year of intrigue across the league as all teams have questions going in. Here's the way I see it shaking down at the end of the regular season

WESTERN CONFERENCE

1. BC LIONS (12-6)  - They still have the best team on paper. Guys like Simon, Smith, Murphy, Clermont, Miles, Johnson and Banks still make this team a solid favourite to be in Montreal November 23.

2. SASKATCHEWAN ROUGHRIDERS (11-7) - No one thinks the Riders can do in 2008 what they did in 2007. Its never easy to repeat but this team will be much better than those outside Saskatchewan think. Marcus Crandell won't be Kerry Joseph and Ken Miller won't be Kent Austin but this team won't be pushed off the mountain easily

3. CALGARY STAMPEDERS (9-9) - Henry Burris has a lot of weapons at his disposal but can the offensive line protect him enough. Their defence simply doesn't impress me. Simply said, John Hufnagel is not pulling off a Kent Austin. 

4. EDMONTON ESKIMOS (7-11) - They will be better but not good enough to land a playoff spot. The biggest question about this team is will Danny Macioccia last the season as head coach. I'll be surprised if he's around by Labour Day.

EASTERN CONFERENCE

1. TORONTO ARGONAUTS (12-6)  - Whether it be Kerry Joseph or Michael Bishop leading the offence, this team is built on defence and the saying is "defence wins championships". It will be tough to get points against this veteran group

2. WINNIPEG BLUE BOMBERS (10-8) - This team looks a lot like the team that lost to the Riders on Grey Cup Sunday and they will be in the upper echelon of the league again. Can Milt Stegall get his hands on the Grey Cup or does he have to come back in 2009.

3. HAMILTON TIGER-CATS (6-12) - Like Edmonton, this team will be better in 2008 but not good enough to be a serious Grey Cup contender. Casey Printers is the starting quarterback but I think Ti-Cat fans will see a lot of Timmy Chang and Richie Williams this year.

4. MONTREAL ALOUETTES (5-13) - There is no way the home team plays in their stadium on Grey Cup Sunday. The Alouettes are the team that takes the big fall in 2008. This team needs to find a young quarterback to take over from Anthony Calvillo who surely will retire after this season won't he?????

To take it one step further....the league MVP will be Charles Roberts, the top Canadian will be Andy Fantuz. Adarius Bowman takes rookie honors with Brent Johnson being the top defensive player.

In the end, I see the quarterback that was cast aside by his team after winning the Grey Cup having an opportunity to exact revenge on that team who will be trying to duplicate their 2007. Yes Kerry Joseph and the Saskatchewan Roughriders will be front and center on Grey Cup Sunday but Joseph will be wearing double blue. Who wins that contest??????? I'll tell you in November. Remember as David Letterman would say....this is only an exhibition and not a competition....please NO wagering!!!  Enjoy the season!