The CFL season doesn’t really start until after Labour Day.
Well, the summer is ending, the schedule is winding down, and the CFL standings are, for the most part, close enough that one weekend could have a major impact.
Labour Day weekend has arrived, and all eight teams set to compete in Week 14 are still alive in the playoff race.
From Quebec to Saskatchewan, Ontario then Alberta, CFL fans will be treated to a little bit of everything in this week’s rivalry games.
Let’s rank the CFL Labour Day weekend games based on what’s at stake in this Morning Coffee column for Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026.
Ranking the CFL Labour Day weekend games based on what’s at stake
4. Winnipeg Blue Bombers at Saskatchewan Roughriders - Friday, 7 p.m. ET
Three wins is all that separates first from fifth in the CFL West Division standings entering Week 14, with the Bombers one win back of the Riders for second place.
Just when CFL fans were ready to count out Zach Collaros and company, Winnipeg responded with its best performance of the season in a blowout win over the best team in the league.
Collaros went 26-of-32 for 324 passing yards in an upset win over the Montreal Alouettes 44-28.
The Bombers improved to 2-1 straight up and 3-0 against the spread in their past three games.
Now they will need to build on the momentum of that victory with the first of a home-and-home against the rival Riders.
Saskatchewan snapped a two-game slide with a 28-24 win over the Toronto Argonauts in Week 13 but has failed to cover the spread in three straight games.
Despite their recent struggles, the Riders are a 5.5-point home favourite this week.
The Bombers to pull off another upset is +215.
Winnipeg’s odds to win the Grey Cup have doubled from +750 preseason to +1500 this morning at FanDuel.
Are the Bombers being overlooked as a team that still has the potential to surprise if healthy come playoff time? A home-and-home against Saskatchewan represents a solid measuring -stick opportunity for Winnipeg.
3. Toronto Argonauts at Hamilton Tiger-Cats - Monday, 2:30 p.m. ET
The Tiger-Cats seemed to have some momentum on their side following a Week 11 upset win over Saskatchewan, but that sentiment has since soured with back-to-back losses to Toronto and Calgary.
Hamilton is now 1-5 in its previous six games, and desperately need to get back in the win column this weekend to avoid failing to 4-9 overall.
Meanwhile, the Argonauts can take a big step towards locking up second place in the East Division with a win in Monday’s Battle of the QEW.
Chad Kelly has thrown for 3,642 passing yards and 24 touchdowns this season, and he’ll have his full complement of receivers available versus Hamilton.
Toronto has gone a perfect 5-0 against the spread in its five wins this season, including a 39-20 win over the Tiger-Cats as a 4.5-point favourite in Week 12.
The Argonauts are laying 3.5 this week at FanDuel. It will be interesting to see if Toronto can extend that perfect ATS streak in victories with a win and cover.
With the Tiger-Cats fighting for their playoff lives, and the Argos looking to take a step towards solidifying second place in the East, this game lands at No. 3 on my list.
2. BC Lions at Montreal Alouettes - Friday, 7:30 p.m. ET
Week 14 in the CFL kicks off with a clash between two of the league’s best quarterbacks as MOP favourite Davis Alexander leads Montreal against Nathan Rourke and BC.
The Lions have emerged as the league’s hottest team with five straight wins following a surprising 1-5 start. BC is two wins back of Edmonton for first place in the West Division standings entering a home-and-home versus Montreal.
As impressive as they have looked at times in recent weeks, the Lions are at an interesting crossroads with a home-and-home against the Alouettes, followed by a home date with Saskatchewan.
If they can secure two or more wins in that three-game run, BC will be in excellent position heading into the final stretch of the season.
On the flip side, one win or an 0-3 drought and the Lions will be looking up at the rest of the West Division entering October.
This week, they’ll get a hungry Montreal side that is coming off its first regulation loss of the season.
The Alouettes had won seven in a row and covered six in a row heading into Week 13, before a blowout 44-28 loss to Winnipeg as a 6.5-point favourite.
This week, Montreal is a 4.5-point favourite versus BC. The Lions are +205 to pull off the upset win on the road.
The Alouettes are coming off a loss, with a couple of extra days rest, and home-field advantage versus a BC side playing its second East Coast game in six days.
Alexander remains the MOP favourite at -270 at FanDuel. Rourke is a distant third choice to win it at +1200.
With the MOP discussion in the spotlight in a game with major implications for BC in the standings, Friday Night Football gets the No. 2 spot in my Labour Day weekend power rankings.
1. Edmonton Elks at Calgary Stampeders - Monday, 6 p.m. ET
The season might not start until Labour Day, but nobody expected the Elks to be alone in first place in the CFL standings entering Week 14.
Edmonton’s regular-season win total was 7.5 at FanDuel. The 8-3 Elks officially clinched the over with a 22-19 win over the Bombers in Week 12.
On Monday, they can stretch their win streak to three in a row in the first of a home-and-home against their provincial rival.
The status of Calgary QB Vernon Adams Jr. is still up in the air, but the Stampeders have some momentum after Jalon Love led them to a win over Hamilton in Week 13.
At 5-6, Calgary remains the lone West Division team with a losing record.
At minimum, the Stampeders will need to find a way to salvage a split versus Edmonton and avoid falling three games below .500 in the standings.
Meanwhile, Cody Fajardo is the second choice to win CFL regular season Most Outstanding Player at +850 at FanDuel, and the Elks have their eye on the best record in the entire league heading into Labour Day weekend.
I recommended a play on Edmonton ML -102 in Monday morning’s column.
That number has since moved to Elks -115 at FanDuel.
With Adams’ status in doubt and Edmonton off a bye, I still think there’s value playing the Elks in the first of a critical home-and-home.
Regardless of the outcome, the first installment of the Battle of Alberta will have major implications.
Have a great day, everyone!
