Week 0-Miami vs. Florida (Orlando,FL) (August 24)
This is the obvious pick. Gameday has already announced they will be headed to the Camping World Kickoff Classic. Florida and Miami is the only notable game in week zero, so this is an obvious pick.
Week 1-Oregon vs. Auburn (August 31)
Gameday will usually go to the ABC/ESPN nightcap prime time and this Oregon-Auburn game will be that game. While Alabama is playing in Atlanta versus Duke, Oregon-Auburn should be the more intriguing match up. Oregon can’t get a blemish on their record or they won’t be headed to the playoff. Auburn can’t take a loss in a make or break year for Head Coach Gus Malzahn. This game should easily be the pick for game day in week one.
Week 2-LSU at. Texas (September 7)
Texas is officially back according most of the public and LSU is headed there. Austin would love to have game day versus an SEC powerhouse. A win for the Longhorns here could catapult them into the top seven teams in the country, and a win for LSU could mean that they have cemented themselves as legit college football playoff contenders.
Week 3-Clemson at. Syracuse (September 14)
This is easily Clemson’s biggest challenge in ACC play. College Gameday wants to include the reigning champs anytime they can so going to the Carrier Dome for this match up in a defacto ACC Atlantic championship will be a game everyone wants to see.
Week 4-Notre Dame at. Georgia (September 21)
While this game may be on CBS (Due to it being on Georgia’s home field thus CBS owning its rights), College Gameday will likely head to Athens for a key September out of conference match up. Notre Dame cannot afford a loss in Athens or they will be out of the playoff hunt. Georgia may be able to take a loss but they have the rest of the SEC to get through.
Week 5-Ohio State at. Nebraska (September 28)
This is the first time new Head Coach Ryan Day and Ohio State will be tested. Is Nebraska back? I guess we will see, beginning in this game and throughout the rest of this upcoming season. Nebraska and Ohio State should be the pick because of the hype around both of these new head coaches building up their programs again.
Week 6-Virginia Tech at. Miami (October 5)
If Virginia Tech and Miami be as successful as I think they will be, this game should be a pick made easy by ESPN and College Gameday. Because it will be an ACC contest, this game should be the ABC/ESPN prime time game, making the pick even more obvious to get the game between the two former Big East conference rivals.
Week 7-Oklahoma vs. Texas (October 12)
I don’t remember College Gameday not going to Dallas for this match up when both teams have at least been half decent. Oklahoma and Texas are the two favorites for the Big 12 so I see the winner of this game having a better shot at the College Football Playoff.
Week 8-Oregon at. Washington (October 19)
Another de facto division championship. Oregon and Washington could be the ABC/ESPN prime time game and it would be an obvious selection for game day if both squads were still in the top fifteen at that point.
Week 9-North Dakota State at. South Dakota State (October 26)
Gameday always picks an FCS game and picking two rivals including the team with easily the most wins this decade at the level (North Dakota State) is a no brainer.
Week 10-Georgia vs. Florida (Jacksonville,FL) (November 2)
Despite this game being on CBS, Gameday should pick this game. This game will likely determine who comes from the east division of the SEC and heads to Atlanta for the SEC Championship.
Week 11-LSU at. Alabama (November 9)
Gameday usually does not pick back to back SEC (thus CBS) games but LSU-Alabama has to be an exception. A week after the SEC East is likely determined, the SEC West will likely be determined with the winner of this game. That is why College Gameday will go to Tuscaloosa for this match up.
Week 12-Wake Forest at. Clemson (November 16)
There wasn’t a ton to pick from this week, and this is College Gameday’s biggest opportunity to go to Clemson. Wake Forest shouldn’t beat Clemson but they will be competitive versus the reigning champs.
Week 13-Penn State at. Ohio State (November 23)
This game will begin a tough strecth for Ohio State. Gameday should pick this game despite it being on FOX.
Week 14-Ohio State at. Michigan (November 30)
This is the obvious pick. “The Game” no matter what (maybe if both squads are unranked but that’s highly unlikely). So, I don’t see a way why College Gameday won’t be in Ann Arbor on the Saturday after Thanksgiving.
