ESPN GameDay picks for ACC Championship

by Brandon Rink - Staff Writer - Sat Dec 02 12:08:43 GMT-04:00 2017

The No. 1 Clemson Tigers and No. 7 Miami Hurricanes play with an ACC Championship and a Playoff spot on the line in tonight's 8:14 p.m. kickoff (ABC). ESPN's College GameDay is in town for the game and their experts offered picks and analysis:

Desmond Howard picked MIAMI: I have serious concerns about Miami's offense without Ahmonn Richards. He's a guy who can stretch the field and take the top off a defense. But I do think because of what happened a week ago against Pitt, that works Miami up and they're going to play an inspired game. I picked them to win the ACC, so why would I not roll with the 'Canes today.

Celebrity guest picker and Miami fan Luther "Uncle Luke" Campbell picked MIAMI.

Lee Corso picked CLEMSON: A lot of Clemson fans keep telling me, 'Please don't pick us. You jinx us.' The last time I picked them at Clemson - they booed me! A lot of Miami fans feel the same way. In Miami, they begged me to pick Notre Dame, so I did. How did that turn out? My feelings were really hurt. I've got to pick somebody. Don't blame me if you lose now. Clemson.

ALWAYS PICK A CHAMPION, CORSO! ALWAY PICK A CHAMPION! pic.twitter.com/9xgLj1XP9N
— Pulse Fast Break (@PulseFastBreak) December 2, 2017

On the broadcast tonight, Kirk Herbstreit didn't pick the game.

Alabama coach Nick Saban was on the show and talked the keys to Clemson's success this season: "They have a great offensive system and scheme. I think Deshaun Watson was probably the most dynamic player in college football last year. They may not be quite as explosive this year, but they still present a lot of problems. They spread the field. The plays that they run, having a dual-threat quarterback. I think those things are huge factors.

"The Clemson defense will be the real difference down the road here in these big games. They've got a great front-seven and they can rush and they can affect the quarterback. When you can do that, you have a great chance of being a dominant defensive team."

Notes on Coach Corso's GameDay picks according to ESPN

Coach and Clemson: Corso has picked Clemson five times, earning a 3-2 record. He has also picked against the Tigers 10 times, with the Tigers going 6-4 in those games.

Coach and Miami: Corso has picked Miami seven times, resulting in a 5-2 record. Also, the Hurricanes are 7-3 when Coach picks against Miami, as he did earlier this season when he picked Notre Dame to beat the Hurricanes.

Clemson and GameDay: Clemson has won seven of its last eight games when GameDay has been present, with its only loss being the 2015 College Football Playoff National Championship.

Coach and Conference Championship Saturday: Corso is 6-5 in his previous 11 headgear picks on Conference Championship Saturday