Conference coaches’ polls almost always throw out at least a few puzzlers a year, usually at the bottom of the standings. For the most part, top picks are defensible, and certainly the coaches have a good idea of what to expect from teams in their conference. But sometimes things don’t add up.

Take the last-place pick in the USA South. I would be very surprised if USAC newcomer Maryville follows up on the near-unanimous eighth-place pick it was voted. This is Tony Ierulli’s third season with the Scots after taking over a program that had a 12-game losing streak. They were 2-8 in his first season and 5-4 last year. Even though the USAC looks like a conference on the rise, Maryville will be more than competitive. Even if they don’t win a single road game because of the travel distances, the road to Tennessee goes both ways, and I can see Averett, Greensboro, Ferrum and Methodist each having trouble. The Scots could also pick off a win at North Carolina Wesleyan.

Paying your dues? Maybe. But then again, the PAC slotted Thomas More fifth in the league’s first year with seven teams. That seems reasonable, although I might have put them fourth considering the coaches changes at Waynesburg and Westminster (Pa.).

I don’t see Lycoming finishing seventh in the MAC. Last year was an aberration. I really think you have to throw out the year immediately following the death of a player or an assistant coach, and we’ve seen it happen more than once. Last year was not indicative of where the Lycoming program is and I wouldn’t pick them any lower than fourth.

I also have to think Catholic will do better than last place in the ODAC, with Tom Clark able to get a full recruiting class in and the anticipated return of wide receiver Nick Bublavi. I’ll be honest — I saw them play once last year and they were truly awful. But history won’t repeat itself.

On the other hand, the NCAC, OAC and PAC had Hiram, Heidelberg and Bethany coming in last, and it’s hard to argue with any of those picks.

Then again, no poll is perfect. Even our own preseason Top 25 saw Wooster slide in at No. 25. I think the No. 4 pick they got in the NCAC preseason poll is more reasonable.