Reporters in the SEC narrowly predicted Georgia to win the SEC East, but the national expectations for the Bulldogs are a bit more modest for the 2017 football season.

Georgia came in at No. 15 in the preseason USA Today coaches poll, which was released Thursday afternoon. That was one spot higher than Florida, the perceived main competition in the East for the Bulldogs.

Alabama finished atop the poll, followed by Ohio State, Florida State, Southern Cal and Clemson to round out the top 5.

Tennessee was the only other team in the SEC East to make the top 25, coming in at 24.

Notre Dame, which Georgia will visit on Sept. 9, was unranked.

Auburn is the highest-ranked opponent on Georgia’s schedule this season. The Tigers came in at No. 13.

Georgia, then in the first year under Kirby Smart, was No. 16 in the 2016 preseason coaches poll, but finished unranked. Smart was on the voting panel last season, but he is not this year.

The Associated Press poll, comprised of media voters, comes out later this month.

To measure the accuracy of the poll, here’s where Georgia has been ranked in the preseason coaches polls this century, and where the Bulldogs eventually finished:

2016: 16 (preseason) …. not ranked (final) 2015: 9 ……… 24 2014: 12 ……. 9 2013: 5 …….. NR 2012: 6 ……. 4 2011: NR ….. 20 2010: 21 ……. NR 2009: 13 ……. NR 2008: 1 …….. 10 2007: 13 ……. 3 2006: 14 …… NR 2005: 13 ……. 10 2004: 4 ……… 6 2003: 9 ……… 6 2002: 11 …….. 3 2001: NR …… 25 2000: 11 …….. 17