Week 14 2014: College Gameday review #rivalryweek #cfb #cfbplayoff

Rivalry week games are in full swing with some great action on the fields so far on this Saturday, so it is time to stop down and review this morning’s College Gameday.

This edition of College Gameday was broadcasting to your television set from Tuscaloosa, Alabama for the legendary Iron Bowl game between Alabama and Auburn.  The rest of the rivalry week game slate is nearly that impressive all the way around, so this week’s show was very football intensive and short on nonsense.

The Gameday crew opened up the show with their quick hit segment advertising the ESPN network games of the day, and was then followed by the re-emergence of the mysterious entity known as Babi Mac.  Ms. Mac was featured while entertaining the crowd after coming back from the first commercial break, but was completely obstructed from view by the cameraman who chose to record her appearance with a trophy and a pole in the way.

Babi Mac, probably
Babi Mac, probably

There was an appearance by QB guru George Whitfield to discuss Marcus Mariota with Sam Ponder.  It appears that in Whitfield’s spare time he may also be joining the Nation of Islam with this week’s outfit.  I do have to admit, his suit fit much better this week and it was much less outlandish on the patters.  Please note the teeny tiny lapel rosette for your enjoyment.

George Whitfield, QB Guru
George Whitfield, QB Guru

Signs this week were pretty disappointing.  It was quite a large crowd this week with tons of signs, so I’m sure we missed something good, but it was slim pickings to find gold this week.  For that reason, we will highlight the most crude sign of the week, as well as the biggest giveup of a sign this week.

Me too!
Me too!
Who farted?
Who farted?

While we are looking at Kirk’s handsome mug above, please take note that he is not wearing a lapel rosette this week.  Our public relations department attempted to contact his people for an official statement regarding the lapel rosettes he has been wearing recently, but they declided to comment on his behalf.  Or maybe I tweeted at him and he never responded.  Jerk.

While we are on the topic of fashion, let’s stop down to review the Sam Ponder Outfit of the Week!  This week she was wearing a nice knit sweater with a black skirt and leggings.  Jennifer complimented the skirt and sweater combo as well as the jewelry, calling it all around “a good look”.  Sam Ponder, if you are reading this for some reason, just remember your biggest fan is waiting for a shoutout @GamedayJen.

Sam Ponder, week 14
Sam Ponder, week 14
Sam Ponder Week 14
Sam Ponder and George Whitfield

A feature piece this week was a segment highlighting “grand entrances” in college football.  You know, where teams follow whatever ritual before storming the field prior to the game.  Most of this segment seemed to focus on the Michigan banner and Howard Schnellenberger introducing the smoke effect into the pregame entrance at Miami, but the beginning was a pretty funny segment about a youth football team failing to break their entrance banner.  I found it odd there was no mention of grand entrances such as the Clemson rock and hill they run down, the Colorado team being led onto the field by a buffalo, OU and Texas coming out of the same tunnel, or whatever your favorite entrance may be.  The video can be found here for those interested http://goo.gl/bexlz2

The most important segment of the day was the appearance of Jesse Palmer on College Gameday.  In case you missed it, David Pollack and Jesse Palmer attempted to recreate the Odell Beckham Jr. catch from last week’s Cowboys game.  The video can be found here http://goo.gl/5pjUxd

Gene W. had a piece covering last year’s Iron Bowl and some of the quirkier aspects you may not have known about.  The segment featured the team’s equipment manager Dana Marquez, who sewed together a torn jersey on the sideline late in the game rather than use a spare, because a new jersey might jinx the game.  Apparently the field crew discovered that after the field was rushed last year, someone scattered a person’s ashes on the field perhaps in accordance with their last wishes.  The main focus was on Auburn student Hayden Hart, who stole Gus Malzahn’s visor after the game last year.  They were reunited this year when Gus met Hayden and offered to sign the visor for him.

Nick Saban joined the crew to discuss football items.  I know he may have a reputation of being stoic, but I am predicting he will end up as an ESPN mainstay whenever he decides to call it quits at Alabama.

When it came time to pick the games, this week’s special guest picker was none other than Alabama legend, wearer of fur coats, and best friend of Suzy Kolber, the man known as Joe Namath.  He seemed in great spirits and sobriety this morning as he picked the slate of games today.  On set, both Namath and Corso manifested themselves a pair of fur coats to wear while picking games.

Sharp dressed men
Sharp dressed men

In this week’s edition of “Desmond Howard picking the Michigan game”, a dejected Desmond Howard said his Wolverines would fight hard but that it just wouldn’t be enough to overcome the Ohio State Buckeyes this year.  I may have seen a single tear roll down his cheek, but this is unconfirmed.

Desmond Howard, dying inside
Desmond Howard, dying inside

For this week’s big game, David, Desmond and Kirk were unanimous that Alabama would win today’s big game.  Joe Namath too went with his Crimson Tide.  Lee Corso goaded the crowd, saying that he picked Alabama the previous year and was let down.  Just when you thought he was going to pull the trigger on Auburn, he faked us out and threw that elephant headgear on for another Alabama pick.

Corso picks the Tide!
Corso picks the Tide!

Now my memory may be a little bit hazy, but I’m pretty sure that in my Gameday season preview back in August I predicted at some point we would see Lee Corso and Joe Namath wearing matching fur coats while Corso donned an elephant mascot head.  Anyways, Charley the Cat did a triple fake-out before picking Auburn to beat Alabama this morning, so we are looking for a showdown between Charley and Corso tonight.

Charley picks Auburn
Charley picks Auburn

2013-14 BCS Championship Bonanza! #bowlmania

The BCS championship game is coming upon us very quickly.  If you’re here to look for picks, then you are either overly concerned with the Arkansas St/Ball St game, or you’re looking for predictions on the championship game.  I will be documenting anyone and everyone’s picks I can find for the championship game in this post, so check back often if you want the latest updates (things can change drastically leading up to the game; I’m looking in your direction Dr. Lou).  Our expert panel below is currently sitting at 27 to 11 in favor of Florida State over Auburn.  Take a look below to see how your favorite (or most hated) personality picked the big game!

Note: Updated 1/6/14 for your pleasure.

Andre Ware:
FSU over Auburn

Bill Plaschke:
FSU over Auburn

Brad Edwards:
FSU over Auburn

Brian Griese:
FSU over Auburn

Brock Huard:
FSU over Auburn

Colin Cowherd:
Auburn over FSU

Danny Kanell:
FSU over Auburn

David Pollack:
FSU over Auburn

Desmond Howard:
FSU over Auburn

Ed Cunningham:
FSU over Auburn

Ivan Maisel:
FSU over Auburn

Jackie MacMullen:
Auburn over FSU

Jennifer’s Picks:
Auburn over FSU

Jesse Palmer:
FSU over Auburn

Joey Galloway:
FSU over Auburn

Kevin Carter:
FSU over Auburn

Lee Corso:
FSU over Auburn (headgear pick)

Lou Holtz:
Auburn over FSU

Mark May:
FSU over Auburn

Mark Schlabach:
FSU over Auburn

Matt Stinchcomb:
Auburn over FSU

Mike Bellotti:
FSU over Auburn

Mike Golic:
FSU over Auburn

Mike Greenberg:
Auburn over FSU

Pat Forde:
FSU over Auburn

Paul Finebaum:
Auburn over FSU

Phil Steele:
FSU over Auburn

Robert Smith:
FSU over Auburn

Rod Gilmore:
Auburn over FSU

Ryen Russillo:
FSU over Auburn

Scott Van Pelt:
FSU over Auburn

Skip Bayless:
Auburn over FSU

Stephen A. Smith:
FSU over Auburn

Tim Tebow:
FSU over Auburn

Todd McShay:
FSU over Auburn

Tom Luginbill:
Auburn over FSU

Trevor Matich:
FSU over Auburn

Woody Paige:
Auburn over FSU

2013-14 Bowl Season open!

The 2013 regular season is in the books, and bowl season is now open.  Here is how business will be conducted during bowl season around here.  I’ll probably post a weekly update on picks for you, and each update will only have the most recent picks.  In other words, if Lou Holtz picks FSU to win the national championship today, but a week from now chooses Auburn, then Auburn will be the official pick.  It is only the most recent one which I will be posting, and only the most recent one that counts.  I will also document where each pick came from, so if you have heard something different more recently then use your best judgement, mmkay?

Anyways, here’s the picks so far (Updated 1/3/14 for your pleasure):

Dari Nowkhah:
Oregon over Texas (35)
Ariz St over TTU (33)
LSU over Iowa (32)
Mich St over Stanford (31)
UCLA over VaTech (30)
KState over Michigan (29)
Louisville over Miami Fl (28)
Ole Miss over GaTech (27)
TAMU over Duke (26)
Cinci over UNC (24)
Baylor over UCF (23)
ND over Rutgers (22)
NIU over Utah St (21)
BYU over Washington (20)
Minnesota over Syracuse (19)
Marshall over Maryland (18)
S.Carolina over Wisconsin (17)
BGSU over Pitt (15)
Rice over Miss St (14)
Oregon St over Boise St (12)
BC over Arizona (10)
ECU over Ohio (9)
Navy over MTSU (8)
Georgia over Nebraska (6)
UL-Lafayette over Tulane (5)
SDSU over Buffalo (4)
UNT over UNLV (3)
Fresno St over USC (2)
CSU over Wash St (1)

Mark Schlabach (espn.com 12/19):
CSU over Wash St
Fresno St over USC
Buffalo over SDSU
Tulane over UL-Lafayette
ECU over Ohio
Boise St over Oregon St
BGSU over Pitt
NIU over Utah St
Marshall over Maryland
Minnesota over Syracuse
BYU over Washington
ND over Rutgers
Cinci over UNC
Louisville over Miami FL
KState over Michigan
Navy over MTSU
Ole Miss over GaTech
Oregon over Texas
Ariz St over TTU
BC over Arizona
UCLA over VaTech
Miss St over Rice
TAMU over Duke
Georgia over Nebraska
UNT over UNLV
S.Carolina over Wisconsin
Iowa over LSU
Mich St over Stanford
Baylor over UCF
Bama over OU
Clemson over Ohio St
Mizzou over Okla St
Houston over Vandy
Ball St over Ark St
FSU over Auburn

Mike golic (Mike and Mike 12/18):
Fsu over Auburn

Chris Fowler:
S.Carolina over Wisconsin

Kirk herbstreit
Oregon over Texas
Byu over Washington
Louisville over Miami Fl (twitter 12/28)
ND over Rutgers
Cinci over UNC
Michigan over KState
Baylor over UCF
Clemson over Ohio st
Nebraska over Georgia
Bama over OU
Iowa over LSU
NDSU over Towson
Wisconsin over S.Carolina

Desmond Howard:
Clemson over Ohio st
Georgia over Nebraska
Stanford over mich st
Baylor over UCF

Lee Corso:
Ohio st over Clemson
Georgia over Nebraska
LSU over Iowa
NDSU over Towson
Wisconsin over S.Carolina
Bama over OU
Baylor over UCF
Mich St over Stanford (headgear pick)

Magic Johnson:
NDSU over Towson
Wisconsin over S.Carolina
LSU over Iowa
Bama over OU
Ohio St over Clemson
Mich St over Stanford

Jim mora:
Stanford over mich st

Colin Cowherd:
Auburn over fsu (Paul Finebaum show 12/18)
Ohio St over Clemson (The Herd 12/10)
Bama over OU (The Herd 12/10)
S.Carolina over Wisconsin (The Herd 12/10)
Wash st over CSU (twitter 12/21)
Fresno st over USC (twitter 12/21)

Phil Steele:
Ohio St over Clemson (The Herd 12/10)
Bama over OU (The Herd 12/10)
Wash St over CSU (ESPNU CFB Podcast 12/19)
USC over Fresno St (ESPNU CFB Podcast 12/19)
SDSU over Buffalo (ESPNU CFB Podcast 12/19)
Tulane over UL-Lafayette (ESPNU CFB Podcast 12/19)
ECU over Ohio (ESPNU CFB Podcast 12/19)
Oregon St over Boise St (ESPNU CFB Podcast 12/19)
Utah St over NIU (ESPNU CFB Podcast 12/26)
Miami Fl over Louisville (ESPNU CFB Podcast 12/26)
Ariz St over TTU (ESPNU CFB Podcast 12/26)
Georgia over Nebraska (ESPNU CFB Podcast 12/26)
LSU over Iowa (ESPNU CFB Podcast 12/26)
Wisconsin over S.Carolina (ESPNU CFB Podcast 12/26)
Stanford over Mich St (ESPNU CFB Podcast 12/26)
Baylor over UCF (ESPNU CFB Podcast 12/26)
Miss St over Rice
ND over Rutgers
TAMU over Duke
Navy over MTSU
UNT over UNLV
Ole Miss over GaTech
UNC over Cincinatti
Minnesota over Syracuse
KState over Michigan
Washington over BYU
Pitt over BGSU
Marshall over Maryland
Arizona over BC
Oregon over Texas
UCLA over VaTech
Okla St over Mizzou
FSU over Auburn

Jason Sehorn:
FSU over Ohio St (First Take CFB 12/6)

Paul Finebaum:
Auburn over fsu (The Experts 12/10)

Mike Bellotti:
Fsu over auburn (the experts 12/10)
Stanford over mich st (CFB daily 12/11)
Baylor over UCF
Bama over OU
Ohio St over Clemson

Kevin carter:
Fsu over auburn (the experts 12/10)
Stanford over Mich St
Baylor over UCF
Bama over OU
Clemson over Ohio St

Lou Holtz (ESPN Bowl Selection Show 12/8):
Ohio St over Clemson
Bama over OU
UCF over Baylor
Stanford over Mich St
Auburn over FSU
Oregon over Texas

Jesse Palmer (ESPN Bowl Selection Show 12/8):
Clemson over Ohio St (Orange Bowl Pre-game)
Bama over OU
Baylor over UCF
Stanford over Mich St
FSU over Auburn
NIU over Utah St (Poinsettia bowl pregame)
Pitt over BGSU (CFB Live 12/26)
Okla St over Mizzou

David Pollack (ESPN Bowl Selection Show 12/8):
Clemson over Ohio St
Bama over OU
Baylor over UCF
Stanford over Mich St (Rosebowl Pregame 1/1)
FSU over Auburn
NIU over Utah St (Twitter 12/27)
BYU over Washington (Twitter 12/27)
ND over Rutgers
Cinci over UNC
Louisville over Miami Fl
KState over Michigan
MTSU over Navy (Twitter 12/30)
Ole Miss over GaTech (Twitter 12/30)
Claims he only missed NIU so far 12/27

Mark May (ESPN Bowl Selection Show 12/8):
Ohio St over Clemson
Bama over OU
Baylor over UCF
Stanford over Mich St
FSU over Auburn
Oregon over Texas

Danny Kanell:
Ecu over Ohio (twitter 12/23)
Stanford over Mich St
Baylor over UCF
Bama over OU
Clemson over Ohio St
FSU over Auburn
Okla St over Mizzou

Tom Luginbill:
Stanford over Mich St
Baylor over UCF
Bama over OU
Clemson over Ohio St
Auburn over FSU

Matt Stinchcomb:
Stanford over Mich St
Baylor over UCF
Bama over OU
Clemson over Ohio St
Auburn over FSU

Andre Ware:
Mich St over Stanford
Baylor over UCF
Bama over OU
Clemson over Ohio St
FSU over Auburn

Joey Galloway:
Mich St over Stanford
Baylor over UCF
Bama over OU
Clemson over Ohio St
FSU over Auburn

Rod Gilmore:
Stanford over Mich St
Bama over OU
Ohio St over Clemson
Auburn over FSU

Brian Griese:
Stanford over Mich St
Baylor over UCF
Bama over OU
Ohio St over Clemson
FSU over Auburn

Brock Huard:
Mich St over Stanford
Baylor over UCF
Bama over OU
Ohio St over Clemson
FSU over Auburn

Matt Millen:
CSU over wash st (CFB live 12/20)
Buffalo over sdsu
USC over Fresno st
Tulane over ul-Lafayette
Whitewater over mt union

Ryen Russillo:
Ohio St over Clemson
Mizzou over Okla St
Ball St over Ark St

Ivan Maisel:
FSU over Auburn

Pat Forde (Forde Yard Dash 12/20):
Tulane over UL-Lafayette
Fresno St over USC
Wash St over CSU
Buffalo over SDSU
ECU over Ohio
Oregon St over Boise St
NIU over Utah St
BGSU over Pitt
Marshall over Maryland
Minnesota over Syracuse
Washington over BYU
UNC over Cinci
KState over Michigan
Louisville over Miami Fl
ND over Rutgers
GaTech over Ole Miss
Texas over Oregon
Ariz St over TTU
Navy over MTSU
Arizona over BC
UCLA over VaTech
Miss St over Rice
TAMU over Duke
Stanford oveR Mich St
Georgia over Nebraska
S.Carolina over Wisconsin
LSU over Iowa
Baylor over UCF
UNT over UNLV
Bama over OU
Mizzou over Okla St
Clemson over Ohio St
Vandy over Houston
Ball St over Ark St
FSU over Auburn

Todd McShay (ESPN Bowl Mania special 12/12):
Baylor over UCF (35)
TAMU over Duke (34)
ND over Rutgers (33)
ECU over Ohio (32)
Oregon over Texas (31)
Bama over OU (30)
Navy over MTSU (29)
BGSU over Pitt (28)
Ariz St over TTU (27)
Minnesota over Syracuse (26)
LSU over Iowa (25)
Ball St over Ark St (24)
UNT over UNLV (23)
UCLA over VaTech (22)
FSU over Auburn (21)
Arizona over BC (20)
Georgia over Nebraska (19)
Stanford over Mich St (18)
Wisconsin over S.Carolina (17)
Oregon St over Boise St (16)
Marshall over Maryland (15)
SDSU over Buffalo (14)
Wash St over CSU (13)
BYU over Washington (12)
KState over Michigan (11)
Vanderbilt over Houston (10)
Ohio St over Clemson (9)
Tulane over UL-Lafayette (8)
Utah St over NIU (7)
Rice over Miss St (6)
Fresno St over USC (5)
Ole Miss over GaTech (4)
UNC over Cinci (3)
Louisville over Miami Fl (2)
Okla St over Mizzou (1)

Robert Smith (ESPN Bowl Mania special 12/12):
Ole Miss over GaTech (35)
LSU over Iowa (33)
Bama over OU
Baylor over UCF (32)
TAMU over Duke (31)
Georgia over Nebraska (31)
ND over Rutgers (30)
KState over Michigan (29)
Miami Fl over Louisville (28)
Oregon over Texas (27)
S.Carolina over Wisconsin (26)
ECU over Ohio (25)
Stanford over Mich St (24)
USC over Fresno St (23)
Ariz St over TTU (22)
Oregon over Texas (21)
Maryland over Marshall (20)
Arizona over BC (19)
Navy over MTSU (17)
Georgia over Nebraska (16)
Minnesota over Syracuse (15)
Miss St over Rice (14)
Wash St over CSU (12)
UCLA over VaTech (11)
UNT over UNLV (10)
FSU over Auburn
Washington over BYU (9)
Oregon St over Boise St (8)
Tulane over ul-Lafayette  (7)
BGSU over Pitt (6)
Utah St over NIU (5)
Sdsu over buffalo (3)
Ohio St over Clemson (1)
Mountain Union over Whitewater

Ed Cunningham (ESPN Bowl Mania special 12/12):
Baylor over UCF (35)
Buffalo over SDSU (34)
S.Carolina over Wisconsin (33)
Ariz St over TTU (32)
Oregon over Texas (31)
ND over Rutgers (29)
NIU over Utah St (28)
Navy over MTSU (27)
Ole Miss over GaTech (26)
Miami Fl over Louisville (24)
FSU over Auburn
TAMU over Duke (23)
Arizona over BC (22)
UCLA over VaTech (20)
Maryland oer Marshall (19)
BYU over Washington (18)
Miss St over Rice (17)
Cinci over UNC (16)
Michigan over KState (15)
UNT over UNLV (14)
Pitt over BGSU (12)
Bama over OU
Wash St over CSU (11)
Oregon St over Boise St (9)
ECU over Ohio (7)
Tulane over UL-Lafayette (6)
Minnesota over Syracuse (5)
Georgia over Nebraska (4)
Clemson over Ohio St
USC over Fresno St (3)
Iowa over LSU (2)
Stanford over Mich St (1)

Jennifer’s Picks:
S.Carolina over Wisconsin
Boise St over Oregon St
Marshall over Maryland
Bama over OU
Navy over MTSU
BGSU over Pitt
Mizzou over Okla St
Georgia over Nebraska
Arizona over BC
Kstate over Michigan
BYU over Washington
Wash St over CSU
SDSU over Buffalo
Louisville over Miami Fl
UNC over Cinci
Ole Miss over GaTech
Stanford over Mich St
Fresno St over USC
Miss St over Rice
NIU over Utah St
UL-Lafayette over Tulane
TAMU over Duke
Clemson over Ohio St
Houston over Vandy
LSU over Iowa
Minnesota over Syracuse
Ariz St over TTU
Baylor over UCF
ND over Rutgers
ECU over Ohio
Ark St over Ball St
UNT over UNLV
UCLA over VaTech
Texas over Oregon
Auburn over FSU (upset special)