ESPN College GameDay: Picks for Week 8, UCLA at Oregon

An electric morning is about to give way to a tremendous afternoon of college football, but first the ESPN College GameDay crew had to make their picks.

Live from Eugene, the crew was on hand for the hype ahead of UCLA at Oregon. Lee Corso brought a live duck on set, motorcycles were prevalent and rain fell — nothing could compare to the best pregame show on the market.

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Additionally, an Oregon legend returned to town to fill the celebrity guest picker void, with WNBA star Sabrina Ionescu doing the job.

The first pick in the 2020 WNBA Draft by the New York Liberty, Ionescu is one of the most accomplished individuals in college basketball history. Playing for the Oregon women’s team from 2016 through 2020, Ionescu was the first basketball player in NCAA history — male or female — to record 2000 career points, 1000 career rebounds and 1000 career assists.

While the world likely knows who she’s picking on Saturday in the Pac-12 showdown, there’s still a bevy of other games on the docket for Saturday.

In the SEC, Ole Miss will travel to LSU to attempt to keep their undefeated season alive, while Alabama returns to Tuscaloosa, hoping to rebound against Mississippi State. Elsewhere, Texas takes on Oklahoma State, two undefeated teams square off in Syracuse at Clemson and the annual white out will take place at Penn State against Minnesota.

Indisputably, a phenomenal day is sure on the way, and here’s who the College GameDay crew believes will come out of it smelling like roses when it’s all said and done.

ESPN College GameDay picks for Week 8:

UCLA at Oregon: While Herbstreit thinks UCLA will remain undefeated, the rest of the crew is riding with the Ducks to ruin the Bruins’ perfect season.

Syracuse at Clemson: Only Ionescu believes the Orange can pull the upset over the Tigers.

Washington at California: Howard, McAfee and Herbstreit are on the Huskies, while Ionescu and Corso are rocking with the Golden Bears.

Kansas State at TCU: Howard and Ionescu are the only pickers who believe the Horned Frogs remain undefeated.

Texas at Oklahoma State: The crew mostly believes Quinn Ewers and the Longhorns get a victory, but Howard is riding with the Cowboys.

Kansas at Baylor: Howard and Corso believe in the Bears, but McAfee, Ionescu and Herbstreit believe in the Jayhawks.

Mississippi State at Alabama: While Herbstreit didn’t make a pick because he’s calling the game, the crew believes the Crimson Tide bounce back.

Ole Miss at LSU: Herbstreit is on an island, the lone dissenter going with Brian Kelly and the Tigers.

Minnesota at Penn State: It’s tough to play against the Nittany Lions during their white out, and only Herbstreit believes the Golden Gophers can get the win.

Cincinnati at SMU: Everyone is on the Bearcats to get the victory on Saturday.

Memphis at Tulane: Ride the (green) wave — everyone aside from Herbstreit is on Tulane, who took one for the team going with the Tigers.

ESPN College GameDay crew picks:

Desmond Howard: Oregon, Clemson, Washington, TCU, Oklahoma State, Baylor, Alabama, Ole Miss, Penn State, Cincinnati, Tulane

Pat McAfee: Oregon, Clemson, Washington, Kansas State, Texas, Kansas, Alabama, Ole Miss, Penn State, Cincinnati, Tulane

Celebrity Guest Picker —Sabrina Ionescu: Oregon, Syracuse, California, TCU, Texas, Kansas, Alabama, Ole Miss, Penn State, Cincinnati, Tulane

Lee Corso: Oregon, Syracuse, California, Kansas State, Texas, Baylor, Alabama, Ole Miss, Penn State, Cincinnati, Tulane

Kirk Herbstreit: UCLA, Clemson, Washington, Kansas State, Texas, Kansas, LSU, Minnesota, Cincinnati, Memphis