The 64 coaches who vote in the USA Today preseason college football poll ranked the Georgia Bulldogs No. 9.

USA Today writer Paul Myerberg has a dimmer view of the Dawgs.

In his preseason “re-ranking” of all 128 teams at college football’s highest level, Myerberg puts the Bulldogs at No. 16. Like everyone else, he places UGA behind SEC West contenders Auburn (No. 3) and Alabama (No. 4) but also has Ole Miss (No. 14) above the Bulldogs. Missouri (No. 23) is the only other SEC East team in Myerberg’s Top 25 after the coaches had Tennessee at No. 25.

In his final re-ranking of last season, Myerberg had Georgia No. 11, behind only Bama (No. 5) in the SEC, with Missouri at No. 23 and Auburn all the way down at No. 25.

Myerberg offers no explanation for why the Bulldogs slipped in his rankings but says Auburn now has “one of the nation’s top defensive coordinators in Will Muschamp.”

Myerberg ranks Georgia Tech No. 18, one spot lower than the coaches and down from No. 9 in last seasons’ final rankings. Georgia Southern is No. 54 and Georgia State climbs from dead-last in Myerberg’s final 2014 rankings to No. 125, ahead of UNLV, Idaho and new FBS member Charlotte.