ESPN GameDay picks for Clemson-Louisville

by Tony Crumpton - Assoc. Editor - Sat Oct 01 12:02:23 GMT-04:00 2016

ESPN College GameDay was in Clemson, S.C. for the #5 Clemson vs. #3 Louisville primetime matchup in Death Valley on Saturday night.

Here are the Clemson-Louisville picks from the ESPN crew.

Desmond Howard picked CLEMSON - "Louisville was the best team in the month of September," Howard said. "Lamar Jackson the best player by far in the month of September. Now we are in October and I think Brent Venables defense has enough athletic players on the defensive side of the ball not to stop Lamar Jackson but contain him and slow him. Make him make some throws in small windows and probably make a couple of turnovers. I'm going with Deshaun Watson and the Clemson Tigers."

Celebrity Picker Eric Church picked CLEMSON - "Last time there was a top-five matchup in this stadium they got beat 51-14. I don't think Dabo Swinney has forgot about that," Church said. "I think tonight when Clemson comes in it's one of the greatest quarterback matchups ever. The last one was (Matt) Leinart and Vince Young when you had two Heisman guys that can do it. I just happen to believe Clemson has been tested. They have been in the fire. I was told one time you can tell a trapper by the skins they have on the wall. I think Clemson has the skins on the wall. I think Louisville is putting them on the wall. I think Clemson has the skins on the wall. They got to win this game to get where they want to do so I pick Clemson."

David Pollack picked CLEMSON - "I do feel a little deja vu," Pollack said. "It feels like 2013 a little bit (Clemson vs FSU). Clemson with the experienced quarterback, all that talent, home field advantage. My head says Louisville, but my heart says Clemson. Y'all know me. There is not much going on upstairs so the heart is a lot bigger. So Clemson with this crowd and the return of Deshaun Watson's legs and the defense makes enough plays." 38-35.

The Bear picked LOUISVILLE "Earlier in the week I didn't have a great feel on this game at all," the Bear said. "As the week went along I think everyone starting feeling like David did. I think people are thinking Clemson is going to play great tonight with the emotional advantage at home. But when it comes down to it I am going to go with what I know. Louisville has been the most dominant team in the country. The avoided a look ahead game against Marshall. They avoided a look ahead game against Syracuse. They blew out Florida State. I think that Cardinal defense is for real."

Lee Corso picked CLEMSON as he put on the Tiger's mascot head. The Clemson crowd booed him for picking Clemson and chanted, "Change your pick!"

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Kirk Herbstreit did not pick because he is announcing the game tonight. "Like a lot of these spread offense with athletic quarterbacks everyone is wondering what happened to Clemson," Herbstreit said. "For them to win this game to me it's about Wayne Gallman and Deshaun Watson. If they can run the ball they can outscore Louisville. If they can't run the ball it could be a long night for them."