The ESPN College GameDay Picks: LSU vs. Clemson
In a Top 10 matchup between No. 4 Clemson and No. 9 LSU, the ESPN College GameDay crew nearly all went with the same predictions.
The picks, minus a confident LSU selection by the legendary Lee Corso, were all made for Clemson to win at home on Saturday night. Kickoff is set for 6:50 p.m. CT on ABC, and the broadcast will begin at 6:30 p.m.
With Rece Davis leading things off as host, the wave of picks in favor of Clemson came from Desmond Howard, Nick Saban, Pat McAfee, and Kirk Herbstreit.
Saban cited Clemson’s experience through returning starters as key to the program’s continuity and a big reason he sided with Dabo Swinney’s team in a Week 1 matchup when LSU head coach Brian Kelly is working in a wave of new transfers and first-time starters.
For Corso, the lone analyst to pick the Bayou Bengals, sticking with his prediction for the Bayou Bengals to win the National Championship for the first time since 2019 meant siding with the away team in Saturday night’s marquee college football matchup.
Top 10
- 1New
JP Poll Top 20
Big shakeup after Week 2
- 2
Heisman Odds shakeup
Big movement among favorites
- 3Hot
Eli Drinkwitz comes clean
Knew rule was broken
- 4
Deion Sanders
Fires back at media
- 5Trending
Big 12 punishes ref crew
Costly mistake in Kansas-Mizzou
Get the Daily On3 Newsletter in your inbox every morning
By clicking "Subscribe to Newsletter", I agree to On3's Privacy Notice, Terms, and use of my personal information described therein.
“My pick to win the National Championship is LSU. The Tigers beat the Tigers,” Corso said.
BetMGM lists the visiting Tigers as 4-point underdogs on the road with the scoring total set at an over/under of 56.5 points. LSU to win the game outright carries +155 odds.
On an emotional day in Columbus for Texas vs. Ohio State, Lee Corso signed off his nearly four-decade run on ESPN College GameDay revealed one final prediction in addition to the Tigers winning it all – adding his thoughts on the final four college teams left standing at season’s end for the CFB Playoff semifinals in LSU, Notre Dame, Clemson, and Penn State. Corso then picked LSU to beat Penn State for the National Championship.
“LSU (has) the nation’s number one transfer portal (class) and a veteran quarterback,” Corso said on his final College GameDay. “Now the Final Four, two of them LSU vs. Penn State for the national championship.
“Okay, a great battle, but the winner — LSU. LSU wins the national championship.”
*** Join LSU fans to discuss the Week 1 games (and all CFB games) on the Message Board! ***
