‘GameDay' picks Texas-Ohio State, Alabama on upset alert

Alabama FootballNick Saban (left) and Kirk Herbstreit on set. Alabama fans at ESPN "College GameDay" on the Quad before the Crimson Tide's game against Georgia in Tuscaloosa Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. (Ben Flanagan / AL.com)Ben FlanaganNo. 1 Ohio State at No. 4 Texas is the biggest game of the college football schedule Saturday, but ESPN’s “College GameDay” panel didn’t have much variety in the way of predicting the outcome.With actor Glenn Powell - and Texas fan - joining as a celebrity picker, it was a clean sweep for the Longhorns on Saturday morning.“I think you guys know what I’m choosing,” Powell, the “Chad Powers” star said. “I tell you what I believe in this Texas team. I believe in (Texas coach Steve Sarkisian). I believe in (Texas quarterback) Arch (Manning). I believe this team has the potential to go all the way. The thing that would make the happiest is to party with all you guys in Vegas in January. Let’s go to the natty. It starts now.”Said Desmond Howard:“This is the moment we have been waiting for for that coaching staff and (Texas coach Steve) Sarkisian,” Howard said. “They have all the pieces to the puzzle. Can they put the puzzle together tonight against the No. 1 team in the country? I think so. This is the night they put the college football world on notice. We going with the Longhorns, baby.”Former Alabama coach Nick Saban agreed.“I think Ohio State is No. 1 for good reason,” he said. “They got a lot of good players. They have good on defense. They have been a really consistent team, no doubt about that, but I think Texas has done all the things they need to do to take it to the next level. I’m picking the Longhorns tonight.McAffee, in coordination with a flyover, said, “Give me Arch Manning and (Texas receiver Cam) Coleman to get a huge win today.”Kirk Herbstreit, who didn’t make a pick because he is calling the game, did throw in an SEC pick that got noticed. The panel has Alabama over Kentucky, but not Herbstreit.“I have visions of the Rose Bowl when Alabama quit against Indiana, and now you have Kentucky on the road,” he said. “These guys don’t have the stones to pull the trigger. I’m gonna pull the trigger. I’m going with Kentucky at home.”Saban picked Alabama, but he said it would be close.“My experience is we never played very well when we played at Kentucky. In fact, we needed the Bluegrass Miracle to win there that one time (with LSU.) But, I got to go with Bama. I think this team is a young team. It will be a close game. I think Kentucky is better than people think.“I like Will Stein. I like him coming in and saying we’re gonna win because I’m gonna do things differently here. I like him telling fans to bring a flask. ... On that note, I think Alabama gets a win, but I think it is very close, though. I think this is a wake-up call for (Keelon) Russell and (Kalen) DeBoer.”Powell, the “Top Gun: Maverick” star, likes the Crimson Tide.“I believe in Will Stein,” he said. “I think he’s a hell of a coach. I think he’s going to shake up Kentucky, but I’m pretty sure Kentucky has only beaten them twice in 42 tries. I think the Tide’s not going to turn here.”Check out the picks:Arizona State at Texas A&M Howard: Texas A&MSaban: Texas A&MMcAfee: Texas A&MPowell: Arizona StateHerbstreit: Texas A&MTennessee at Ga. Tech Howard: TennesseeSaban: TennesseeMcAfee: TennesseePowell: TennesseeHerbstreit: TennesseeIowa State at Iowa Howard: IowaSaban: IowaMcAfee: IowaPowell: IowaHerbstreit: IowaMemphis at Boise State Howard: Boise StateSaban: Boise StateMcAfee: MemphisPowell: Boise StateHerbstreit: Boise StateMiss. State at Minnesota Howard: MinnesotaSaban: Miss. StateMcAfee: MinnesotaPowell: Miss. StateHerbstreit: MinnesotaAlabama at Kentucky Howard: AlabamaSaban: AlabamaMcAfee: AlabamaPowell: AlabamaHerbstreit: KentuckyArizona at BYU Howard: Arizona Saban: BYUMcAfee: BYUPowell: BYUHerbstreit: BYUOklahoma at Michigan Howard: MichiganSaban: OklahomaMcAfee: OklahomaPowell: OklahomaHerbstreit: OklahomaOhio State at Texas Howard: TexasSaban: TexasMcAfee: TexasPowell: TexasHerbstreit: TexasMark Heim is a senior writer who provides sports, news and trending content. He co-hosts a daily sports radio show on WNSP-FM 105.5 in Mobile. Heim has been recognized with awards for his writing, headlines and...