Ugh.

That seems to be the recurring theme for the past few days. This could be my shakiest BlogPoll effort yet, thanks to seeing very few games Saturday, a bunch of driving, and two days of work that were A LOT more frustrating than they needed to be. But, since I took this solemn oath to defend the honor of the Idaho Vandals fill out a college football poll ballot every week, here I am. I think that while I might have based this week’s poll alot more on last week’s than I have in previous polls, the placement of some key losses provided enough of a shake-up to make it feel worthwhile.

Southern Cal – Good teams get the job done. Of course, great teams don’t let us get even the teeniest bit excited that they’re about to go down.
Texas – Va Tech might be catching up here, but handling 15-year veteran Brad Smith is no easy task.
Virginia Tech – Not as many yards and points as we’re used to, but Marcus Vick will always be “number one” in Morgantown.
Georgia – Did not play, still moved up a spot.
Florida State
Ohio State – Did not play, moved up two spots. Big one coming up this week, though more likely than not, it will just prove how much of a fluke Michael Robinson and Penn State really is (together, in a separate sort of way).
Alabama – They may have peaked, unless the only “L” in Bama’s hand is Tyrone Protho’s left fibula.
Arizona State – Close, but no cee-gar.
Tennessee
Louisiana State
Miami (Florida) – Pretty much stayed the same, though a moderately impressive win over USF could prove much stronger later in the year, if the Bulls kick anyone else around Louisville-style again.
Florida – “Three points? That’s all we got, three god damn points?” “You can’t say ‘god damn’ on the air!” “Ah, nobody’s listening anyway.”
Cal – Mo’ Betta Booya!
Wisconsin – I thought Wisky’s offense was supposed to be an immovable object?
Notre Dame – Purdue doesn’t have UM or OSU on the schedule. They don’t have much of an offense, either.
Boston College – Avenged a near loss to Balls Tate from last year.
UCLA
Michigan State – This team has the potential to be about ten spots higher. Also has the potential (and the history) to end up 6-5 and playing in a pre-Christmas bowl.
Penn State – A pasting of “potential Big Ten darkhorse” Minnesota is nice. Beating OSU would be even better. (For them and for me.)
Fresno State – Already got credit for beating Toledo last week, but they move up because I really, really hate Toledo. (Oh, and because anything below 15 in this poll is pulled out of a hat by the fine accountants at Ernst & Young.)
Michigan – Is it Mike Hart? Is it Chad Henne’s new found coaching? Or is it Garrett Rivas, the King of Second Chances? Yes. Yes it is.
Louisville – Bounced back with a pasting to match the one they took a week earlier.
Auburn
Texas A&M – A home win over Baylor in OT? Baylor?!?!? Yeah, the Aggies are holding on by a thread.
Georgia Tech

Dropped out: Minnesota, Virginia, Iowa State, Purdue

Games watched: BG-Temple (live), all the important parts of UM-MSU (14-0 lead, stuff happened, stuff happened, bullshit fumble returned for a TD, more stuff happened, missed field goal, things thrown, missed field goal, things tossed in the air in glee, made field goal, much rejoicing), second half of ND-Purdue, a touch of Oklahoma’s game, I think a couple others in a bar late Saturday, and one too many close-ups of Tyrone Protho’s lower leg.