A bye week came just in time for Illinois, a 6-3 team on a two-game losing streak that could use the extra days to try to figure out whether or not something surprisingly good happens this season.

Northwestern also has a bye, which might matter, though it’s hard to tell. The Wildcats are 4-5 and could soon be staring into the abyss of a 4-8 finish.

Notre Dame is 7-1 and in the expanded 12-team College Football Playoff picture heading into what should have been a blockbuster game against Florida State. Alas, it’s a mangy game, as the Seminoles have proven to be – at 1-8 – the most underperforming team to ever grace the planet.

The result, my friends, is that there is no “local” game worthy of being at the top of this week’s picks list, so let’s not pretend otherwise. But the national list is okay – and will only get bigger and better from here – so let’s get to it (using the CFP rankings below, as we will for the rest of the season).

Week 11 choices

Michigan (+14½) at No. 8, Indiana (2:30 p.m., CBS 2): Imagine waking up from a months-long sleep and seeing this point spreading. Michigan defeated Indiana 52-7 last season. Michigan has 27 wins in the last 28 games in this series and is 12-1 in the last 13 visits to Bloomington. What a turnaround it has been for the defending champions – 5-4 and sinking like a stone – and, much more exciting, for the upstart Hoosiers, who are 9-0 and on the cusp of the top 10. winning season in school history.

Indiana in the playoff? Who would have thought the college football world would be abuzz with such talk?

“I’m aware of it,” coach Curt Cignetti said. “But if you get caught up in that and lose your focus, that would be the kiss of death.”

Encountering an elite opponent can also be the kiss of death. Luckily for the Hoosiers – No. 1 in the Big Ten on offense and No. 2 on defense – they haven’t even faced a ranked team yet. They continue to live the good life, 27-17.

No. 20 Colorado (-4) at Texas Tech (3 p.m., Fox 32): If the weather in Lubbock cooperates, there could be 100 points on the scoreboard when this one is over — and that’s just Colorado’s score. Okay, just kidding, but this is an ideal opponent for Shedeur Sanders, Travis Hunter and crew, as Texas Tech’s pass rush has failed to deliver all season. Improvements, 49-38.

Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images

Florida State (+26) at No. 10 Notre Dame (6:30 p.m., NBC 5, 780-AM): “It doesn’t take long before you turn on the movie and realize how talented (the Seminoles) are,” Irish coach Marcus Freeman insisted this week, straight face and all. You can imagine Lou Holtz reading those words and beaming with pride. Is anyone still old enough to remember when the ‘Noles were 13-0 last season? Irish, 34-9.

No. No. 11 Alabama (-3) at No. 15 LSU (6:30 p.m., ABC 7): The pressure on both two-loss teams – and especially on both coaches – is enormous. Will Kalen DeBoer really get bumped to the playoffs in his first season after Nick Saban? Is Brian Kelly really going to lose three (or more) times for the third season in a row since adopting the world’s worst Southern accent? Something to watch is Kelly’s defense against Alabama QB Jalen Milroe, a talented runner. In their last game, the Tigers went completely undone after Texas A&M switched to a running QB after halftime. Win or lose, it depends on the coaches. LSU with a kick.

My favorite favorite: No. 3 Georgia (-2½) at No. 16 Ole Miss (2:30 p.m., ABC 7): I thought Georgia would smoke Florida last weekend, but the game turned out to be close – not the first time these Bulldogs looked like they were sending it up. But this is their first playoff-like matchup since they went on the road and messed with top-ranked Texas in terrifying fashion. And these are still the Dawgs, who do big games better than anyone and have won 52 straight against opponents not named Alabama.

My favorite underdog: Utah (+3½) vs. No. 9 BYU (9:15 p.m., ESPN): The ‘Holy War’ is back on after a brief hiatus, and a crazy rivalry is even crazier this season as undefeated BYU would be bad and Utah would have to win the Big 12 with four losses .The Utes haven’t been themselves without QB Cam Rising, who is out this season, but they’re still playing great defense and have one last chance — here — to feel like biggies. Holy you-know-what, I’m going to be upset.

Last week: 4-1 straight-up, 2-3 against the spread.

Season so far: 44-19 straight-up, 30-32-1 against the spread.