ESPN College GameDay: Picks for College Football Playoff

We’ve finally made it to the day college football fans around the glove have been waiting for, the College Football Playoff semifinals. As usual, ESPN College GameDay has us covered with the best coverage.

It’ll be Jim Harbaugh and the No. 1 seeded Michigan Wolverines taking on the Alabama Crimson Tide in the Rose Bowl, while Michael Penix Jr. and the Washington Huskies face a hungry Texas Longhorns team led by Steve Sarkisian in the Sugar Bowl afterwards. It’s an amazing slate to send off the four-team Playoff with a bang.

However, those aren’t the only bowl games being played on New Year’s Day. Before the Rose Bowl kicks off at 5:00 p.m. ET on ESPN, a heaping of three major clashes are on the docket — the Liberty Flames versus the Oregon Ducks in the Fiesta Bowl, the Iowa Hawkeyes and the Tennessee Volunteers in the Citrus Bowl, and the Wisconsin Badgers and the LSU Tigers in the ReliaQuest Bowl.

Before the fun got started, a good time was had by Kirk Herbstreit, Desmond Howard, Pat McAfee, Lee Corso and Rece Davis on the College GameDay set. They’ve locked in their picks — here’s who they’re riding with on Saturday for the College Football Playoff and more.

CGD Predictions for College Football Playoff, New Year’s Day Bowl Games:

CFP Semifinal at the Rose Bowl Game Pres. by Prudential — Michigan Wolverines vs. Alabama Crimson Tide: Herbstreit is calling the game, so he’s not picking the Rose Bowl. Howard is of course rocking with the Wolverines, while McAfee screamed “Roll Tide Roll” as he picked the Crimson Tide.

As for Corso, he prefaced it by saying “Forget the baggage, I’m going with the Blue,” picking Michigan to move on to the College Football Playoff finale.

CFP Semifinal at the Allstate Sugar Bowl — Washington Huskies vs. Texas Longhorns: The Longhorns are favored over the undefeated Huskies entering Monday’s nightcap. Corso is riding with Quinn Ewers and company, but Howard, McAfee and Herbstreit are on the Huskies.

Vrbo Fiesta Bowl — Liberty Flames vs. Oregon Ducks: The Flames are over two-touchdown underdogs, but they’re undefeated on the season. Bo Nix is finishing out his college career, and the entire College GameDay crew believes in the Ducks.

Cheez-It Citrus Bowl — Iowa Hawkeyes vs. Tennessee Volunteers: The Volunteers are favored, but only Corso has them getting a win on Monday afternoon.

ReliaQuest Bowl — Wisconsin Badgers vs. LSU Tigers: Reigning Heisman winner Jayden Daniels is sidelined as he prepares for the 2024 NFL Draft. Can the Tigers get the win? Howard, McAfee and Herbstreit think so, but ESPN’s Joey Galloway believes in the Badgers.

Full CGD analyst picks for New Year’s Day: 

Desmond Howard: Michigan, Washington, Oregon, Iowa, LSU

Pat McAfee: Alabama, Washington, Oregon, Iowa, LSU

Lee Corso: Michigan, Texas, Oregon, Tennessee, No pick for Wisconsin/LSU

Kirk Herbstreit: No pick for Michigan/Alabama, Washington, Oregon, Iowa, LSU