That made-for-TV faux outrage is about to get real.

It’s a make-or-break Saturday for seven teams with legitimate Playoff aspirations, plus several others whose fan bases are convinced they’re not out of it.

Here are the five things I can’t wait to watch unfold today in and around the SEC in Week 11, from the top, including Georgia and Alabama’s quest to become the ninth and 10th SEC teams this century to get to 10-0:

1. No. 1 Georgia vs. No. 10 Auburn

We debated this outcome earlier. I don’t have a great feel for this game. Georgia hasn’t faced a good team in six weeks, and I’m never quite sure what to expect from Auburn’s offense.

I picked Auburn, 27-23, because I like the idea of the Iron Bowl determining a Playoff spot, but I can make a solid argument for Georgia winning, too. That’s not a copout; it’s merely acknowledging I don’t fully trust what I see from either sideline.

A Georgia win all but assures us that the SEC will get two teams in the Playoff. That, especially at the expense of a Big Ten team making the field, would be the quickest path to the 8-team Playoff we desperately need and deserve.

An Auburn win makes the Iron Bowl somehow bigger than it always is: college football’s two greatest rivals playing for a Playoff spot.

Either way, the debate after today’s game will be even better and hotter than all of the talk leading up to it.

2. Do U believe?

Mark Richt’s Canes are 8-0 and ranked No. 7 with a golden (domer) opportunity tonight against No. 3 Notre Dame.

“You’ve earned the right to win this game! Go out and take it!”

“I’m giving everybody here … permission to turn it loose!”

Oh, man, if only the Orange Bowl were still standing.

This is Miami’s biggest home game in 15 years. No longer merely trying to spoil another team’s ambitions, these Canes are rekindling memories of the program’s championship past.

A loss tonight ends either’s Playoff bid. It’s that simple.

If you’re a fan of another conference, most notably the Big 12, you want the Canes to win. That would that eliminate Notre Dame and set up a likely Canes-Clemson ACC final for a lone Playoff spot.

3. The real Big showdown

I’ve been saying for most of the season that the Big 12 is the best conference in America. Four of the best teams. Three of the best quarterbacks. High-profile non-conference wins, etc.

Today, unfortunately, the Playoff dream will end for No. 5 Oklahoma or No. 6 TCU. Both are 8-1. Curiously, both also lost by a touchdown to Iowa State.

Even more unfortunate, the Playoff dream could end for the winner, too, if both get to the Big 12 Championship Game and Saturday’s loser wins the rematch.

It’s crazy, but it’s entirely possible.

As for Saturday, just sit back and enjoy one of college football’s best defenses (TCU) try to lock down one of college football’s best offenses (Oklahoma) and QBs (Baker Mayfield).

Just scan box scores and haven’t seen either play much? Think Ole Miss vs. Alabama, 2014-2016.

Either team would win the Big Ten. Comfortably.

4. Alabama usually trips up once a season, but …

Nick Saban has won four championships at Alabama, and in the past three, the Tide lost a regular season game.

Is today the day?

Their game against No. 16 Mississippi State is in Starkville, in theory an advantage for the Bulldogs.

But strangely, in those aforementioned Tide losses, all three came in Tuscaloosa. The Tide haven’t lost an SEC road game since 2014, at Ole Miss. They’ve won 13 consecutive since, eight against ranked teams.

Nobody enjoys quieting the home crowd more than Saban and few, if any, are better at it. I’d like the Bulldogs’ chances a lot better if Nick Fitzgerald weren’t so darn one-dimensional. It’s a great dimension, but it’s not any better than it was last year, when Bama held him to 15 yards rushing and limited the Bulldogs to a lone field goal.

So, no, today is not the day. Nov. 25, however …

5. What happens if No. 1, No. 2, No. 3 and No. 5 lose today?

It’s possible. We already know No. 5 or No. 6 will lose.

We’ve seen three teams in the top four lose in the same week.

Just last year, in fact. After the second poll, in fact.

No. 2 Clemson lost. No. 3 Michigan lost. No. 4 Washington lost.

Clemson dropped to No. 4; Washington fell to No. 6 but, like Clemson, made the Playoff.

So even if the world gets turned upside down today, that doesn’t necessarily bring the Big Ten back into the conversation. It doesn’t necessarily turn No. 9 Washington into a Playoff threat, either.

If crazy things happen Saturday and we get two or three upsets, it’s easy to envision Tuesday’s Playoff poll looking like this:

  • No. 1 Alabama (if Georgia loses)
  • No. 2 Oklahoma/TCU winner
  • No. 3 Miami (with W over Notre Dame)
  • No. 4 Clemson (W over Florida State)
  • No. 5 Auburn (upsets Georgia)
  • No. 6 Georgia (close loss at Auburn)

If No. 1 Georgia, No. 2 Alabama, No. 4 Clemson, No. 5 Oklahoma and No. 7 Miami all win?

Grab the ear plugs. It’s going to get loud Saturday night.