Georgia tops preseason coaches poll

Mclean, Va. -- The Georgia Bulldogs edged the Southern California Trojans for the top spot in the preseason USA Today coach's football poll.

The poll, released Friday, showed Georgia was listed No. 1 by 22 of the 61 NCAA Division I-A football coaches who vote. The Bulldogs totaled 1,438 points. USC, first on 14 ballots, had 1,430 points. Both Georgia and Southern California were 11-2 last season.

Ohio State, which also received 14 first-place votes, was third (1,392 points) followed by Oklahoma, with three first-place votes and 1.329 points.

Florida, with five first-place votes and 1,293 points was fifth.

Louisiana State, last year's Bowl Championship Series titlist, received the other first-place votes and had 1,163 points for sixth.

Missouri was rated seventh followed by, in order, West Virginia, Clemson and Texas.

The second 10 was led by Auburn at No. 11, Wisconsin at 12th, No. 13 Kansas, 14th-ranked Texas Tech and No. 15 Virginia Tech. Arizona State was 16th with Brigham Young in 17th, Tennessee 18th, Illinois 19th and Oregon 20th.

Copyright 2008 by United Press International.