This and the FPI underscore that ESPN is not a coherent entity. It is instead a collection of journalists, statisticians, nephews of corporate big wigs, former famous athletes, and talking heads who often have favorites, carry grudges, can be very parochial, have entirely different skill sets, and don't even read or listen to each other's work.
In short, ESPN is a basket case, if you try to understand it as a whole. Can't do that. Each part you look at, that part stands on its own. And may or may not make any sense whatsoever.
So you are saying they are just like the NCAA?
Go Vols!