Who Needs a Blog Poll Week Three: Erik's Apology Edition

As a commenter for five years, and as an Editor for two, I've said my share of dumb things on Roll Bama Roll. None will top this doozy:

The rest of the nation has caught up to the SEC. The PAC 12 is already top to bottom as good as (if not better than) the SEC; the B1G is closer; and the B12 is a player again - not just OU and the Confederacy of Dunces. Moreover, the ACC seems to be somewhat better with Louisville's addition and Notre Dame's emeritus status.

HOLY HELL, was that a bad call. The PAC 12 struggled against both itself and bad teams; two out of three of the AP-ranked ACC teams had iffy results; the B12 looks like Oklahoma's to lose; and I'm not sure what the Big Ten was playing, but that was as bad a day for a major conference as I've ever seen.

But, I've saved most of my opprobrium for the Oregon Ducks. Dear Ducks, I'm sorry. I was wrong.

The hybrid power/results are as follow:

O, Hai! Virginia Tech Hokies - Don't call that an upset. Everyone knows what a Bud Foster defense can do, and now the Hokies have a quarterback-like substance! Tennessee Volunteers- Conference play is apt to be tough for a very young, thin team, but two solid wins over two solid mid-major programs is one of the nation's better resumes at this point. No player has made a bigger leap in development than year one-to-year two Jonathan Worley. BYU Cougars - Absolutely pantsing fools (say hi, Texas!); dynamic QB play, and one of the country's chippier teams. These aren't your dad's Cougars. Missouri Tigers - Blasted a decent team in a true road game with sentimental value to Pinkel; Maty Mauk may lack the accuracy, but that's only because his cajones are dragging him down. Maybe the conference's only competent gunslinger - a huge boon in the East race.

Be Gone! Colorado State Rams - Many teams get smacked around in Boise; few look quite as inept in every phase of the game. Texas Longhorns - Who knew that it took more than dismissing guys by the boatload to be competitive? Offense is still an issue: looked bad vs. No. Tex; looked worse Saturday. More troubling, that defense had no answers. Michigan Wolverines - Baffling game, as Michigan was able to move the ball, but never seriously mustered a threat in a 31-0 loss to bitter rival Notre Dame. Since this series is now on hiatus, the pain of this one and the general buffoonery of Brady Hoke are gonna linger. Mississippi State- Still no running game of note, secondary was hopeless against an awful, but improving, UAB team.

Social Promotion: Oregon - Outcoached, outplayed, out-executed Sparty. Given the mediocre showings of the P12 this week, show me a loss on the schedule. Better yet, unlike other contenders this early in the season, the Ducks have actually earned their accolades on the field. Ole Miss- Still no faith in you, but the Boise win looks a little better, even if the Rebels looked terrible doing so. USC Trojans - Not sure if the Stanford game is replayed ten times that the Trojans win two of those. Lost in the OMG hyper offense, is that the Trojans D conceded tons of yards between the 20s but stiffened up in the read zone (yes, there's a naughty joke in there, BTW). Notre Dame Fighting Irish - Got torched by Funchess, which is acceptable and more than made up for by the DL and Everett Golson, who will start getting Heisman buzz. Auburn Tigers, Alabama Crimson Tide - Market corrections only, here. I'd be concerned about the Auburn defense (still), and the fact that Roc, Grant and CAP still aren't worth one departed-Tre Mason. The Alabama defense is just a much different, markedly better unit with DePriest and Eddie Jackson on the field.

Held Back: Michigan State - Second-half execution issues, miscommunication, and an inability to make adjustments eventually doomed the Spartans in a game that had been a very even tilt. Still, easily the class of the Big Ten. Stanford - David Shaw's bizarro twin brother lost this game. The Treeees moved at will on the ground, then decided to play Air Raid in the red zone...with the PAC 12's worst starting quarterback. Nine redzone trips, ten points. Go back to the manball, and get your head right. UCLA - I predicted the Memphis Tigers would harass this very average team. Little did I realize the the worst skills players in the AAC would light up the Bruins for 305 yards passing. I'm sticking to my guns that this is a 9-3 team, and very possibly worse. Wisconsin-Second consecutive bed-wetting. That team does not look like the one that suited up just two weeks ago. Ohio State - 24 touches for a freshman QB vs 8 carries for the RB; never adjusted to the old Double-Eagle/Desert Swarm defense...hell, never even tried. Worst coaching I've seen from an Urban Meyer team since the 2009 SEC Championship Game. Those linebackers are barely serviceable for the B10; God help them if they ever play someone like Oregon. Nebraska - We saw that Pelini. Prepare for another four-losses, Husker fans. The market correction on Baylor is because SMU looks even worse than anyone could have imagined, and the B12 is looking a little sluggish.