The CFL season is fast approaching as teams prepare for what should be an exciting and action-packed few weeks. The competition gets underway on June 8, and the regular season will last until October 28. While the game’s rules have remained the same for this upcoming season, there have been some big changes to scheduling that should make the league easier to follow for fans.
While the CFL may still be second-best to the NFL, it’s a great way for football fans to enjoy some action during the offseason. The league is growing too and getting better every year, with more and more fans tuning in. This season you can catch the games on the CBS Sports Network, and you’ll find the CFL schedule and scores online. In this article, we’ll look at what you can expect from the upcoming season.
Scheduling Changes for the CFL
The league has made a few changes to how the 2023 season is scheduled to make things more interesting for the fans. The first of these changes that that the playoffs will be moved from Sundays to Saturdays.
In addition, the schedule should also feature fewer weeks where teams play each other back-to-back. This should create more interest in the league, as there will be fewer instances of teams playing each other multiple times over a short period of time.
Finally, there’s also more consistency over kick-off times, with a greater number of games taking place at 7 pm ET either on Saturday or Sunday.
Top Teams in the CFL in 2023
While we’re still a month away from the league getting underway, it’s never too early to start making predictions. In 2022, the Toronto Argonauts defeated the Winnipeg Blue Bombers to lift the Grey Cup, preventing the Blue Bombers from lifting the Cup for the third consecutive time. It was an incredibly close game, decided by a single point, and fans will be hoping for another thrilling season this year.
The Blue Bombers remain a strong favorite for this season, but other top teams in the running for the Grey Cup include the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, the BC Lions, and the Toronto Argonauts again. Let’s look at their chances.
Winnipeg Blue Bombers
The Blue Bombers narrowly missed out on their third consecutive Grey Cup last season, which would have made them the first team to do so since 1980. This season they’ll no doubt be back for revenge, and their roster has remained the same, putting them in strong contention. Jackson Jeffcoat and Winston Rose are two key players that have been re-signed for the new season, and two-time CFL West All-Star Kenny Lawler was also brought in as a free agent.
Hamilton Tiger-Cats
The Tiger-Cats are currently the second favorites according to the sportsbooks, thanks to their impressive rebuild. The team has brought in two-time CFL Most Outstanding Player (MOP) Bo Levi Mitchell to be their new quarterback, and he could prove the difference. They’ve also brought in a new running back, wide receiver, and offensive lineman to help them push for the Grey Cup.
BC Lions
The Lions ended with their best record since 2016 last season as they won twelve games while losing six. They’ll be looking to build on that success this season, and they’re currently ranked as the third favorites to lift the Grey Cup. Although they’ve lost two key players in Nathan Rourke and Bryan Burnham, they still have one of the best rosters in the CFL.
Toronto Argonauts
The Argonauts are now the most successful team in the history of the CFL, and some think they could manage to win the Grey Cup once more this season. They certainly have a strong roster, and despite the financial difficulties that the franchise has suffered in recent years, the experience of players like Andrew Harris may prove the difference in their season.
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