Tide signs off Manziel, Aggies; & some sour Whisky

In last week's poll review, I pointed out that, while Associated Press voters still overwhelmingly gave their nod to Alabama, Oregon possibly should be given more consideration as the nation's top team.

The Ducks were again great, thrashing Tennessee in Eugene, Ore., but the Tide showed some top-team moxie going into Johnny Manziel's house, overcoming an early Aggie onslaught, and winning. Fine, Tide. Fine. You're No. 1. Oregon is No. 2. And, until one or the other loses, those spots are secure from here on out.

ASSOCIATED PRESS POLL

What voters got right: There really wasn't much, at the very top at least, for voters to screw up as several teams didn't play this week. The middle and lower portions of the poll are a mess, but at least folks remembered to kick out TCU, which either puked on itself in Lubbock, was one of the first (of many?) victims for Texas Tech this season, or both.

What voters got wrong: Where to start here... where to start... Okay, A&M jumps out to a big lead on Alabama, falls behind after the two-time defending champion responds in kind, and then forces some major money to change hands in Vegas depending on which line you had. All of that means a four-spot drop? While Louisville plods along uninspired against arguably the SEC's worst team in Kentucky and remains solid at No. 7? Ahead of domination from Florida State and LSU? No. That doesn't seem right.

Voters who contributed to the A&M free fall should be ashamed, or at least look in the mirror and ask themselves how much of that was based on a general dislike of Manziel or something else non-football related.

Elsewhere, UCLA easily could have avoided this mess, but was lumped in when Nebraska was dumped out of the Top 25. Two ways to look at this: 1) The Bruins are deserving of a jump up past Oklahoma and Miami, and that choice is validated by the Huskers remaining in the poll; or 2) Nebraska isn't good and should be out, which lessens the win quality for UCLA, despite it being in Lincoln. Pick one, voters. Not both, not when OU was impressive against Tulsa and the Hurricanes were idle.

And, so much fail is involved with Arizona State's moving ahead of Wisconsin, not to mention the Badgers falling four spots. Did anybody actually watch the game's end? Had officials played the best defense of the night in not allowing the Badgers to snap the ball, Whisky likely kicks a game-winning field goal. Non-watching pollsters see a road win for a ranked team, and all is good. But, of course that didn't happen, and here's this mess. Fantastic.

Other thoughts: Ole Miss got Longhorn-Network'ed, meaning nobody saw it beat the hide off of Texas. That's the only reason I can come up with on why Florida is still ranked ahead of both the Rebels (and Baylor, for that matter).

The "Buddy, let me get you a drink after that" award goes to: Wisconsin.

USA TODAY COACHES POLL

This poll was much, much cleaner than the AP version, but it didn't get out of Week 3 perfectly, either.

What the "coaches" (or SIDs) got right: The top 2/3 of the poll is pretty solid for the most part. This poll got it right with regard to judging and slotting UCLA correctly i relation to other teams like the Sooners; especially when Nebraska got absolutely crushed and dropped from No. 15 to out the door (like Texas did a week ago). I'm a little surprised Michigan didn't fall farther after surviving Akron, but that's pretty minor, I think.

What the "coaches" missed: Basically, this is a lesser carbon copy of the AP. Louisville again got a free pass for a lackluster effort, while A&M dropped three places to No. 9. I don't get this. And, Wisconsin is being treated like a red-headed stepchild after a controversial loss that easily could have been a win... while the team that won gets to jump up to No. 23? Say what? Someone, explain. Explain right now.

Overall, my faith isn't shaken in this poll nearly like it was in the AP's effort this week. But, where I praised both polls last week for their willingness to be fluid in letting teams prove themselves, this greased slip-and-slide routine is too much. I'm interested now in seeing whether those teams affected early are allowed a chance to recover. That can't happen if the polls suddenly violently swing the other way and lock down.

***Edit note: Some may have noticed the fail on my part as well where I had my initial version pointing out Louisville's incorrect winning margin. Yeah, if I'm going to call out the polls on a weekly basis, I'll call out my own dumb stuff as well. It doesn't change how I feel about the Cardinals. I think they should be behind LSU and Florida State at this point. -ck