#5 GEORGIA bulldogs (45-25, 20-9) final 2008 ranking: #2 The losses of shortstop Gordan Beckham and closer Josh Fields (who were each selected in the first round of last year’s MLB amateur draft) are colossal, but not insurmountable in the Bulldogs’ endeavor to return to the College World Series. UGA finished second in 2008, at one time winning four CWS games a row which included a victory over eventual champion Fresno State. Georgia returns five of nine offensive starters including slugger Rich Poythress (.374, 15, 75) and Bryce Massanari (.325, 11, 65) as well as Friday starter Trevor Holder (8-4, 4.41). Alex McRee (7-1, 3.98) could pile up impressive numbers in a starter’s role after scoring success in a dual role last season.

2009 Preseason Rankings Rank   1 NORTH CAROLINA TAR HEELS 2 LSU TIGERS 3 CAL STATE FULLERTON TITANS 4 TEXAS A&M AGGIES 5 MIAMI HURRICANES 6 GEORGIA BULLDOGS 7 TEXAS LONGHORNS 8 FLORIDA STATE SEMINOLES 9 UC IRVINE ANTEATERS 10 GEORGIA TECH YELLOW JACKETS 11 RICE OWLS 12 PEPPERDINE WAVES 13 OKLAHOMA SOONERS 14 OLE MISS REBELS 15 OKLAHOMA STATE COWBOYS 16 AUBURN TIGERS 17 SAN DIEGO TOREROS 18 BAYLOR BEARS 19 MISSOURI STATE BEARS 20 LOUSIVILLE CARDINALS 21 ARKANSAS RAZORBACKS 22 ARIZONA STATE SUN DEVILS 23 FRESNO STATE BULLDOGS 24 FLORIDA GATORS 25 COASTAL CAROLINA CHANTICLEERS 26 ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE 27 TCU HORNED FROGS 28 STANFORD CARDINAL 29 NOTRE DAME FIGHTING IRISH 30 UC SANTA BARBARA GAUCHOS