BlogPoll #2 is out, and with it, here’s our response to this week’s Roundtable:

1. What team best met your overall expectations of them in their opener?
USC. We’ve been talking up their defense all along, and that was the driver (2-for-20 on 3rd downs? holy shit!) to the 50-14 dismantling of Arkansas (120-31 combined the past 2 years, in case you’re scoring at home).

2. What team jumped off the map and surprised you the most? (Bonus points to anyone who can make an argument for someone besides Tennessee.)
Gotta defer and go with Tennessee; although the bigger surprise is just how dazed and confused the Bears looked. What happened to the Cal ground game? Marshawn Lynch looked like he was running in sand for most of the game.

3. What team best moved themselves into a position to surprisingly contend for a national title?
Florida State’s defense looked nasty enough to almost make us forget about the 25 yards 1 yard on 25 carries (a mind-boggling .04 yards per carry) their running game churned out. Assuming they get some sort of ground game going, they’re a sexy darkhorse pick right now.