Valdosta picked to finish first in Gulf South in 2005

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. (AP) Defending NCAA Division II national champion Valdosta State was picked Monday by Gulf South Conference coaches to win the league&#39;s football title in 2005.<br> <br> Valdosta received 10 out of 11 first-place votes in balloting by the coaches, who gathered in Hot Springs for the league&#39;s Media Day. It&#39;s the fourth year in a row that Valdosta was picked to win the league.<br> <br> Delta State was picked to finish second while Arkansas Tech, which hosted and won its first playoff game in school history last year, was picked third. Central Arkansas was picked fourth.<br> <br> Valdosta finished 13-1 last year, defeating Pittsburg State in the championship game. It returns five offensive starters and seven defensive starters.<br> <br> The predicted order of finish<br> <br> 1. Valdosta State<br> <br> 2. Delta State<br> <br> 3. Arkansas Tech<br> <br> 4. Central Arkansas<br> <br> 5. North Alabama<br> <br> 6. Southern Arkansas<br> <br> 7. Harding<br> <br> 8. West Georgia<br> <br> 9. Ouachita Baptist<br> <br> 10. Henderson State<br> <br> 11. Arkansas-Monticello<br> <br> 12. West Alabama<br> <br> (Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)