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College GameDay crew picks College Football Playoff semifinals
By Paul Harvey
Published:
ESPN’s College GameDay crew was live to start New Year’s Day, breaking down all the action to preview the College Football Playoff.
While the early window of the day features other bowl games, the big action will heat up at 5 pm ET when Michigan and Alabama square off in the Rose Bowl. In the nightcap, Washington and Texas meet in the Sugar Bowl with the winners from both games heading to the CFP National Championship in Houston.
Here is how the GameDay crew went for the semifinal games:
Washington vs. Texas (Sugar Bowl)
Desmond Howard: Washington. “Such an evenly matched game… I think I’m going to have to go with the Huskies with their offensive line.”
Pat McAfee: Washington. “(Texas is) big, they’re strong, they’re fast. But to me, this Washington team is so calloused. They can win a game however you need to win the game, and I think Michael Penix continues this dream year of coming back to Washington.”
Lee Corso: Texas. “Texas, advantage running the ball and stopping the running. A one-dimensional Washington will not beat them.”
Kirk Herbstreit: Washington. “Man, coin flip on this one for me. I like Sark, I love that in trenches (Texas) has a big advantage on both sides. But there’s just something about that group of receivers for Washington… I think it’s a 38-35 type of game.”
Michigan vs. Alabama (Rose Bowl)
Desmond Howard: Michigan. “When I heard that Nick Saban went and hired a former Michigan coach I was like oh here we go. It’s kind of white-collar sign-stealing. But, I think Michigan is motivated… I’ve got Michigan in a close one.”
Pat McAfee: Alabama. “You see what Michigan has done all season with their mental toughness and how great they are and how mature they are. You’d be an idiot to pick against them, but Roll Tide Roll!… I still think Alabama’s best is yet to come, starting with a close one in a Rose Bowl.”
Lee Corso: Michigan. “They’ve got a lot of baggage. Forget the baggage, I’m rolling with the Blue.” Here’s Corso’s full headgear pick:
“This is the most controversial pick I’ve ever made.”
Coach picks the maize and blue to advance to the national championship game ? #CollegeGameDay pic.twitter.com/8cEKV8c9E4
— College GameDay (@CollegeGameDay) January 1, 2024
Paul Harvey lives in Atlanta and covers SEC football.
