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Nick Saban reveals picks for 12-team CFP as ‘GameDay’ gives predictions

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Nick Saban is getting into the swing of this whole analyst thing.

The former Alabama coach, who made his ESPN “College GameDay” debut on Saturday, outlined his College Football Playoff 12-team field, which included five SEC schools.

“You know, I spent my entire coaching career accosting people who speculate, make predictions, and ask hypothetical questions,” Saban said earlier in the show. “Now I’m in this world. This is my gig, and it’s hard.”

Yes, he has Kalen DeBoer’s Crimson Tide in the field.

  1. Georgia
  2. Ohio State
  3. Florida State
  4. Utah
  5. Texas
  6. Oregon
  7. Alabama
  8. Ole Miss
  9. Penn State
  10. Notre Dame
  11. LSU
  12. Liberty

“The two teams that haven’t been talked about a lot are Penn State and LSU,” Saban said. “I think Penn State has a really good team and good culture. They would have been in a 12-team playoff the last couple of years.

“I think LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier can be one of the all-time sleepers in college football this year at quarterback. LSU always has skilled guys, talking about all the receivers they lost. You can shake a tree in Louisiana and (have receivers fall out.)”

Saban, 72, has Missouri as the first team out, followed by Tennessee.

The former Alabama coach has Georgia winning the SEC and the national championship.

Here is how others see it:

Desmond Howard

  1. Oregon
  2. Georgia
  3. Miami
  4. Utah
  5. Texas
  6. Ole Miss
  7. Ohio State
  8. Michigan
  9. Oklahoma
  10. Clemson
  11. Notre Dame
  12. Liberty

Howard has Penn State as the first team out, and Alabama as the second team out.

The former Michigan star picked Oregon to win the Big Ten and the national championship.

Kirk Herbstreit

  1. Georgia
  2. Ohio State
  3. Clemson
  4. Utah
  5. Oregon
  6. Texas
  7. Missouri
  8. Penn State
  9. Notre Dame
  10. Florida State
  11. Michigan
  12. Boise State

Herbstreit has Ole Miss as the first team out, followed by Oklahoma State.

The former Ohio State quarterback picked Ohio State to win the Big Ten, but Oregon to win the CFP.

Pat McAfee

  1. Georgia
  2. Ohio State
  3. West Virginia
  4. Virginia Tech
  5. Ole Miss
  6. Oregon
  7. Texas
  8. Michigan
  9. Florida State
  10. Utah
  11. Alabama
  12. Boise State

McAfee has Oklahoma State as the first team out followed by Penn State.

The former college kicker has Georgia winning the SEC and the national title.

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.