Desmond Howard defends Texas A&M among shocking College Football Playoff picks

Desmond Howard made waves with his shocking College Football Playoff predictions on last weekend’s College GameDay on ESPN.

To illustrate, Howard went completely against the grain — choosing Texas A&M, Michigan, Pittsburgh and Baylor as his four, with the Aggies ending the season on top. As for his counterparts, they all chose Alabama and Ohio State as their title game, two teams Howard shocking left out of the College Football Playoff completely.

Now, Howard is defending his picks on ESPN’s First Take. Of course, Stephen A. Smith gave him the business regarding his picks, especially leaving the Crimson Tide and Georgia Bulldogs out in favor of the Aggies.

“You know good and damn well that the committee isn’t leaving out two SEC teams — Alabama and Georgia out of the College Football Playoff? You’ve got to be crazy,” began Smith. “Now let’s get to Texas A&M. First of all, Texas A&M is in a world of trouble. I’ve been on the record, they’re in a world of trouble. In a world of trouble. First of all, you beat Alabama last year on your home turf. Now you’ve got to come to Tuscaloosa, and you’re coming to Tuscaloosa with baggage, with Jimbo Fisher dogging out Nick Saban like that.

“I know Nick Saban brought up his name with the whole NIL quotes and all that stuff, Nick Saban was wrong about that. I love my man Nick Saban, but Nick Saban, you shouldn’t have done that. But damn. I mean, Jimbo Fisher went nuclear on the brother. I mean, there’s a price to be paid for that Desmond Howard, and he’s going to pay it. Alabama, all day, every day. I mean, you know he’s in trouble right? You know that, right? They ain’t beating them.”

Evidently, the College GameDay analyst has a lot more faith in the Aggies than most, and he believes Smith’s rant — coupled with Saban’s prior comments about Texas A&M and Jimbo Fisher — will give the program all they need to make it to the pinnacle.

“At that complex, there’s going to be two things that are going to run on a constant loop throughout their football building. What Nick Saban said about Jimbo Fisher’s recruiting classes, and you my friend, you. This rant that you keep putting out here on TV. They’re going to play that, and especially the week of the Alabama game,” responded Howard. “Oh man. The Aggies are going to be ready. I can’t wait. I just hope that you, why don’t you bring First Take to Tuscaloosa that weekend and we can talk about it.”

Afterwards, Smith responded by saying that he loves the university and Fisher, but he believes the Texas A&M coach “bit off a bit more than he could chew” and “barked up the wrong damn tree” by going after Saban.

Nevertheless, Desmond Howard is going out on a limb for his College Football Playoff predictions, and it’ll make Texas A&M faithful smile. If it hits, he’ll look like a genius — but Howard better be ready for some serious ribbing if he’s off the mark by a wide margin.