Here’s the predictions to close out rivalry Saturday.

Florida State at Florida: Tim Tebow’s final home game and, likely, Bobby Bowden’s final visit to the Swamp.  After watching the Longhorns and Crimson Tide struggle on Thursday and Friday, the Gators leave no doubt.  Florida 42, FSU 20

Notre Dame at Stanford: After gut-wrenching losses over the past several weeks, does the Fighting Irish have anything left in the tank?  Expect Charlie Weis to be relieved from his duties within 48 hours following the conclusion of this game, his sixth loss of the season.  Stanford 34, Notre Dame 27

Georgia at Georgia Tech: After breaking a long losing streak to the Dogs last season, Georgia Tech will be looking to make a statement in this game.  They’re not completely out of the National Championship race, but would need significant help to get in (ala #7 LSU’s rise in 2007).  They won’t be worrying about that as a miserable season keeps getting worse for Georgia.  Georgia Tech 42, Georgia 30

Clemson at South Carolina: Can Clemson focus on this game with their biggest game in 15 years (ACC Championship vs. Georgia Tech) looming next week?  Spurrier and company pull out all the stops, but CJ Spiller makes the difference.  Clemson 24, South Carolina 20

Miami at South Florida: Jacory Harris and the ‘Canes keep South Florida from being the second-best team in the state.  Miami 31, South Florida 17

Utah at Brigham Young: Technically, BYU is still “under consideration” for a berth in a Bowl Championship Series game, although it’s extremely unlikely.  After “The Holy War” on Saturday, it’s completely out of the questions.  Utah 35, BYU 31

Arkansas at LSU: All week long, everyone has been questioning Les Miles’ play-calling in the final minutes of last week’s loss to Ole Miss.  The questions don’t get any easier as the likely All-SEC QB Ryan Mallett steals the show with a huge day and secures a berth in the AT&T Cotton Bowl.  Arkansas 34, LSU 24

UCLA at USC: The Bruins need this game to solidify their position in the bowl pecking order as well as backing up Rick Neuheisel’s claim that “The LA football dynasty is over”.  They’re still two years away from making the happen.  Southern Cal 38, UCLA 17

Agree?  Disagree?  Let me know who your winners are below.

1. Tim Tebow’s last stand.  Love the Gators or hate the Gators, you have to respect Tim Tebow and what he has brought to the game, on and off the field.  In covering football for more than 15 seasons, Tebow is the most impressive athlete I can recall.  He clearly elevates the players around him and looks to raise up individuals through his personal ministry.  Whether at the ESPY awards, SEC Media Days or other events, Tebow is often the subject of criticism and cynicism.  As for me, I’m going to enjoy getting the opportunity to watch potentially the most decorated college football player of all time – for his final season.

2. Best Heisman Race ever.  Never has there been so much talent returning in a Heisman campaign, with two previous winners vying to become only the second player to win multiple Heisman trophies (Ohio State’s Archie Griffin was the first).  Meanwhile, Texas QB Colt McCoy will look to seize the trophy from previous winners Tim Tebow (2007) and Sam Bradford (2008).  There are other Heisman trophy candidates, but they are all playing catch up to the Big 3.

3. Dominance of the Big XII South: The Big XII South is reminiscent of the SEC East during the 1990s when Florida, Tennessee and Georgia were the perennial top three with the Gators and Volunteers battling it out on and off the field to determine who would play for the SEC Championship in Atlanta.  This almost appears neighborly based on what has been happening in the Big XII South as of late.  Close games, routs, recruiting wars, Texas and Oklahoma lobbying in the national media last season for a spot in the Big XII and BCS National Championship game.  Meanwhile, just like Georgia in the SEC East, Oklahoma State’s program is on the rise and they will compete heavily to make this something more than a two horse race.  The best part of all?  It doesn’t look like the intensity of the Big XII South will be slowing down anytime soon.

4. Legitimate threat to USC’s reign.  Without question, USC is one of the best college football jobs in America and Pete Carroll has taken advantage of that, winning the Pac-10 conference championship each of the last eight seasons.  2009 could be a different story, though.  With the early departure of Mark Sanchez, freshman Matt Barkley takes over for the Trojans at quarterback while the offseason brought the departures of both coordinators.  Meanwhile Oregon and Cal appear to have the teams needed to challenge for supremacy on the West Coast..  USC has an NCAA record seven straight 11+ win seasons and they haven’t lost a game outside of their conference since they played Texas in the Rose Bowl in 2005.    Is their reign over, or will they continue to “fight on”?

5. Lee Corso.  I’ve enjoyed Lee Corso for years as a commentator on ESPN’s College Gameday and always found him to be gracious whenever I’ve interviewed or stopped to chat with him.  It’s been a challenging offseason for Lee, who at 77 years old suffered a stroke following the 2008 season.  He’s been working hard to recover and will be back in the booth to kick off the 2009 college football campaign.  Now more than ever, I’m going to enjoy hearing Lee’s analysis, perspectives and his “not so fast, my friend” phrase.

How about you?  What’s the storyline you’re following and going to savor during this college football season?

To put into perspective how dominant these three were in the balloting last season, they garnered more than 90% of all votes and Tim Tebow, who received the most first place votes, finished third.

Is it a forgone conclusion one of these three will win? Absolutely not. That’s the beauty of college football. With that in mind, here’s five guys who could be holding the most prestigious award in college football on December 12th.

Jevan Snead, QB, Mississippi. Remember, this is the QB who originally committed to Florida and then was neck and neck with Colt McCoy for the starting job when he was a freshman. Ole Miss is the only team in the SEC West who hasn’t made it to the SEC Championship game in Atlanta. With a light road schedule (Alabama, Arkansas, Tennessee and LSU all come to Oxford), the Rebels could piece together a big season and get to the conference championship game. If that happens, expect Snead to get plenty of press. Should they defeat Florida, expect him to finish in the top two at the ceremony in New York.

Eric Berry, Safety, Tennessee. My sister-in-law (a UT alum) still talks about 1997 and what a travesty it was when Michigan’s Charles Woodson won the Heisman trophy instead of Peyton Manning. Berry is the best player on defense in the SEC – and perhaps the best in the country. The Vols have launched a full press campaign touting Berry’s candidacy, but the question remains whether he can make enough big plays to capture the attention of the country or if he’ll be lost in a mediocre campaign for the Vols.

Jahvid Best, RB, California. The question of whether or not Jahvid Best will win the Heisman comes down to two dates, September 26th and October 3rd. On those Saturdays, he plays at Oregon and hosts USC, respectively. When you haven’t been to the Rose Bowl since the 50′s and your current league champion has won the Pac-10 title eight straight seasons, history isn’t on your side. One thing that is? The Bears close the season at Stanford and at Washington, so big numbers should be plentiful. Although he led the league in rushing last season, Best was at his worst against big time opponents – averaging 45 yards/game. He’ll need a big season – and two big games – to make the final field for the Heisman.

Terrelle Pryor, QB, Ohio State. Last season against USC, Pryor showed us all what he could do once he relieved Todd Boeckman. He provided a spark for the Buckeyes and never relinquished the starting job last season. With that 35-3 pasting by the Trojans fresh in our minds, Pryor could catapult the Buckeyes into the BCS National Championship mix – and him into the Heisman conversation – with a win against USC on September 12th. Should they win against USC, the only other hurdle between them and the title game is November 7th at Penn State.

Zac Robinson, QB, Oklahoma State. Passing for more than 3,000 yards, rushing for 560 more and accounting for 33 touchdowns would be a great season anywhere, unless you happen to be in the Big XII South. Robinson has helped attract a great deal of talent to Stillwater and all the pieces are in place for a run at the conference championship. The Cowboys get the Longhorns at home on October 31st (the end of a brutal four game stretch for Texas which has them playing Colorado, Oklahoma in Dallas and at Missouri in the previous three weeks), and could catch Mack Brown and company at just the right time. Robinson also gets to compete head to head with two of the Big 3 returning Heisman candidates – the only player on this list with that opportunity. Combine that with a showcase game week one against SEC power Georgia, and Robinson could win more than just the Big XII South this season.