ESPN College GameDay: Picks for College Football Playoff First Round, Tennessee at Ohio State

ESPN made history with College GameDay this weekend, broadcasting live on Friday evening from South Bend ahead of Indiana at Notre Dame, and following that up with another show in Columbus, prior to Tennessee at Ohio State.

Both crowds brought the energy, and it worked out in the favor of the Fighting Irish, as Notre Dame dominated the Hoosiers to advance to the College Football Playoff Quarterfinal at the Allstate Sugar Bowl against the Georgia Bulldogs. Will the Buckeyes be able to defend home-field as well? It remains to be seen.

Ahead of the action, former Ohio State star AJ Hawk joined the crew in Columbus as the Celebrity Guest Picker, following up comedian Shane Gillis performance on Friday in South Bend. With some other tremendous games, such as SMU at Penn State and Clemson at Texas on the docket, here’s who the College GameDay crew is riding with the advance in the CFP.

ESPN College GameDay Picks for CFP First Round:

SMU Mustangs at Penn State Nittany Lions: The whole crew believes James Franklin and Penn State take care of business against Rhett Lashlee and SMU.

Clemson Tigers at Texas Longhorns: Dabo Swinney’s Clemson squad snuck their way into the Playoff, but the whole crew believes in Steve Sarkisian’s Longhorns to get the dub.

Tennessee Volunteers at Ohio State Buckeyes: No pick from Herbstreit, as he’s calling the game, but the rest of the crew had to lock in their selections. In a surprising twist, everyone is on the Buckeyes, as nobody would go out on a limb and pick the Volunteers.

Indiana Hoosiers at Notre Dame Fighting Irish: Notre Dame defeated Indiana by a score of 27-17, but the final score is much closer than the play on the field indicated. The Fighting Irish were never in doubt, and it proved the College GameDay crew right with their confidence in their picks — except for McAfee, who decided to ride with Curt Cignetti and the Hoosiers, and he got burned for it.

Birmingham Bowl — Vanderbilt vs. Georgia Tech: Only Howard believes Vanderbilt can get the win against the Yellow Jackets.

Las Vegas Bowl — USC vs. Texas A&M: Lincoln Riley gets no love, as the whole College GameDay crew is on the Aggies.

Pop-Tart Bowl — Iowa State vs. Miami: Everyone is on Cam Ward’s side with the Hurricanes.

Alamo Bowl — BYU vs. Colorado: Corso is the lone dissenter when it comes to the Buffaloes, riding with the Cougars.

ReliaQuest Bowl — Alabama vs. Michigan: Howard and Herbstreit are on the Wolverines, while Saban, McAfee, Hawk and Corso believe in the Crimson Tide.

Cheez-It Cirtus Bowl — South Carolina vs. Illinois: The whole crew believes in LaNorris Sellers and the Gamecocks.

Full CGD analyst picks for CFP First Round:

Desmond Howard: Ohio State, Texas, Penn State, Notre Dam, Vanderbilt, Texas A&M, Miami, Colorado, Michigan, South Carolina

Nick Saban: Ohio State, Texas, Penn State, Notre Dame, Georgia Tech, Texas A&M, Miami, Colorado, Alabama, South Carolina

Pat McAfee: Ohio State, Texas, Penn State, Indiana, Georgia Tech, Texas A&M, Miami, Colorado, Alabama, South Carolina

Celebrity Guest Picker – AJ Hawk: Ohio State, Texas, Penn State, No pick for Indiana at Notre Dame, Georgia Tech, Texas A&M, Miami, Colorado, Alabama, South Carolina

Celebrity Guest Picker – Shane Gillis: Notre Dame

Lee Corso: Ohio State, Texas, Penn State, No pick for Indiana at Notre Dame, Georgia Tech, Texas A&M, Miami, BYU, Alabama, South Carolina

Kirk Herbstreit: No pick for Tennessee at Ohio State, Texas, Penn State, Notre Dame, Georgia Tech, Texas A&M, Miami, Colorado, Michigan, South Carolina