ESPN’s ‘College GameDay,’ with Stephen A. Smith, picks ‘Magic City Classic’ among week’s big games
ESPN’s “College GameDay” is SWAC on Saturday, broadcasting from Deion Sanders’ Jackson State.
With Lee Corso sitting out another broadcast due to health concerns, the panel turned to ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith as the weekly guest picker.
“I’m an HBCU graduate,” Smith, a Winston Salem State graduate, said Saturday. “Had I not attended an HBCU, I wouldn’t be where I am today.”
Speaking of the SWAC, the panel started with their picks on the Magic City Classic between Alabama State and Alabama A&M.
“I’m gonna go with Alabama A&M because last time Alabama State played Jackson State their quarterback got hurt, so he is iffy,” Desmond Howard said. “I’m going Alabama A&M.”
Pat McAfee is going with the hot team.
“Alabama A&M, the home of Robert Mathis, the strip sack king in the NFL. They lost their first four games. Won the last three. They are hot. Give me the Bulldogs of A&M.”
Stephen A. Smith agreed: “If you are shaky at the quarterback situation, I’m not going with you. I’m going with Alabama A&M on this one.”
Herbstreit made it a sweep.
“I got Alabama A&M,” he said. “Xavier Lankford can spin it. I think they win this one.”
Here are the picks:
Alabama A&M-Alabama State
- Howard: Alabama A&M
- McAfee: Alabama A&M
- Smith: Alabama A&M
- Herbstreit: Alabama A&M
Michigan-Michigan State
- Howard: Michigan
- McAfee: Michigan
- Smith: Michigan
- Herbstreit: Michigan
Cincinnati-UCF
- Howard: Cincinnati
- McAfee: Cincinnati
- Smith: Cincinnati
- Herbstreit: Cincinnati
Notre Dame-Syracuse
- Howard: Syracuse
- McAfee: Syracuse
- Smith: Syracuse
- Herbstreit: Notre Dame
North Carolina-Pitt
- Howard: North Carolina
- McAfee: North Carolina
- Smith: Pitt
- Herbstreit: North Carolina
Oklahoma State-Kansas State
- Howard: Okla. State
- McAfee: Okla. State
- Smith: Okla. State
- Herbstreit: Okla. State
TCU-West Virginia
- Howard: TCU
- McAfee: West Virginia
- Smith: TCU
- Herbstreit: TCU
Kentucky-Tennessee
- Howard: Tennessee
- McAfee: Tennessee
- Smith: Tennessee
- Herbstreit: No pick
Ole Miss-Texas A&M
- Howard: Ole Miss
- McAfee: Ole Miss
- Smith: Ole Miss
- Herbstreit: Ole Miss
Ohio State-Penn State
- Howard: Ohio State
- McAfee: Ohio State
- Smith: Ohio State
- Herbstreit: Ohio State
Jackson State-Southern
- Howard: Jackson State
- McAfee: Jackson State
- Smith: Jackson State
- Herbstreit: Jackson State
Mark Heim is a sports reporter for The Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Mark_Heim.