Only Desmond Howard picks Michigan to beat Ohio State on ESPN College GameDay

Joe Harrington, The Columbus Dispatch
·3 min read

Ohio State football hosted "ESPN College GameDay" last week before the Michigan State game.

This week it was time for the other team from up north to host as GameDay and FOX Big Noon Kickoff were live from Ann Arbor, Mich., for the Ohio State-Michigan game.

Michigan, ranked No. 5 in the latest College Football Playoff poll, and Ohio State, No. 2 in the poll, are both 10-1 and the winner will advance to the Big Ten Championship Game on Dec. 4 in Indianapolis.

That, and it’s also Ohio State and Michigan, one of college football’s most heated rivalries, so the twin billing of the two premier pre-game shows make sense.

"'They want to win this game more than they want to breath," Rece Davis said of the Michigan fans.

Lee Corso opened the show throwing bombs as he said Ryan Day will, sooner rather than later, leave Ohio State for the NFL.

"Ohio State fans better get happy with him," he said, "because he's not going to be with them long. He's going to the NFL whenever he's ready. He's NFL ready.

"Ohio State fans better get used to it, because he's going, I'm telling you."

Kirk Herbstreit, the former Ohio State quarterback and team captain, laughed off the notion of Ohio State losing its coach who is 23-0 in three seasons against the Big Ten and 33-3 overall.

But before that, Herbstreit had takes on the game.

"I think the quarterback play is going to be significant," Herbstreit said, citing Cade McNamara's consistency and C.J. Stroud's building Heisman momentum.

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The College GameDay guest picker was stand-up comedian Sebastian Maniscalco.

Desmond Howard, the 1991 Heisman Trophy winner for the Wolverines, was booed throughout the show the previous week, but found Ann Arbor to be quite pleasant for him. Howard’s kickoff return for a touchdown in 1991 against the Buckeyes helped Michigan pick up the win.

But the 1990s was a longtime ago, and the Buckeyes have owned the series since 2001.

Can Jim Harbaugh change that this year?

“Coach Harbaugh is a good football coach," Corso said. "His only problem has been Ohio State ... Maybe Michigan doesn't appreciate how good he is."

Here’s who College GameDay picked to win the Ohio State-Michigan game

  • Lee Corso: Ohio State

  • Kirk Herbstreit: Ohio State

  • Desmond Howard: Michigan

  • Sebastian Maniscalco: Ohio State

GameDay signs: Jim Harbaugh is 0-5 against the Buckeyes, you may have heard

Ohio State Buckeyes fan Chander Bauer of Ft. Wayne, Ind. holds a Michigan Wolverines head coach Jim Harbaugh sign prior to the NCAA football game against the Michigan Wolverines at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor on Saturday, Nov. 27, 2021.
Ohio State Buckeyes fan Chander Bauer of Ft. Wayne, Ind. holds a Michigan Wolverines head coach Jim Harbaugh sign prior to the NCAA football game against the Michigan Wolverines at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor on Saturday, Nov. 27, 2021.

Michigan fans don't like Ohio State, the signs confirm it

Michigan Wolverines fans yell as players and spectators enter the tunnel onto the field prior to the NCAA football game against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor on Saturday, Nov. 27, 2021.
Michigan Wolverines fans yell as players and spectators enter the tunnel onto the field prior to the NCAA football game against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor on Saturday, Nov. 27, 2021.
Fans hold signs as they wait for the teams to arrive prior to the NCAA football game between the Michigan Wolverines and the Ohio State Buckeyes at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor on Saturday, Nov. 27, 2021.
Fans hold signs as they wait for the teams to arrive prior to the NCAA football game between the Michigan Wolverines and the Ohio State Buckeyes at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor on Saturday, Nov. 27, 2021.
Michigan Stadium posters hang along a fence outside Michigan Stadium before the Buckeyes take on the Michigan Wolverines at Michigan Stadium at Ann Arbor, Mi on November 27, 2021.
Michigan Stadium posters hang along a fence outside Michigan Stadium before the Buckeyes take on the Michigan Wolverines at Michigan Stadium at Ann Arbor, Mi on November 27, 2021.

The College Football Playoff schedule

Here are the dates to know for the College Football Playoff:

  • Selection show: Noon Dec. 5 on ESPN

  • Cotton Bowl: 3:30 or 7:30 p.m., Dec. 31 on ESPN

  • Orange Bowl: 3:30 or 7:30 p.m., Dec. 31 on ESPN

  • College Football Playoff national championship game: 8 p.m., Monday, Jan. 10, 2022 on ESPN

Week 13 College Football Playoff rankings

  1. Georgia 11-0

  2. Ohio State 10-1

  3. Alabama 10-1

  4. Cincinnati 11-0

  5. Michigan 10-1

  6. Notre Dame 10-1

  7. Oklahoma State 10-1

  8. Baylor 9-2

  9. Ole Miss 9-2

  10. Oklahoma 10-1

  11. Oregon 9-2

  12. Michigan State 9-2

  13. BYU 9-2

  14. Wisconsin 8-3

  15. Texas A&M 8-3

  16. Iowa 9-2

  17. Pittsburgh 9-2

  18. Wake Forest 9-2

  19. Utah 8-3

  20. NC State 8-3

  21. San Diego State 10-1

  22. UTSA 11-0

  23. Clemson 8-3

  24. Houston 10-1

  25. Arkansas 7-4

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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio State vs. Michigan: Who did ESPN pick to win the game?