The East-West imbalance in the Canadian Football League has become so lopsided that the last-place team in one division now has the same record as the first-place team in the other.

As if the West’s 17-2-1 record against the East in 2017 wasn’t enough of an indication, we now have a scenario, where if the season ended today, the Saskatchewan Roughriders would miss the playoffs entirely, while the Montreal Alouettes would host the East Final — both with the same sub. 500 record.

To emphasize our point, consider that the West-leading Edmonton Eskimos have seven wins this season, which happens to be the same total as all four of the East Division teams combined.

It’s not like this is new. The West has been dominating the East for decades in the CFL regular season. Even though the Ottawa Redblacks won the Grey Cup last year — fair and square in an overtime thriller over 15-2-1 Calgary — they were fortunate to even be there after finishing first in the East with just an 8-9-1 record.

On Monday, our column suggested it’s time for the CFL to change its current East-West playoff format — with the potential for one crossover playoff spot — and go with one division, in order to reward the best teams in the league.

The top two teams in the standings would get a first-round playoff bye, while the next four play off to see who meets them in the semifinals.

That drew plenty of reaction from around the country, so today it’s time to let the fans have their say through e-mails and social media:

Ted, I'll disagree with you for one reason. It would be the end of the league. Look at Toronto's attendance. Look at Hamilton's attendance last night . Now scrap the East/West format and tell me if there are any fans left in the stands knowing they are out of any playoff hope. Even Ottawa would be suffering fan-wise with their record if the current playoff format was scrapped.

Tim Deacon via e-mail

Last 10 Grey Cups are 6-4. You conveniently omitted that stat. If the West are really that much better, then they must be the bigger chokers.

Rivercitybum on Twitter

Agreed. It's ridiculous, especially this year, that Montreal or Toronto will be in the Grey Cup with likely a sub .500 record.

Jared Van Beveren on Facebook

As it stands right now, Saskatchewan has a poorer record than Montreal and Toronto. If the season ends in the same positions then the top six teams will make the playoffs anyway. They should only drop the current format if they want to kill Eastern Canadian interest in the CFL entirely.

Michael Freeman on Nationalpost.com

(This comment came before Saskatchewan beat B.C. on Sunday night to improve to 3-4, matching Montreal’s East-leading record)

The crossover ensures that the top 6 teams are always represented in the playoffs. The integrity of the competition is protected.

When it comes down to it, the East/West discussion has less to do with that than it does with representation. Statistically it is not true that the East has been underrepresented, but it does seem to feel that way sometimes. But the answer is not as simple as turning it into a single division. There is a strong case to be made that the best way to keep the East and West represented is through divisions. It keeps rivalries in play, allows for those rivalries to be utilized in a more intentional and focused way, which then allows fans of different areas of the country to connect on a more intimate level.

On the flip side, the cost of changing the league I don't think has enough positive or upside to be warranted. Sure, it sounds idealistic in a small league like ours, but if the problem is representation, a single league option does nothing to remedy that. The East teams would still be in the East and the West in the West. In fact, it could even make it more difficult.

Dave Courtney on Facebook

The CFL playoff format can be fixed while maintaining an East Division/ West Division regionalized regular season schedule. (Cheaper travel costs per team with unbalanced schedule.)

What you do is take the regular season divisional standings and seed each of the division winners #1 and #2. (In order of regular season records against each other.) Then seed all 7 other teams #3 through #9 in order of records. You give #1 a Grey Cup Quarter Finals bye. The Grey Cup Quarter Finals: 2vs7, 3vs6, 4vs5. Higher seed gets home field advantage. Three winners advance to Grey Cup Semi Finals.

Next the #1seed plays lowest remaining seed. 2nd highest remaining seed plays 3rd highest remaining seed in the other game. Winners advance to play the Grey Cup Game.

In keeping with tradition the Western Division Champions' trophy is awarded to the Western Division team with best regular season record. East Division Champions' trophy awarded to East Division team with best regular season record too.

This 7-team playoff format creates one more playoff game every season. New rivalries can be created. Also I would play the quarter-finals games on Friday night (1) and Saturday (2). Semifinals game on Saturday (2). And move the Grey Cup game to Saturdays. Avoid the NFL games and give fans time to celebrate the Grey Cup game the rest of the weekend, including all of Saturday night. Making it a maximum cultural event before, during and after the game is over through the rest of the weekend.

— Dominic Froome on Nationalpost.com

I think the East/West thing should stay with the crossover. BUT if no team in the East finishes above .500 — the second-place team should host the East Final. So last year, the B.C. Lions would have hosted the East Final. Basically, the league needs a scenario where if one division is hideous, a new playoff format is introduced.

Joe from Scarborough on Facebook

Regardless of sport, the West tends to dominate the East in North America. The main reason for this are time zone differences. A team from the East that goes in the West ends up playing a game past midnight using their own time zone as a reference. This is why (leagues) use a West and East system to mitigate this advantage. The biggest problem to me is the fact teams play about as many games against conference rivals as they play against teams from the other conference.

Man Athan on Nationalpost.com

Like you I want to see the best teams rewarded by playing in the post season each year, irrespective of which conference they inhabit. Some might reasonably argue the format you propose would weaken the national identity of the league. I'm sure Randy Ambrosie would sic the league's entire legal staff — OK, one guy with two years of pre-law — on anyone who seriously proposed such an heretical change in post-season format.

Doug McIntyre via e-mail

I don’t think having any teams get a free pass is the right format. Make it the best 8 teams getting in with the regular season record dictating their seed for the whole playoffs. 1 vs. 8, 2 vs. 7, 3 vs. 6, 4 vs. 5 first round, second round is highest seed vs. lowest seed and second highest vs. second lowest. Then highest vs. lowest for the Grey Cup. Teams don't need a bye with short playoffs in a small league. Seed them, play them, let the best team emerge the winner.

Dave Beaudin via email

I completely agree with your article about the CFL crossover. Along those lines why does the fourth-place team get to crossover and they don't give the third-place team the option? They earned that incentive with a better record and would not get home field advantage by not going to the east and it would be a huge advantage.

— Jay Safir via email

Twyman@postmedia.com

Twitter.com/Ted_Wyman