The regular season is winding down and late-season losses can make the difference between playing for the National Championship, a BCS football game or missing the postseason altogether.

Here’s our picks for this weekend’s games.

Georgia Tech at Duke: Last week’s heroics by Jonathan Dwyer (not to mention a great 4th down call by Paul Johnson) let the Jackets slim BCS title hopes alive. A victory this weekend would secure a spot in the ACC Title Game and likely an Orange Bowl berth. No other motivation required. Georgia Tech 30, Duke 13

Alabama at Miss State: The Bulldogs have played very well at home this season and easily could have posted victories over Florida and LSU. This should be close fir a half, but Mark Ingram will be too much for the boys from Starkville to handle. Alabama 34, Miss State 17

Florida at South Carolina: South Carolina always starts the year with a flurry and seems to fade late in the year. No Black Magic for the Gamecocks, just fade to black. Florida 24, South Carolina 13

Utah at TCU: There wont be a more exciting game on Saturday than this one. Win, and the Horned Frogs have cleared their biggest remaining hurdle to a BCS bowl game. Should Texas lose, the BCS rankings will get interesting for the 4th ranked Horned Frogs. TCU 23, Utah 17

Iowa at Ohio State. Two weeks ago, the Hawkeyes had arguably the Big 10′s best QB. Now, Ricky Stanzi is injured and Terrelle Pryor has found his mojo once more. That doesn’t bode well for Iowa. Ohio State 30, Iowa 10

Notre Dame at Pittsburgh: Lose this one and the Irish are looking for a new coach – likely named Nick Saban or Urban Meyer. Panthers RB Dion Lewis runs wild and creates a ton of headaches in Gainesville and Tuscaloosa. Pitt 28, Notre Dame 24

Stanford at USC: Two years ago, the Cardinal pulled off one of the most improbable victories ever against the Trojans. Both of these teams are still alive for a Rose Bowl berth, but need some help. Pete Carroll and the Trojans will keep Tobey Gerhart in check as USC stays on track for an at-large BCS berth. USC 27, Stanford 17

Agree? Disagree? Let me know your thought below.

Bad news: We’re halfway through the College Football season.

Great news: We’re now into the meaty part of the conference schedule, with most of the cupcake games out of the way.  Things will start to heat up as the race for the BCS Bowl Games and National Championship moves into full swing.

Starting tonight, we’ll have some big games on the schedule.  Here’s the college football predictions for the weekend of October 17th.

Pittsburgh at Rutgers (Friday): Five of the eight teams in the Big East have only one loss, including both the Panthers and the Scarlet Knights.  Pitt RBs Dion Lewis and Ray Graham will lead the charge as Coach Wannstedt finally gets his first win against Rutgers after five tries.  Pitt 28, Rutgers 20.

Texas vs. Oklahoma (Dallas): This game was supposed to be for a berth to the Big XII Championship game and for the rights to face Florida in the BCS National Championship game.  Although Sooners QB Sam Bradford is back, he’s too late to stop the Longhorns train to Pasadena.  Texas 30, Oklahoma 20.

Alabama vs. South Carolina: The past king of the SEC, Steve Spurrier, and the Gamecocks take on the future king of the SEC in Nick Saban’s Tide.  This is a classic trap game for Alabama with Lane Kiffin and the Vols rolling into town next weekend.  It will be close early, but look for QB Greg McElroy to make some key throws down the stretch to separate these two squads.  With this win, RB Mark Ingram will continue to keep his name in the Heisman Trophy conversation.  Alabama 21, South Carolina 17.

USC at Notre Dame: Speaking of the Heisman, can you believe it’s been more than 20 years since anyone from Notre Dame has taken home the disctinction?  It’s true, the last was Tim Brown in 1987.  Although the Irish are winning and Jimmy Clausen is getting some love for the award, you get the sense he needs a big win in order to step ahead of Tebow and McCoy.  He’ll give it his best shot, but it won’t be enough.  USC 31, Notre Dame 17.

Cal at UCLA: When the season opened, the Bears had dreams of playing in the Rose Bowl.  Unfortunately, they were talking about the game played in January, not this matchup with the Bruins.  Cal needs this one to keep the season from being a complete disaster.  They’ll get it.  Cal 24, UCLA 21.

Iowa at Wisconsin: The Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde show heads to Madison for a big-time showdown against the Badgers.  Iowa out-hustled the Badgers last season.  In a victory for pride everywhere, Wisconsin ends Iowa’s bid for perfection.  Wisconsin 20, Iowa 16.

Virginia Tech at Georgia Tech:  This one is really intriguing.  With a win here, the Jackets create a log jam at the top of the division between themselves, the Hokies and Miami.  If Tyrod Taylor can lead his team to victory, it’s a near guarantee they will reach the ACC Championship Game in Tampa.  Virginia Tech has too much riding on this game to let it slip away.  Virginia Tech 34, Georgia Tech 24.

Arkansas at Florida: The Hogs with QB Ryan Mallett are really firing on all cylinders on offense scoring 48, 44, 41 and 47 points in a 3-2 start to the season.  Unfortunately, they posted only seven points in a 35-7 loss against Alabama.  The Gators defense, led by Brandon Spikes, isn’t quite that good, but close enough.  Florida 31, Arkansas 13.

Missouri at Oklahoma State:  Suspended Cowboys WR Dez Bryant told the NCAA this week he is “very, very sorry.”  Unfortunately, he still isn’t eligible, which is bad because OSU really, really needs him.  Missouri QB Blaine Gabbert gets back on track after a horrendous performance last week against Nebraska.  Missouri 27, Oklahoma State 24.

Kansas at Colorado: The Buffaloes are feeling a little flat after letting a first half lead against Texas eviscerate on the way to a second half beatdown.  Confidence of the Buffs defense is not high after the 38 points they allowed last weekend.  At here comes Todd Reesing and the Jayhawks, who are looking to secure a BCS berth – or more.  When is Reesing going to get more love for the Heisman?  Answer: After they defeat Oklahoma next weekend.  Kansas 41, Colorado 20.

Feel free to leave your comments below and, as always, enjoy the games….

UCLA at Stanford: These two Pac-10 foes are trying to break into the upper echelon of the conference this season. Stanford’s Toby Gerhart and the Cardinals #11 rushing attack will find yards tough to come by against the Bruins and their #9 ranked rushing defense. If injured UCLA QB Kevin Prince were back, I’d got with the boys in blue. Instead, look for a big day from Stanford’s freshman quarterback Andrew Luck. Stanford 24, UCLA 20.

Washington at Notre Dame: This game is a lot more interesting than what it appeared in the pre-season. It’s just a matter of which team will show up. The Fighting Irish won a thrilled last Saturday night, defeating Purdue in the final minute, while Washinton lost at Stanford. Jimmy Clausen says he’ll have to battle through his turf toe for the reaminder of the season. As long as he’s playing, they’ve got a chance. Notre Dame 27, Washington 24.

LSU at Georgia: One of the biggest stories for the Tigers and the Bulldogs have been their defensive coordinators. John Chavis, LSU’s new defensive “chief” has been able to get just enough plays to keep the Bengal Tigers undefeated. Meanwhile, Georgia’s DC, Willie Martinez, has been like a sinking boat that continues to take on water. Fans and the media are in an uproar over the team’s performance. They’ll still be upset with the Bulldogs defensive play come Saturday night, but thankful for the offense. Georgia 37, LSU 31.

Auburn at Tennessee: The two most controversial offseason coaching hires face off in Knoxville with both Lane Kiffin and Gene Chizik heaping high praise onto one another. Can Auburn’s high flying offense outwit Tennessee’s Monte Kiffin? Just barely. Auburn 27, Tennessee 24.

USC at California: It’s been a challenging time on the field at Cal this week, while a challenging week off the field at USC. The Bears, who were exposed by Oregon last Saturday are reeling and don’t have time to feel sorry for themselves with the Trojans and undefeated Bruins next up on the schedule. The Trojans, on the other hand, are dealing with the horrific injury to RB Stafon Johnson. Look for SC to keep the pressure on Cal QB Kevin Riley and put an emotional week behind them. USC 38, Cal 24.

Oklahoma at Miami: The big question for this game is whether or not Sam Bradford will return to play for the Sooners. It won’t matter as the Sooners keep the momentum rolling against the Hurricans. Oklahoma 27, Miami 13.

Central Michigan at Buffalo: No team has fallen as far as Turner Gill’s squad. Gill who was one of the nation’s hottest coaches last season is mired in a 1-3 slump to start the season. Unfortunately, it won’t get any better on Saturday. Central Michigan 45, Buffalo 20.

Texas A&M at Arkansas: The upstart Aggies have been a huge surprise to start 2009. With Baylor QB Robert Griffin out for the season, the door is open for Mike Sherman’s squad to earn their first bowl victory since 2001. First, they’ll have to contend with the nation’s 4th best passing offense. Arkansas 38, Texas A&M 31.

What about you? Who are your picks for the weekend?

1. The Mountain West Conference will have a good, but not great, year. Ultimately, entry into a BCS game is tge measuring stick for “great”. While there are a number of outstanding teams in the conference especially BYU, Utah and TCU. The problem is two of the three suffered a loss over the weekend (BYU at home to Florida State and Utah to Oregon). Based on the current polls, it appears impossible that TCU could vault past an undefeated Boise State squad. But hey, this is College Football, anything can happen.

2. The Pac-10 is about to become wide open again. USC has dominated the past seven seasons, all ending with a conference championship and, at least, a BCS berth. After watching what is happening at UCLA, Cal and especially Washington, I believe their conference dominance is coming to an end.

3. Brian Kelly will not be at Cincinnati in 2010. Out of all the great games and surprises, nothing impressed me more than the way the Bearcats went to Corvalis and defeated the Beavers of Oregon State. If he wasn’t a hot name in the coaching circles before, this year will do it.

4. Auburn and Tennessee might not have better head coaches, but they have better coaching staffs. Last season, the Tigers coaching staff was filled with back biting and a lack of continuity. It ultimately cost Tommy Tuberville his job. As for the Vols, Phil Fulmer and his squad had struggled since David Cutcliffe departed for Mississippi. The current coaches, Auburn’s Gene Chizik and Tennessee’s Lane Kiffin have surrounded themselves with winners who are high on energy and long on experience. Look for both programs to come back sooner than originally expected.

5. I’ll be stunned if Charlie Weis is back with the Irish next season. The head coach at Notre Dame is a brilliant offensive mind, but they just don’t seem to be making improvements. This is still one of the top five jobs in football, but they’re just not on the level of Florida, Texas and others right now. His team isn’t winning so much as they are surviving.

6. The ACC seems to have figured out Paul Johnson. Georgia Tech’s head coach was handled by Miami 33-17 after nearly losing to Clemson the week before. With a big game looming against North Carolina on Saturday, the Jackets need to adjust in a hurry.

7. Miami is on the rebound. Definitely one of the most impressive performances from the first three weeks is the Hurricanes. QB Jacory Harris has been fantastic and delivered in the clutch. With games against Virginia Tech and Oklahoma the next two weeks, they could quickly insert themselves in the BCS National Championship discussion. Based on how FSU rebounded last week, could the ACC Championship game rematch these two squads?

8. The Cal Bears are their run to the Rose Bowl (or more) starts this week. Jahvid Best has been on a tear, scoring 5 touchdowns on the road at Minnesota. If they can win in Eugene this weekend against the Oregon Ducks, the October 3rd home game against USC becomes arguably the biggest in school history.

Well, the opening frame of the College Football season is nearly in the books (FSU-Miami and Cincinnati-Rutgers) play tonight and we’ve already had a number of learnings about the 2009 campaign. Here’s ten of mine.

1. The ACC still has a credibility problem. This is not how Atlantic Coast Conference commissioner John Swofford envisioned the start of the season. The best chance to have a team play for the BCS National Championship, Virginia Tech, was upended in the Georgia Dome by Alabama 34-24. Memo to ACC teams: When the Atlanta Sports Council calls about playing in the Dome to kick off the season and you hear the word “Alabama”, hang up the phone. It’s the second year in a row the league favorite has been handled by the Crimson Tide. Unfortunately for the ACC, this wasn’t the worst part of the weekend as the league failed to register any significant win in non-conference play and left many scratching their heads in disbelief. South Carolina held NC State without a touchdown in a 7-3 win. Georgia Tech, Boston College and North Carolina all won against FCS (Division I-AA) opponents. Wake Forest fell to Baylor, which is understandable. Richmond beat Duke 24-16. William & Mary handled Virginia 26-14. The only team to win against an FBS (I-A) foe was Clemson who defeated Middle Tennessee State 37-14.

2. WAC, MWC do not have a credibility issue (at least at the top of the league). In the Mountain West Conference. BYU defeated Oklahoma with a winning touchdown with just over three minutes remaining in the game. Colorado State defeated Colorado. San Diego State led UCLA for much of the game before the Bruins pulled away late. In the WAC, Boise State took care of Oregon. Louisiana Tech hung tough with Auburn for a half, but Nevada inexplicably failed to score in a 35-0 loss to Notre Dame, a game several pundits thought they could win. Overall, a big statement for the non-BCS conferences, who look even stronger than before at securing a BCS bid.

3. BYU could play for National Title. I wouldn’t have believed this at the start of the season and still don’t believe it will happen, but it could. Give credit to Bronco Mendenhall who has said his team doesn’t just want to make a BCS game, they want to compete for BCS National Championships. The Cougars have the schedule as well, with games against #19 Florida State (September 19th), #17 TCU (October 24th) and #18 Utah (November 28th) to go with their win over the Sooners. One thing to remember, the Seminoles, Horned Frogs and Utes all must make the trip to Provo.

4. Boise State’s biggest obstacle to a BCS berth could be BYU. Should the Cougars go undefeated, they are guaranteed a spot in a BCS game. Unfortunately for the Boise State Broncos, they could be on the outside looking in depending on the rankings. Remember, the rules state that two teams from the non-BCS conferences can receive a berth in BCS games provided they meet the eligibility requirements. Let’s be honest, though. If you were in charge of a BCS bowl game, would you choose a second team from the SEC, Big Ten, Pac-10, etc. or would you choose Boise State. Chris Petersen and company need the Broncos to lose at least once along the way.

5. Boise State’s win over Oregon could be diminished by the fight. Admit it. When you hear Boise State-Oregon, the first thing that pops into your mind isn’t the Broncos 19-8 victory. It’s the image of LeGarrette Blount punching Byron Hout and the subsequent year-long suspension. This could minimize the impact of the victory if it comes down to Boise State and another non-BCS squad making the BCS.

6. The Road to the BCS National Championship will run through the SEC (again). We all knew Florida was going to be good, but Alabama was down right dominating in the 34-24 win against Virginia Tech, where they held the Hokies to fewer than 200 yards of total offense. Ole Miss pasted Memphis 45-14. Tennessee will get tested this week when UCLA comes to town. Georgia looked good for a half in a 24-10 loss to Oklahoma State, while Auburn was impressive in the second half of their 37-13 win over Louisiana Tech. If they don’t knock each other off along the way, look for the SEC to fill half of the dance card for the BCS National Championship game in Pasadena.

7. Oklahoma State for real. All of the media in the Southeast – and most of the national press – expected Georgia to walk into Stillwater with a new backfield and walk away with a victory. Dez Bryant and company had other plans and showed they will be a significant factor in the Big XII South this season. The October 31st game when the Cowboys host the Texas Longhorns just got that much bigger.

8. Notre Dame and Michigan get out of the blocks. Michigan has lost its last two home openers and Coach Rich Rodriguez has been in the headlines recently for all the wrong reasons. Notre Dame has underachieved for the past two seasons, leaving Charlie Weis on the coaching hot seat. Both had successful days at the office on Saturday. The Fighting Irish pounded WAC power Nevada 35-0, while the Wolverines beat Western Michigan 31-7. Neither will have long to celebrate, though. Both teams will look to go 2-0 – only one will – when the Notre Dame and Michigan battle it out on Saturday.

9. Overall, a good day for new coaches. Lane Kiffin finally got people talking about something other than him with a big win Saturday. Ditto for Gene Chizik at Auburn. Other new head coaches with notable wins/showings included: Frank Spaziani, whose Boston College Eagles shutout Northeastern. Syracuse and head boss Doug Marrone pushed Minnesota to the wire in Greg Paulus’ first game at QB. Bill Snyder returned to Kansas State and picked up a victory, as did Paul Rhoads, who took over for Chizik at Iowa State. In the only matchup of new head coaches, Purdue and Danny Hope outlasted Toledo and Tim Beckman 52-31. San Diego State coach Brady Hoke had his team in control for much of the game against UCLA before falling in the second half and Steve Sarkisian, who has breathed life back into the Washington Husky football program, came close to their first win since 2007. They certainly didn’t look like a team that had lost 14 straight as they tested LSU in a 31-23 defeat. The biggest loser on opening weekend was clearly Oregon coach Chip Kelly, whose team looked punchless in a 19-8 loss to Boise State before throwing punches at the end of the game.

10. Cal, themselves only obstacle for USC. Unless Oregon can get it turned around quickly, it looks like Cal, a 52-13 victor over Maryland, and the USC Trojans will be the class of the Pac-10 this season. Pete Carroll and company should dispatch Ohio State over the weekend and both the Trojans and Bears will remain undefeated until they battle it out in Berkeley on October 3rd. One thing to consider is USC hasn’t lost a regular season game out of conference in nearly seven years, since a 2002 loss to Kansas State. USC’s only challenge this season is Cal – and themselves. Can they overcome where they have struggled the past few seasons? We shall see.

What about you? Did you have any takeaways after watching this weekend’s action?