We got a bit more clarity on the College Football Playoff in Week 11. Say goodbye to Auburn, Michigan State, Kansas State and Notre Dame. Each suffered a second loss on the season, and no two-loss team is going to be in the national semifinals. The shocker was Auburn losing at home as a 22-point favorite to unranked Texas A&M. Possibly no team in college football history was luckier than Auburn last year, so it was about time that fortune didn't smile on the Tigers this time. They had two late fumbles, the last when the center snapped the ball when QB Nick Marshall wasn't ready for it. Auburn had won a national-best 14 straight home games.

Meanwhile, Alabama avoided a potential upset at LSU and has leapfrogged Oregon to become Bovada's national title favorite at +350. The Tide play in the game of the year in the SEC this week. All rankings are from the College Football Playoff, so they will change on Tuesday night. Presumably the Tide will replace Auburn as the fourth team in as things stand along with Mississippi State, Florida State and Oregon.

No. 2 Florida State at Miami Fla. (+2): Early last week some noted oddsmaker tweeted out that FSU would be an underdog for this game. I thought that was total B.S., and it turns out I was right. It is the first time since Sept. 24, 2011, that the Seminoles are not at least 3-point favorites. This is the type of game that can help the Hurricanes return to prominence. They have been pretty dominant at home thus far in 2014, although obviously not having faced a team as talented as Florida State. UM also had last week off to prepare. FSU perhaps got caught looking ahead on Saturday in beating Virginia just 34-20. If Miami wins here, I expect a rematch in the ACC title game, although the Canes still have to have Duke lose at least one more. This is FSU's last true road game. The pick: FSU.

No. 8 Michigan State at Maryland (+12.5): This seems like a huge letdown game for Sparty as it now knows there's just about no shot of playing in the Big Ten Championship Game. The Spartans need Ohio State to lose two of its next three games (against Minnesota, Indiana and Michigan) to get back into the Big Ten Championship picture. That's not going to happen. The Terps will be without one of their best players in receiver Stefon Diggs. He has been suspended for the game but now apparently will miss the rest of the regular season with a lacerated kidney. That sounds painful. He has 52 catches for 654 yards and five scores. The pick: Not only will MSU be flat, the Terps are off a bye. Take Maryland.

No. 6 TCU at Kansas (+28): Speaking of letdown games! The Frogs come off a huge home win over Kansas State, and TCU now controls its destiny to win the Big 12 and probably reach the College Football Playoff. How will the Frogs not be a bit flat here? Also, will TCU have star running back B.J. Catalon? He missed the KSU win with a shoulder injury. I'm not kidding, a Kansas upset, even as lousy as the Jayhawks are, would not shock me. The pick: KU.

No. 1 Mississippi State at No. 5 Alabama (-7): When is the last time you saw a top-ranked team be a touchdown underdog? This looks to be a College Football Playoff elimination game as the Tide certainly can't afford to suffer a second loss. Maybe if MSU loses very close it still has a chance to reach the national semifinals. But the winner here should take the SEC West Division. The Tide might not have a ton left in the tank after Saturday's emotional win in overtime at LSU, while Mississippi State rolled a weak Tennessee-Martin team. Alabama beat MSU 20-7 last year, but I don't read too much into that because Bulldogs star QB Dak Prescott was out injured. The pick: You can get this at 6.5 at some books. At that number I like Bama.

No. 13 Nebraska at No. 25 Wisconsin (-6): The winner of this game probably faces Ohio State in the Big Ten title game, and this features the nation's top two running backs in the Huskers' Ameer Abdullah and Badgers' Melvin Gordon. However, Abdullah might not be at full strength. He was hurt in Nebraska's last game, a 35-15 win over Purdue on Nov. 1. Abdullah, the nation's No. 3 rusher with 1,250 yards, did not practice during the Huskers' bye week due to an MCL strain. He's no doubt going to play, but if he's gimpy that really hurts Nebraska's chances. Gordon leads the nation in rushing yards per game (166.8). The pick: Wisconsin.

No. 3 Auburn at No. 20 Georgia (-2.5): I am very curious to see how motivated Auburn will be after Saturday's crushing loss. The Tigers' defense simply hasn't been very good of late, allowing at least 31 points in four straight games. Teams have thrown for 320 yards per game and 12 touchdowns during that stretch. That said, Georgia won't throw much. It will run all day with former Heisman front-runner Todd Gurley set to return from suspension. He missed the past four games for accepting cash for autographs, and freshman Nick Chubb has emerged as a star in waiting in his place. Chubb is the first Georgia back in the last decade to rush for at least 140 yards in four straight games. This matchup had an incredible finish last year with Auburn's Ricardo Louis catching the game-winning touchdown pass off a deflection from two Georgia defenders. The Tigers could run that Hail Mary play 500 times and that wouldn't happen again. The pick: Georgia.

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