LSU received the edge in Saturday morning’s “College GameDay” predictions for its pivotal early-season matchup against Texas A&M — but only narrowly and not without some insult.
Nick Saban, Pat McAfee and Kirk Herbstreit each forecast the No. 10 Tigers (2-1, 0-1) to rebound from last week’s road loss at No. 4 Ole Miss (3-0, 1-0), while Desmond Howard and celebrity guest-picker Johnny Knoxville expect No. 23 Texas A&M (2-1, 0-1) to shake back on the road from last week’s home loss to Kentucky (2-1, 1-1).
“I’m a believer in (Texas A&M coach Mike) Elko,” McAfee, the former Indianapolis Colts punter turned sports media/entertainment personality, said during the ESPN show’s weekly broadcast. “I have not seen anything that makes me think that this is an Elko team over the last couple of weeks. I think LSU was destined to lose last week regardless because the football gods. Give me LSU at home getting back on track. Even though I love this A&M team, I like the Tigers this evening.”
Saban, the former LSU and Alabama coach, emphasized the opportunity to host the game on an infamous Saturday night in Death Valley even further.
“I tell you what: There’s huge stats in the SEC when you play home at night against SEC opponents,” he said. “The home team wins a lot. I’m taking LSU.”
Herbstreit, the former Ohio State quarterback, shared his intrigue for the matchup between the Tigers’ offense, including a quick focal point on quarterback Sam Leavitt, and the Aggies’ defense.
But he anticipates another unit that has been strong thus far this season after struggling in the recent series history to be the deciding factor Saturday.
“What a matchup with Mike Elko as a defensive mind and (LSU offensive coordinator) Charles Weis Jr. and Lane Kiffin going against each other,” Herbstreit said. “I think (LSU quarterback) Sam Leavitt’s composure in the pocket will be critical. But at the end of the day, at home in Tiger Stadium, I think its (defensive coordinator) Blake Baker and this LSU defense that wins the game.”
The edge for the Tigers came after Howard kicked off the segment on the other foot.
The former Heisman winner at Michigan and Super Bowl champion with Green Bay thinks Texas A&M has regrouped and refocused well enough from its loss to the Wildcats to stun the crowd in Baton Rouge for a second straight year.
“I think Mike Elko, the head coach of the Aggies, got his team’s attention this week after that performance last week against Kentucky,” he said. “I believe that they’re gonna go into Death Valley and take care of LSU. Give me the Aggies.”
Knoxville, decked out in a full Tennessee Volunteers uniform, evened the picks at 2-2 with a jab against the Tigers’ coach before Herbstreit wrapped the segment with his purple-and-gold pick.
“I don’t know how anyone can root for Lane ‘Left Out In The Parking Lot’ Kiffin,” said Knoxville, the “Jackass” show and film star. “He is to college football what toe fungus is to flip-flops. So I’m going with A&M.”
The Tigers and Aggies are scheduled for a 6:30 p.m. kickoff in Baton Rouge.
Texas A&M has won the past two meetings, including the matchup last season at LSU than ended coach Brian Kelly’s tenure.
Home teams had won eight straight prior to that lopsided finish.
LSU maintains a 10-5 edge in the modern history of the series going back to a Cotton Bowl after the 2010 season and then the Aggies joining the SEC in 2012.
