ESPN’s ‘College GameDay,’ with Luke Bryan, picks Alabama-LSU, Tennessee-Georgia

Pat McAfee had Luke Bryan – an avid Georgia fan – on the edge of his seat.

But, like a well-called audible – McAfee pulled the country star’s seat right from under him, figuratively, of course.

Bryan, who joined “College GameDay” as a celebrity picker was all about his No. 3 Georgia Bulldogs on Saturday ahead of their clash with No. 1 Tennessee in Athens. McAfee – and the “GameDay” crew – had other ideas.

“This is my first time in Athens and let me say this place is absolutely beautiful,” McAfee said. “We had a little drizzle. And you know where I come from, ‘rain makes corn. Corn makes whiskey. And whiskey makes,’ … they make whiskey in Tennessee.

“So, I think the rain is making the whiskey that’s being drank all over ‘Good ole Rocky Top. Rock Top Tennessee.’ Give me the Volunteers. Sorry, Luke Bryan. … Tennessee a team destiny.”

Bryan, rocking the Georgia jersey, wasn’t haven’t it.

“We’re going to step on their faces,” Bryan said. “We’re going to crush their dreams. … It’s all Dawgs. I called my guy in Vegas. I went heavy in Vegas on my dawgs. Eight points don’t scare me.”

In the end, Bryan was on an island.

“We went to Knoxville for the Florida game, and I picked Florida,” Herbstreit said. “Tennessee won. Then, we went to Knoxville again a couple of weeks later and they played Alabama, and I picked Alabama. And Tennessee won. Everyone is telling me to make sure you pick Georgia to win it.

“Guess what? I’m picking Tennessee.”

Meanwhile, the “GameDay” crew was in agreement when No. 6 Alabama travels to No. 10 LSU on Saturday night.

“Another hard-fought game,” Howard said. “I think LSU’s going to come out on fire. (LSU quarterback) Jayden Daniels is going to play great, but (Alabama quarterback) Bryce Young is going to be too much for LSU’s defense. I’m going with Roll Tide. Let’s go, Alabama.”

McAfee looks to the Tide’s running game.

“I like Jahmyr Gibbs as well for Alabama,” he said. “I think this is a Saban game. Hello Alabama over LSU.”

Even Bryan, a Georgia fan, agreed.

“Bama is Bama is Bama,” he said. “It’s Bama. Jahmyr Gibbs, just give him the ball. He’s the fastest back I’ve seen in years.”

Here are the rest of the picks:

Table of Contents

UCF-Memphis

Howard: UCF
McAfee: UCF
Bryan: UCF
Herbstreit: UCF

Iowa-Purdue

Howard: Purdue
McAfee: Purdue
Bryan: Purdue
Herbstreit: Purdue

Baylor-Oklahoma

Howard: Oklahoma
McAfee: Baylor
Bryan: Baylor
Herbstreit: Baylor

Okla. State-Kansas

Howard: Okla. State
McAfee: Kansas
Bryan: Kansas
Herbstreit: Kansas

Texas-Kansas State

Howard: Texas
McAfee: Kansas State
Bryan: Kansas State
Herbstreit: Texas

Florida State-Miami

Howard: Florida State
McAfee: Florida State
Bryan: Florida State
Herbstreit: Florida State

Wake Forest-NC State

Howard: NC State
McAfee: NC State
Bryan: NC State
Herbstreit: Wake Forest

Clemson-Notre Dame

Howard: Clemson
McAfee: Clemson
Bryan: Notre Dame
Herbstreit: Clemson

Alabama-LSU

Howard: Alabama
McAfee: Alabama
Bryan: Alabama
Herbstreit: No pick

Tennessee-Georgia

Howard: Tennessee
McAfee: Tennessee
Bryan: Georgia
Herbstreit: Tennessee

Mark Heim is a sports reporter for The Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Mark_Heim.

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