University of Georgia Athletics
Georgia Picked to Win 2005 SEC Softball Title
January 26, 2005 | Softball
Jan. 26, 2005
ATHENS, Ga. -- The Georgia Bulldogs are the favorites to win the Eastern Division and the conference title in the 2005 SEC Softball Preseason Coaches¹ Poll announced by the league on Wednesday.
The Bulldogs tallied six out of 11 first-place votes after finishing the 2004 campaign with a 55-17 overall record and an appearance in the championship game of an NCAA Regional.
Georgia paced the Eastern Division votes with 47 points and seven first-place votes. Tennessee earned a second-place ranking after receiving four first-place votes and 44 overall points. In the Western Division, Alabama led with 56 points, followed by LSU with 45 and Mississippi State with 38.
Georgia has also been ranked No. 7 in the USA Today/NFCA Top 25 collegiate poll announced on Wednesday. Georgia's No. 7 ranking ties the school record for the highest preseason ranking.
The Bulldogs earned 511 total points in the poll, placing ahead of No. 8 Michigan (502) and No. 9 Louisiana-Lafayette (472).
California holds the top spot in the poll, followed by No. 2 UCLA. Arizona, Oklahoma and LSU round of the top five. The rest of the top 10 includes Stanford, Georgia, Michigan, Louisiana-Lafayette, and Florida State.
Points for the SEC poll were awarded on a 5-4-3-2-1 basis for the Eastern Division (due to only five teams in the division) and on a 6-5-4-3-2-1 basis for the Western Division. Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own team.
No. 7 Georgia opens its schedule on Feb. 4 with a doubleheader against defending champion and No. 3-ranked UCLA at the Stacy Winsberg Tournament in Los Angeles. Georgia's home opener will be on Feb. 11 when it hosts the Second Annual Georgia Softball Classic.
SEC Champion: Georgia (6), Alabama (2), Tennessee (2), LSU (1)
Eastern Division Team Points 1. Georgia (7) 47 2. Tennessee (4) 44 3. Florida 30 4. South Carolina 25 5. Kentucky 14
Western Division Team Points 1. Alabama (6) 56 2. LSU (5) 45 3. Mississippi State 38 4. Auburn 36 5. Arkansas 23 6. Ole Miss 17
USA Today/NFCA Top 25 Poll 1. California (14) 2. UCLA (12) 3. Arizona (4) 4. Oklahoma 5. LSU 6. Stanford 7. Georgia 8. Michigan 9. Louisiana Lafayette 10. Florida State 11. Washington 12. Alabama 13. Oregon 14. Tennessee 15. Texas 16. Oregon State 17. Baylor 18. Nebraska 19. Fresno State 20. Long Beach State 21. South Florida 22. Illinois 23. Georgia Tech 24. Southern Illinois 25. Hofstra
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