Georgia tops USA Today coaches poll; UH-foe Florida No. 5 | The Honolulu Advertiser

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Georgia tops USA Today coaches poll; UH-foe Florida No. 5 | The Honolulu Advertiser | Hawaii's Newspaper

Updated at 10:45 a.m., Friday, August 1, 2008

Georgia tops USA Today coaches poll; UH-foe Florida No. 5

Associated Press

USA TODAY PRESEASON COACHES' POLL

Rank, team, '07 record (first place votes), final '07 rank

1. Georgia 11-2 (22), 3

2. Southern California 11-2 (14), 2

3. Ohio State 11-2 (14), 4

4. Oklahoma 11-3 (3), 8

5. Florida 9-4 (5), 16

6. LSU 12-2 (3), 1

7. Missouri 12-2, 5

8. West Virginia 11-2, 6

9. Clemson 9-4, 22

10. Texas 10-3, 10

11. Auburn 9-4, 14t

12. Wisconsin 9-4, 21

13. Kansas 12-1, 7

14. Texas Tech 9-4, 23

15. Virginia Tech 11-3, 9

16. Arizona State 10-3, 13

17. Brigham Young 11-2, 14t

18. Tennessee 10-4, 12

19. Illinois 9-4, 18

20. Oregon 9-4, 24

21. South Florida 9-4, NR

22. Penn State 9-4, 25

23. Wake Forest 9-4, NR

24. Michigan, 9-4, 19

25. Fresno State , 9-4, NR

Others receiving votes: Alabama (7-6) 83; South Carolina (6-6) 64; Utah (9-4) 60; Florida State (7-6) 53; Rutgers (8-5) 53; Boston College (11-3) 47; California (7-6) 41; Pittsburgh (5-7) 34; Boise State (10-3) 25; Oregon State (9-4) 23; Nebraska (5-7) 17; Cincinnati (10-3) 13; Virginia (9-4) 12; Connecticut (9-4) 9; Michigan State (7-6) 9; Mississippi State (8-5) 6; Kentucky (8-5) 5; Notre Dame (3-9) 5; TCU (8-5) 5; Maryland (6-7) 4; North Carolina (4-8) 3; Texas A&M (7-6) 3; UCLA (6-7) 3; Central Florida (10-4) 2; Georgia Tech (7-6) 2; Louisville (6-6) 2; Arizona (5-7) 1; Colorado (6-7) 1; Oklahoma State (7-6) 1; Tulsa (10-4) 1.

ATHENS, Ga.� The nation's college football coaches have voted Georgia as the team to beat this season.

For the first time in school history, Georgia was No. 1 in the USA Today/coaches preseason poll announced today.

The Associated Press preseason Top 25 will be released on Aug. 16.

Georgia's previous highest preseason ranking in a major poll was No. 2 by the AP in 1942.

Coach Mark Richt said in the era of the Bowl Championship Series rankings, this poll carries more significance "since it's one-third of the formula to decide who plays in the national championship game."

The coaches ranked Southern Cal, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Florida, and LSU, Missouri, West Virginia, Clemson, and Texas behind Georgia. Fresno State, of the Western Athletic Conference, is No. 25.

The University of Hawai'i lost to Georgia in the Sugar Bowl last season and plays at No. 5 Florida in the season opener on Aug. 30.

The Sporting News and Lindy's also have Georgia No. 1 in their preseason polls. Those polls do not count in the BCS ratings.

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