BALTIMORE -- The University of Richmond's 2008 football team won't be sneaking up on anybody this season.

With 16 starters returning from last year's 11-3 squad that far exceeded expectations and reached the semifinals of the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs, the Spiders were picked to finish atop the South Division standings of the Colonial Athletic Association.

"We've put all that stuff on a piece of paper and told the kids it doesn't matter where we are right now," said UR coach Mike London. "It matters where we finish. We haven't won anything in 2008.

"The motto is, 'Don't talk about it, be about it.' There's not going to be any talk about it [high expectations], we've just got to go out and play. You can get caught up in that stuff and be in for a huge disappointment. We're putting blinders on and taking it one game at a time."

UR, with 11 first-place votes by coaches and media, edged James Madison (seven first-place votes) for the No. 1 spot in voting announced yesterday at CAA media day at the ESPNZone.

Delaware, which lost to Appalachian State in the FCS final, was forecast for third, followed by Villanova, William and Mary and Towson.

In the North, Massachusetts dominated with 17 first-place votes and should be the clear division winner, according to voters.

The Minutemen, who have 12 starters back, were chosen as the overall conference winner in 2008. Richmond and UMass, who shared the title last year, meet Oct. 18 in Amherst, Mass., in a game that could determine the CAA champion.

Massachusetts' quarterback Liam Coen was chosen as the preseason offensive player of the year, while Maine lineman Jovan Belcher was selected as the preseason defensive player of the year.

The Spiders placed six players on the preseason all-star team, three of them on the defensive side. They were linebackers Eric McBride and Collin McConaghy and end Lawrence Sidbury. Offensive choices were wide receiver Kevin Grayson and lineman Matt McCracken.

Return specialist Justin Rogers also made the squad.

JMU, which has been picked higher than UR in many national polls, put two players on the preseason team in running back Eugene Holloman and offensive lineman Scott Lemn.

How CAA stacks up

The 2008 CAA predicted order of finish:
Overall champion:
Massachusetts

South Division
1. Richmond (11)
2. James Madison (7)
3. Delaware (1)
4. Villanova
5. William and Mary
6. Towson

North Division
1. Massachusetts (17)
2. New Hampshire (1)
3. Hofstra (1)
4. Maine
5. Northeastern
6. Rhode Island

Note: first-place votes in parentheses