ESPN’s College GameDay, with Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes, picks ‘Saban Bowl’ between Alabama-LSU
Pat McAfee calls it the “Saban Bowl.”
When LSU heads to Tuscaloosa on Saturday night to face No. 4 Alabama, the Tigers will be armed with an emotional energy as a result of interim coach Frank Wilson.
Both places won national championships un Nick Saban, hence McAfee’s nickname for the game.
With that said, McAfee, Saban, Desmond Howard, Kirk Herbstreit and guest picker and Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes all like the Crimson Tide in this one.
“I love the energy coming out of Baton Rouge,” Howard said. “I think they are going to Tuscaloosa to play a high-spirited ball game. I think Alabama has too much talent. They are going to overwhelm LSU in the second half. I’m going Roll Tide.”
Saban agreed.
“It will be interesting to see how LSU comes in from a psychological standpoint based on all the distractions they have had,” the former coach said. “This is the rivalry game. Rivalry games are because both teams are good, and LSU has a lot of talent, but I think Alabama will prevail at home.”
McAfee points to Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson.
“It will be on Saban field,” he said. “Obviously, you have won national championships at both of these schools. This is the Saban Bowl. I beleive in Ty Simpson. They’ve won the last seven. I like Ty Simpson a lot, 20 touchdowns just one interception over the last seven. He’s been dominant. I think that continues today.”
Mahomes doesn’t believe LSU will win but will take something from the game.
“I think this will be a tough game for Bama,” he said. “I think Bama does come out with a win, but I think it will be a psychological boost for LSU with the new coach coming in. … I’ll take Bama.”
Herbstreit thinks the difference will be on the line of scrimmage.
“I think this can be an inspired LSU team,” he said. “Frank Wilson has had two weeks to bring alum in and talk to these guys and know what it means to be an LSU Tiger. I think that will have them ready to play. At the end of the day, I don’t think they are ready at the line of scrimmage on the offensive line against the Bama defense.”
Here are the picks with the first two against the spread:
Indiana (-15.5) at Penn State
Howard: Indiana
Saban: Indiana
McAfee: Indiana
Mahomes: Indiana
Herbstreit: Indiana
Navy at Notre Dame (-26.5)
Howard: Navy
Saban: Navy
McAfee: Notre Dame
Mahomes: Navy
Herbstreit: Navy
Oregon at Iowa
Howard: Oregon
Saban: Oregon
McAfee: Oregon
Mahomes: Oregon
Herbstreit: Iowa
Wake Forest at Virginia
Howard: Virginia
Saban: Virginia
McAfee: Wake Forest
Mahomes: Virginia
Herbstreit: Wake Forest
Georgia at Miss. State
Howard: Georgia
Saban: Georgia
McAfee: Georgia
Mahomes: Georgia
Herbstreit: Georgia
Texas A&M at Missouri
Howard: Texas A&M
Saban: Texas A&M
McAfee: Texas A&M
Mahomes: Texas A&M
Herbstreit: Texas A&M
LSU at Alabama
Howard: Alabama
Saban: Alabama
McAfee: Alabama
Mahomes: Alabama
Herbstreit: Alabama
Florida State at Clemson
Howard: Clemson
Saban: Clemson
McAfee: Florida State
Mahomes: Clemson
Herbstreit: Clemson
BYU at Texas Tech
Howard: Texas Tech
Saban: Texas Tech
McAfee: Texas Tech
Mahomes: Texas Tech
Herbstreit: No pick
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