With the College Football Playoff Standings released for the second week, Alabama, Clemson, Notre Dame and Michigan are in, in that order, as of today. Those rankings, of course, are fluid. There are key games in the next 4 weeks that could alter the rankings of those teams. Georgia, Oklahoma and West Virginia look like teams that could climb in there if they win out. Washington State has a shot, and UCF isn’t totally out of it, though they would need a lot of help as they are sitting at No.12. Alabama plays Mississippi State at home this weekend, the Citadel next weekend at home, the Iron Bowl on Saturday, 11-24, at 2:30 PM on CBS in Tuscaloosa, and the SEC Championship Game versus Georgia at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on Saturday, December 1, @3 PM CT on CBS. Alabama certainly controls its own destiny. A loss to any of these teams would probably not keep them out, but S and his team want to win out, so they are not even considering the possibility of a loss. Who does? Clemson controls its own destiny as well, but has a somewhat tricky game at Boston College this Saturday. Notre Dame faces Florida State this Saturday in South Bend then has a challenging game itself versus Syracuse a week from Saturday at Yankee Stadium. Michigan will have to go to Columbus on Saturday, November 24th to face Ohio State, so there’s not clear sailing for the Wolverines either. Ohio State is another team with an outside shot to make it, but they need to pick up their play. Georgia hosts the Auburn Tigers this weekend, and faces Georgia Tech to close out the season on November 24th. OU plays Bedlam this Saturday against Oklahoma State in Norman, then goes to West Virginia on November 24th in a colossally important game that could determine the Big 12 regular season champion, even though those 2 teams could possibly collide the next Saturday in the Big 12 Championship Game. Washington State plays at Colorado this Saturday and will host Washington to finish out the season (Friday November 23rd, 7:30 PM CT), , so they could help their resume with an unblemished finish. UCF hosts Navy and Cincinnati the next 2 weeks then travels to South Florida to finish off the season on Friday, November 23rd, in what could be a major hurdle to clear.

So there’s plenty to be decided in the upcoming weeks beginning this Saturday. The compelling action continues in the next 4 weeks to determine which 4 teams make the playoff. Who’ll be in December 2nd for the final rankings? It’s been a tremedous season and we’re into November so now it’s better than ever.

Here’s a look at this week’s contests.

Last week: 20-4

Overall: 164-48, 77%

No. 16 Mississippi State (6-3, 2-3) @ No.1 Alabama (9-0, 6-0)

Bryant-Denny Stadium (101, 821)

2:30 PM CT

CBS

Brad, Gary, Jamie

Bama by 24

Nick Fitzgerald has played very well the past 2 weeks in State victories over Texas A&M and LA Tech, but this is the Alabama defense that just shut out LSU 29-0 and has really hit its stride. The defense will be dominant again and Tua and his offense will do what they always do, churn out the yards and light up the scoreboard.

Alabama 45, Mississippi State 7

No. 24 Auburn (6-3, 3-3) @ No. 5 Georgia (8-1, 6-1)

Sanford Stadium, Athens (92,746)

6 PM CT

ESPN

Sean, Todd, Holly

Georgia by 14

Auburn pulled off an electric comeback victory over A&M last Saturday, winning 28-24 behind 2 late touchdown passes by Jarrett Stidham. The Auburn defense will keep the Tigers in the game for a good while, but Jake Fromm is playing at a high level and the combination of Elijah Holyfield and D’Andre Swift will be too much for the Tigers to handle.

Georgia 31, Auburn 16

No. 11 Kentucky (7-2, 5-2) @ Tennessee (4-5, 1-4)

Neyland Stadium, Knoxville (102,455)

2:30 PM CT

SEC Network

Taylor Zarzour, John Congemi, Kris Budden

Kentucky by 5 1/2

I like Benny Snell and the Wildcats to keep their highly successful season going. Tennessee has been improving, but I don’t see them getting over the top here.

Kentucky 34, Tennessee 24

South Carolina (5-3, 4-3) @ No. 15 Florida (6-3, 4-3)

Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, Gainesville (91,916)

11 AM CT

ESPN

Dave Pasch, Gregory McElroy, Tom “Lugues” Luginbill

Florida by 6

This should be a competitive game. Florida got shellacked by Missouri at home last Saturday, 38-17, and South Carolina won a thriller at Ole Miss, 48-44. I like South Carolina to keep it close, but the Gators to close it out late.

Florida 31, South Carolina 24

No.7 LSU (7-2, 4-2) @ Arkansas (2-7, 0-5)

Razorback Stadium, Fayetteville (76,000)

6:30 PM CT

SEC Network

Tom, JRodg, Cole

LSU by 13 1/2

The Bengal Tigers could be down after their demoralizing loss to the Crimson Tide last Saturday, but they’ll have enough to overcome a struggling Razorback squad.

LSU 31, Arkansas 17

Vanderbilt (4-5, 1-4) @ Missouri (5-4, 1-4)

Memorial Stadium/ Faurot Field, Columbia, MO. (71,004)

11 AM CT

SEC Network

Dave Neal, D.J. Shockley, Dawn Davenport

Missouri by 17

Missouri is coming off an impressive victory at the Swamp last Saturday and Vandy is coming off a bye week after defeating Arkansas 2 weeks ago in Fayetteville, 45-31. Vandy is getting better, but so is Mizzou, and I don’t think the Commodores can stop Drew Lock and the Tigers offense enough.

Missouri 45, Vanderbilt 24

Ole Miss (5-4, 1-4) @ Texas A&M (5-4, 3-3)

Kyle Field, College Station, TX (102,733)

11 AM CT

CBS

Carter Blackburn Aaron Taylor, Rick Neuheisel

A&M by 13

I like Kellen Mond and the A&M offense to snap back against a reeling Ole Miss defense.

Texas A&M 45, Ole Miss 21

No.2 Clemson (9-0, 6-0 ACC) @ No,17 Boston College (7-2, 4-1)

Alumni Stadium, Chestnut Hill, MA.

7 PM CT

ABC

Chris, Kirk, Maria

Clemson by 20

While this appears to be a more challenging game for Dabo and company, I like Clemson to roll here.

Clemson 35, BC 14

No. 10 Ohio State (8-1, 6-1 Big Ten) @ No. 18 Michigan State (6-3, 4-2)

Spartan Stadium, East Lansing, Michigan

11 AM CT

FOX

Gus, Joel, Jenny

OSU by 3 1/2

Michigan State is known as a giant killer in the Big Ten. I like them to do it again and ruin Ohio State’s chances for the playoff. Urb has another heart attack after the game.

Michigan State 28, Ohio State 24

Oklahoma State (5-4, 2-4 Big 12) @ No. 6 Oklahoma (8-1, 5-1)

Memorial Stadium, Norman, OK.

2:30 PM CT

ABC

Steve Levy, Grease, McShay

OU by 20 1/2

I see Bedlam as a blowout this year.

Oklahoma 59, OK State 35

No.4 Michigan (8-1, 6-0 Big Ten) @ Rutgers (1-8, 0-6)

HighPoint Stadium, Piscataway, New Jersey

2:30 PM CT

Big Ten Network

Michigan by 40

Why is Rutgers even in the Big Ten?

Michigan 45, Rutgers 3

Florida State (4-5) @ Notre Dame (9-0)

Notre Dame Stadium, South Bend

6:30 PM CT

NBC

Tirico, Flutie, Kathryn Tappen

ND by 16 1/2

Notre Dame had their struggles against a scrappy Northwestern team last Saturday winning 31-21 on the road. Florida State may give the Irish some trouble. I’m not totally buying the Irish as a playoff team. They can get by FSU, but it’ll be tougher than expected, then they’ll be severely tested by Syracuse next Saturday in the Bronx.

Notre Dame 35, Florida State 28

TCU (4-5, 2-4 Big 12) @ No. 9 West Virginia (7-1, 5-1)

Milan Puskar Stadium, Morgantown, West VA.

11 AM

Fox Sports 1

Justin Kutcher, DeMarco Murray, Petros Papadakis

West VA by 11 1/2

The Mountaineers were the most impressive team to me last Saturday at Texas as they scored on a 33 yard touchdown pass with 15 seconds left to cut the Texas lead to 41-40, and Coach Dana Holgerson went for 2 to win it. After a couple of timeouts, Holgerson called on quarterback Will Grier, who is an exceptional passer but slow as molasses, to run the quarterback draw. Grier executed it the play to perfection and the Mountaineers escaped Austin with a 42-41 victory and a real shot at still making the playoff if they can take care of business the rest of the season. My daughter is slightly bummed about her TCU football team but having too much fun in college to worry about it. Maybe next year for the Frogs. A lot of injuries this season. 7 starters lost for the season on defense.

West Virginia 42, TCU 30

Navy (2-7, 1-4 American) @ No. 12 UCF (8-0, 5-0)

Spectrum Stadium, Orlando

11 AM CT

ESPN2

Arish Shroff, Ahmad Brooks, Roddy Jones

UCF by 25 1/2

UCF continues its attempt to be relevant in the playoff conversation. Navy is having a very tough year.

UCF 56, Navy 28

No.8 Washington State (8-1, 5-1 Pac-12) @ Colorado (5-4, 2-4)

Folsom Field, Boulder

2:30 PM CT

ESPN

Bob Wischusen, Brock Huard, Allison Williams

Wazzou by 6

I like Colorado to give Wazzou everything they want and pull off the upset.

Colorado 34, Washington State 31

Baylor (5-4, 3-3 Big 12) @ No.22 Iowa State (5-3, 4-2)

Jack Trice Stadium, Ames, Iowa

2:30 PM CT

Fox Sports 1

Brian Custer, Ben Leber

ISU by 14 1/2

This Cyclones team is the sleeper for me in the Big 12. They can still pull off a Big 12 championship. Matt Campbell is one of the best young coaches in America. David Montgomery is an awesome running back and the passing game is clicking as well. Baylor is playing better this year under Matt Rhule, but I like the Cyclones to continue their winning ways and be in the hunt for the Big 12 championship if they can get some help.

Iowa State 45, Baylor 30

Southern Miss (4-4, 3-2 C-USA) @ UAB (8-1, 6-0)

Legion Field

6:30 PM CT

beIN Sports

UAB by 12

Wish UAB would come on a network you could watch. I tried to get that channel and it jerked me around and didn’t work, so I just watch highlights from their games now. UAB could be for real, not totally positive yet. They have defeated a pretty good North Texas squad, 29-20, which defeated Arkansas on the road earlier this season, 44-17. So that’s kind of impressive. They haven’t played anybody else who’s legit though but they should take care of business against Southern Miss. Next Saturday in College Station will tell us who the real UAB football team is.

UAB 42, Southern Miss 17

Northwestern (5-4, 5-1 Big Ten) @ No. 21 Iowa (6-3, 3-3)

Kinnick Stadium

2:30 PM CT

FOX

Joe Davis, Brady Quinn

Iowa by 10 1/2

It’s impressive how competitive Northwestern is. I just see Iowa having more athletes in this game.

Iowa 35, Northwestern 24

Tonight

Wake Forest (4-5, 1-4 ACC) @ No. 14 NC State (6-2, 3-2)

Carter-Finley Stadium, Raleigh, NC

6:30 PM CT

ESPN

Dave Flemming, Tim Hasselback, Matt Hasselback, Laura Rutledge

NC State by 19 1/2

The Wolfpack is a very good team with an explosive offense led by quarterback Ryan Finley and running back Reggie Gallaspy II. I like this squad to do well the rest of the season and excel in their bowl game.

NC State 48, Wake 28

Friday

Louisville (2-7, 0-6 ACC) @ Syracuse (7-2, 4-2)

Carrier Dome, Syracuse, New York

6 PM CT

ESPN2

Jason Benetti, Kelly Stouffer, Olivia Dekker

Cuse by 20 1/2

Syracuse is for real. I see them with a legitimate shot of knocking off Notre Dame next Saturday. Petrino may just want to get on his motorcycle and ride off into the sunset. Maybe without a co-ed this time.

Syracuse 49, Louisville 21

No. 23 Fresno State (8-1, 5-0 Mountain West) @ Boise State (7-2, 4-1)

Albertsons Stadium, Boise, Idaho

9:15 PM CT

ESPN2

Mike Couzens, Kirk “Riders on the Storm” Morrison, Alyssa Lang

Fresno State by 2 1/2

This is a classic and one worth staying up for if you can. I really like this Fresno team a lot. Boise State is solid and always tough at home on the blue turf. There is some history in this game as Fresno defeated Boise in the regular season finale last year to tie for the Mountain West regular season championship, but still had to travel to Boise for the Mountain West Conference Championship game. It was some wacky Mountain West rule that was in place, and was very controversial. Boise won that game, but Fresno gets its revenge this year.

Fresno State 34, Boise State 31

Virginia Tech (4-4, 3-2 ACC) @ Pittsburgh (5-4, 4-1)

Heinz Field, Pittsburgh

2:30 PM CT

ESPNU

Kevin Brown, Andre Ware

Pitt by 3

I’m buying this Pitt team. After going into Scott Stadium and knocking off a hot UVA team last Friday Night, 23-13, and looking very good doing it, this team looks legit.

Pitt 34, VA Tech 30

Wisconsin (6-3, 4-2 Big Ten) @ No. 20 Penn State (6-3, 3-3)

Beaver Stadium, University Park, PA.

11 AM CT

ABC

Mark Jones, Dusty Dvoracek, Molly McGrath

Penn State by 9

What looked like a colossal national showdown early in the season has turned into an irrelevant game as far as the Big Ten and national landscape are concerned.

Penn State 38, Wisconsin 28

UCLA (2-7, 2-4 Pac-12) @ Arizona State (5-4, 3-3)

‘Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe AZ.

1 PM CT

‘Pac-12 Network

ASU by 13 1/2

Arizona State has been impressive under first year coach Herm Edwards this season. They knocked off then No.15 Utah last Saturday, 38-20, though Utah did lose their starting quarterback early in the game, but he had already thrown 2 interceptions. I really like this team. N’Keal Harry is the best wide receiver in the country west of Tuscaloosa. He’s superb.

Arizona State 45, UCLA 31