ROCK HILL, S.C. — Carson-Newman is the favorite to capture its fourth straight South Atlantic Conference football championship according to the 2010 SAC Preseason Coaches' Poll, league officials announced Thursday.

C-N received five first-place votes and 58 total points. The Eagles have won 21 conference titles under the direction of head coach Ken Sparks, the all-time winningest coach in Division II. C-N went 7-0 in SAC play to win the title in 2009 and advanced to the semifinals of the NCAA playoffs to finish the campaign with an 11-3 record.

The Eagles return just eight starters from last season, but six of those earned All-Conference honors a year ago.

Wingate University, which finished second last year, is predicted to finish second again. The Bulldogs received two first-place votes and 51 total points.

Mars Hill College and Newberry College tied for third last season with 4-3 records, and the two schools are predicted to finish close again. Mars Hill was picked to finish third, with a two-point advantage over Newberry. The Lions return the SAC's leading rusher from last year in Jonas Randolph. Newberry returns the 2009 SAC Defensive Player of the Year in safety Ron Parker.

Tusculum College is picked to finish fifth with 33 points.

Lenoir-Rhyne University received the other first-place vote and are sixth in the poll. The Bears received 28 points.

Catawba College is the pick to finish seventh with 17 points. The Catawba Indians are looking to improve on last season's last-place finish in the conference.

Brevard College is picked to finish eighth with 15 points.

2010 SAC Preseason Coaches' Poll
1. Carson-Newman (5) 58
2. Wingate (2) 51
3. Mars Hill 44
4. Newberry 42
5. Tusculum 33
6. Lenoir-Rhyne (1) 28
7. Catawba 17
8. Brevard 15
(First-place votes in parenthesis)