Alabama will beat Kentucky, according to ESPN’s “College GameDay” panel, but it will be the angriest Nick Saban will be.

The popular college football pregame show, with guest picker and former Georgia linebacker and two-time CFP national champion Nolan Smith, made the Crimson Tide a unanimous pick, but Kirk Herbstreit made it a point to tell fans to keep sure you keep an eye on the Alabama coach.

“The only thing I’m going to predict here is I hope the director keeps as many shots on Nick Saban as he can because it will be the angriest Nick Saban-coached game all year,” he said. “He doesn’t want to think about LSU last week. He doesn’t want to hear about the Iron Bowl. It’s all focus. Everything is going to tick him off. Looking forward to watching it. I have Alabama convincingly.”

McAfee pointed to the dramatic improvement of Alabama’s offense from the start of the season.

“(Alabama quarterback) Jalen Milroe, (Alabama offensive coordinator) Tommy Reese, that Alabama offense continues to evolve,” McAfee said. “They got everything in front of them still. Give me Nick Saban and Bama.”

Desmond Howard expects a close game, even if Herbstreit doesn’t.

“Alabama will win, but maybe they will not cover,” Howard said. “But Alabama wins.”

Nolan loves his defense, so he likes this matchup.

“This is what you want to see, a good SEC matchup,” Nolan said. “Two good teams battling out. Defense is going to win it, and I’m going with Bama.”

Added Corso: “Nick Saban is 18-2 against Kentucky. Make it 19-2.”

Here are the picks

Rutgers-Iowa

• Howard: Iowa
• McAfee: Iowa
• Smith: Iowa
• Corso: Iowa
• Herbstreit: Iowa

Duke-UNC

• Howard: UNC
• McAfee: UNC
• Smith: UNC
• Corso: UNC
• Herbstreit: Duke

Miami-Florida State

• Howard: Florida State
• McAfee: Florida State
• Smith: Florida State
• Corso: Florida State
• Herbstreit: Florida State

Oklahoma-West Virginia

• Howard: Oklahoma
• McAfee: West Virginia
• Smith: Oklahoma
• Corso: Oklahoma
• Herbstreit: Oklahoma

Colorado-Arizona

• Howard: Arizona
• McAfee: Arizona
• Smith: Arizona
• Corso: Arizona
• Herbstreit: Arizona

Oregon-USC

• Howard: Oregon
• McAfee: Oregon
• Smith: Oregon
• Corso: Oregon
• Herbstreit: Oregon

Washington-Utah

• Howard: Washington
• McAfee: Washington
• Smith: Utah
• Corso: Washington
• Herbstreit: Washington

Alabama-Kentucky

• Howard: Alabama
• McAfee: Alabama
• Smith: Alabama
• Corso: Alabama
• Herbstreit: Alabama

Tennessee-Missouri

• Howard: Tennessee
• McAfee: Missouri
• Smith: Missouri
• Corso: Missouri
• Herbstreit: Tennessee

Michigan-Penn State

• Howard: Michigan
• McAfee: Michigan
• Smith: Michigan
• Corso: Michigan
• Herbstreit: Michigan

Georgia-Ole Miss

• Howard: Georgia
• McAfee: Georgia
• Smith: Georgia
• Corso: Georgia
• Herbstreit: No pick

Mark Heim is a reporter for The Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Mark_Heim. He can be heard on “The Opening Kickoff” on WNSP-FM 105.5 FM in Mobile or on the free Sound of Mobile App from 6 to 9 a.m. daily.