ROCK HILL, S.C. --- The Tusculum football team is picked to finish sixth in the South Atlantic Conference according to the 2017 SAC Coaches' Poll.

The Pioneers received 26 total points in a vote of the league's eight head football coaches.  Tusculum is coming off a 4-7 campaign, which included wins in three of its final four games to finish with a 3-4 SAC record to finish fourth in the conference standings

Last year's champion Newberry is the favorite to repeat as the Wolves garnered 55 points, including six first place votes.  Wingate is listed second with 47 points and one first place vote, while Mars Hill is third with 42 points and the final first place nod.  Catawba is fourth with 39 points, followed by Carson-Newman (33), Tusculum, Lenoir-Rhyne (19) and Limestone (19), who will be competing in its first season as an associate member.

Tusculum head coach Jerry Odom, who is entering his second season in Greeneville, returns 39 lettermen from last year's squad including 14 starters.

The Pioneers return to campus this weekend and will begin fall practice starting next week.  Tusculum will open the season Thursday, August 31 when they travel to Tigerville, South Carolina to face North Greenville.

2017 SAC Football Coaches' Poll