***CORRECTION*** Thanks to Mr. Walker and others who pointed out the error in the first paragraph. The “World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party” Is Georgia Vs. Florida.

The 2009 Collegiate Football Season is a little more than a month away. If you’re a fan, you know the feeling you get when a cool breeze and subtle smell in the air has you grinning from ear to ear. You know “The World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party” (a.k.a. South Carolina  Georgia vs. Florida) is on the horizon and “Tailgating In The Grove” before an Ole Miss Game is iconic. You know “Rocky Top” by heart and are frantically trying to find out what channel the Canes and Seminoles will be dueling on and when I-40 becomes a parking lot when the Tarheels play the Wolfpack. This is Southern Football. For those who have lived it, it’s a passion. For those who have yet to experience it, welcome.

For a twist from the national previews, we thought we’d break into the sports-writing category with a little southern flare by announcing our top 10 teams to watch for from the south. Taking the Mason-Dixon line west to the Mississippi, we’ve found these teams not only ones to contend with in their respective conferences, but also nationwide for major Bowl Games. P.S. Mr. President, if you’re reading this (I really hope you’re not, but would be honored if you were) now would be a good time to get the BCS thing straightened out (even though I hope you don’t have time to worry about it).

Here we go:

1. The University of Florida (SEC, Gainesville FL) The defending national champs with the one-year removed heisman trophy winner and a returning group of future Sunday players, will be hard-pressed to lose any games this year. When Tebow said, “let’s do it again” after the parade last year, he wasn’t referring to the ride at Disney World. He wants to bring the crystal back to Gainesville.

2. Georgia (SEC, Athens GA). So they lost Stafford to the NFL, and have had their fare share of off-season (well let’s just call them informalities), the Bulldogs could still run the SEC until they meet with the team listed above. Possibly one of the top 5 games to watch this year, Florida vs. Georgia will live up to it’s hype with national title implications.

3. Georgia Tech (ACC, Atlanta GA). The Yellow jackets are strong this year even though it’s just coach Paul Johnson’s 2nd year at the helm and are expected to compete for the ACC title. They return 17 starters, including 2008 ACC Player of The Year (Dwyer) from last year’s 9-4 team that made it to last year’s conference title game.

4. Ole Miss (SEC University, MS). Okay, one might say why is Ole Miss even in your top choices? Well my dear friends, has anyone seen the gun on junior Quarterback and projected 2009 Heisman Trophy Candidate Jevan Snead? After leading his team to their first bowl game since 2003, Snead emerged as a quality leader who’s past of flopping from Florida to Texas, then Texas to Ole Miss shall haunt him no more.

5. North Carolina (ACC Chapel Hill, NC). With one of the top recruiting classes in the nation coming in and a big-ol “D” back in defense with 9 returning starters on the D-line including 1 All-American Potential (Austin), expect the Heels to compete for the ACC title this year. Even thought it lost 3 big-name receivers to the NFL accounting for 19 of last year’s 21 TD passes, The WR core will be okay with top talent coming in and returning starter Little. The x-factor is a reliable running game and QB Yates healthy.

6. Alabama (SEC, Tuscaloosa AL). Many others would predict Alabama to compete higher than Ole Miss and Georgia and based on last year’s record, I would too. But looking away from the success of 2008, they lost a lot of talent to the NFL, including their leading rusher and starting QB. Under Nick Saban, they will regroup and contend, just not as well as they did last year.

7. LSU (SEC, Baton Rouge LA). Can you really ever count the Tigers out of anything? Coach Les Miles is reeling with energy from last years thrashing of Georgia Tech in the Chil-Fil-A Peach Bowl, but is still in the rebuilding stages. If anyone is going to challenge Ole Miss for the title in the division of the SEC, it’ll have to be either Alabama or LSU.

8. Virginia Tech (ACC, Blacksburg VA) Sorry I just can’t believe that Va Tech will bring home another Coastal Division title. Even though QB Taylor is impressive, lightning quick and “Vick-esque”, he threw 3 INT’s in their spring game and was sacked twice by a Red-Shirt freshman. I’ll put them into the ACC title hunt again because coach Beamer has it under control, but don’t think they’ll get it.

9. East Carolina (C-USA, Greenville NC). After shocking the nation last season with an early upset of West Virginia, things went downhill quick for the little-known Pirates only to rebound to a bowl game. While I doubt they’ll have another 1991 “we believe” season, they will win C-USA with Pickney returning at QB and coach Skip Hotlz’ group is one of the most talented he’s seen. Sidebar: watch the season opener vs. Appalachian State game to see some fun offense.

10. North Carolina State (ACC, Raleigh NC). Two Words: Russell Wilson. When 30K plus show up to spring game to watch you (folks this is a scrimmage), you’ll take another look too. After literally getting knocked out last year vs. South Carolina, Wilson came back to help his team get a winning season and even had their baseball team competing for an ACC Title. This 2-sport star is not the second coming of Bo Jackson, but he can lead this team to compete.

So there you have it, our predictions for the best teams in the South for the 2009-2010 College Football Season. Others receiving honorable mention were Auburn, Tennessee both of the SEC, and our lone Big East mention of the University of South Florida.

We may be right, we may be crazy, but we had fun doing it and would love to hear what your thoughts are. Leave your comments under this article.

We also have to give a quick nod to Appalachian State in Boone, NC. Even though they aren’t allowed to compete in the Bowl Games because of their NCAA Division ranking, they have won 3 National Championships in the past 4 years and will compete for another this year. Just because you don’t play with the “big boys” doesn’t mean you can’t beat them…