Some love it, others hate it. Whatever you opinion of it is, nobody can argue that you might as will bring the elephants and clowns because the circus is pretty much showing up on your campus for the weekend. Will it be coming to your school? Take a look and find out what I feel as I predict where ESPN's College GameDay will be from weeks 1-15 for the 2008 College Football Season.
Week One:
As usual, not many options as most powerhouses are playing host to directional schools they are supposed to beat by 45+. I used "supposed" since our friends at Michigan and Appalachian State proved that anything really can happen on a given Saturday.
With that said, only two contenders to host GameDay in week one. With Illinois traveling to St. Louis to take on Mizzou, this could field the show but two nontraditional schools in football don't open the season quite like Alabama or Clemson. Expect the Tide to be Rolling and the Tiger Rags to be waving on the first Saturday morning of the year.
Week Two:
We see very few noticeable games on the schedule for week two, also something that has come to be expected. BYU will gain national recognition once again this year but ESPN won't send GameDay west on an early morning trip as they play at Washington. Instead expect the Swamp to play host to GameDay as the Gators host in-state rival Miami that evening.
Week Three:
A few good games to watch that day, yes. Michigan at Notre Dame will be a big headlined game as always and Georgia faces a tough battle at South Carolina. However, the biggest non-conference game of the year plays host to GameDay this week as USC hosts Ohio State University.
Week Four:
It seems like each week there is a candidate from the SEC to host GameDay. With Wake Forest traveling to Tallahassee that day as the only other seemingly big game for the day, expect to see a Tiger Fight with LSU traveling to Auburn.
Week Five:
A down week on the schedule for sure. Virginia Tech and Nebraska would be a shoe in...four years ago. Instead, if ESPN decides against saving money and staying in Bristol for the weekend, I would imagine Happy Valley gets a visit as the Nittany Lions welcome the Fighting Illini of Illinois.
Week Six:
After six weeks I feel we will have our first repeat. With Ohio State and Wisconsin the two favorites for the Big Ten crown, expect GameDay to make an appearance at Camp Randall. If Nebraska can get off to a hot start, possibly they sneak in as they host Mizzou but don't expect that. Sorry SEC fans, you're stuck with Ohio State and Wisconsin this week.
Week Seven:
Separation Saturday, Round One? Possibly. Arizona State travels to the Coliseum, Tennessee looks to once again derail Georgia's title hopes, and Penn State hosts Wisconsin.
Don't forget Oklahoma and Texas, which promises to be a treat as usual. That is a solid week in itself but throw in the week's best game, LSU traveling to The Swamp and you have GameDay's second trip to Gainsville in 2008.
Week Eight:
With no Big XII love yet this year, week eight breaks that trend. Although LSU at South Carolina will turn heads, ESPN goes out of the southeast this week to show us the campus of the University of Texas. Can't go wrong in Austin...
Week Nine:
The most anticipated week of the season? Not by any means a stretch to say. Oregon at Arizona State with second place in the Pac-10 on the line? VaTech at FSU in a battle of two old rivals. Illinois in Wisconsin with a matchup that could decide a BCS Berth. Texas Tech at Kansas in what will likely end up a shootout and have Big XII Championship implications.
Penn State at Ohio State, wow this just keeps getting better. All these are great, but how can you pass on last years National Champs hosting many's pick to be '08 Champs? Georgia at LSU under the lights. It doesn't get much better than that.
Week Ten:
If Georgia is still unbeaten, heck even if they have a loss or two, no doubts that we will see the World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party on GameDay as it will most likely be a battle of two teams still in the National Title Hunt.
Week Eleven:
A few choices here but nothing really stellar. If FSU can surprise some people this year its a perfect chance for ESPN to blow up the talk of the Bowden Bowl once again. If not Alabama at LSU seems like the next most likely option. I'm going with Clemson/FSU.
Week Twelve:
A few choices here. I doubt ESPN will follow Georgia on its insane road schedule all the way through so I don't expect to see them travel to Auburn. Instead watch as Illinois hosts Ohio State. If the Illini do as they are expected to do, this could decide the Big Ten and ESPN wouldn't miss that, even if it would be their first ever trip to Chambana for GameDay.
Week Thirteen:
Although the storylines around Rich Rodriguez and Michigan trying to derail Ohio State's Big Ten glory in 2008 are great, Texas Tech travels to Norman to try and win their first Big XII South crown. You can bet that is where GameDay is at this week.
Week Fourteen:
With the regular season pretty much finished, expect to see the much anticipated Mizzou/KU battle here. It seems odd to think of this as much anticipated but for the second year in a row it decides the Big XII North Champs.
Week Fifteen:
Pick your conference championship game. Although there are going to be a few great games as usual this day, I have trouble thinking GameDay goes somewhere besides the Georgia Dome for the SEC Championship which will decide one half of the National Title game one month later.
There are my fearless predictions for 2008, at least in the way of GameDay. Look back at these in the future and see for yourself how silly I make myself look at times.
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2 months ago
the blessing and the curse for LSU fans is our sec tv contracts with cbs and raycomm sports.
espn we like (usually) because they broadcast night games. save for the 4:00 app st opener.
cbs plays the traditional 2:30 cst game and raycomm at 11:30 cst.
reason i say that is you mention UGA under the lights in tiger stadium. chances are this will be a 2:30 cbs game.
every week the pecking order is cbs, espn, raycomm except i think for two weeks where espn gets 1st choice on an SEC game. the early word is they might use one of those for LSU @ Auburn. i would love for the UGA or bama games to be at night but right now they are probably looking at 2:30 starts. boooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!
cbs stepped out last year and did a primetime broadcast last year of the LSU-UF game (they've done it in the past for Fla-Tenn).
i don't know why CBS doesn't explore this more. i think they would easily be able to compete with ABC in the primetime slot.
anyway i actually like ESPN gameday and look forward to the gang coming to my cittaaaaaayyyyyy!!!!
from 2 months ago
Cheer up, CBS broadcast LSU at Alabama in Prime time last year and you know if they pick it up this year it will most definitely be in prime time again.
That will be one of the most highly rated games (television ratings wise) in the conference this year. (possibly just behind the Cocktail party)
from 2 months ago
chad,
i know it felt like primetime cuz the game went about 4 hours and 45 minutes but it was a 2:30 start.
from 2 months ago
No, it wasn't a 2:30pm start, it kicked off at 4pm.
By the second half it was already dark, which made it feel just like a night game.
Anyway, it wasn't a 2:30pm start, which was great, because those suck. (At least I think so, because I love night games.)
I feel pretty confident that they would broadcast it as a prime time game though. Or at least do it later like they did last year. That way the second half is at night.
It will be a great game either way though.
from 2 months ago
i stand corrected (i'm sitting actually).
my bad, the schedule i was looking at was wrong but i do remember it being dark in the second half now.
being a tiger fan, i always prefer night games, home or away.
2 months ago
There is nothing like gameday at the Swamp!
from 2 months ago
The Swamp is nothing compared to Tiger stadium.
LSU got the best fans, the best tailgating, and the loudest stadium in all of football.
"The Swamp" sucks.
2 months ago
Is it gameday yet?
2 months ago
If Alabama beats Clemson to start off the season, GameDay will be in Athens, GA for the BAMA - UGA Game on Week Five (Sept. 27).
And that game has already been picked up by ESPN. Will be a shoe in for the show that day.
from 2 months ago
Have to agree Chad. If Bama can beat Clemson this game will be circled by everyone!
from 2 months ago
you bama fans are delusional!!! "if bama beats clemson". you couldn't beat FSU last year in your big ACC neutral site game. hell, you couldn't even beat louisana-monroe at home!!!!!!!!
remember, it's not 1966 anymore.
from 2 months ago
Rob, you are forgetting that Alabama never loss a game by more than a touchdown last year. They were in ever single game, including having the National Champion beat with 2 and a half minutes left.
It is very naive to say that Alabama can't beat Clemson. Now I'm not going to sit here and tell you that it's a for sure W, because that would be delusional, but it would be delusional for Clemson to say that as well.
Comparing the FSU game to the Clemson game is pretty much pointless for a variety of reasons.
The game will be decided on the field on August 30. Should be a great game, but I wouldn't be marking any W's or L's on anyones schedule just yet.
2 months ago
Has Gameday ever not been on location for the Ohio State-Michigan game?
Can't wait for week three, maybe I'll even get my ugly mug on national television on my way to the coliseum ;)
2 months ago
I hope your wrong about week 1, since I will be in St. Louis, but you are probably right. I disagree on one though, ESPN can't live without Michigan/OSU
2 months ago
Good article/idea.
If only the Gameday crew would change up their opening song. I get so uncomfortable when that dude starts rapping.
No more Big & Rich.
If crossover Country and Rap was ever acceptable, it was at least four years ago. Can't we just let Lil' Wayne make something new up every week over the same beat?
from 2 months ago
I personally really like the opening and always have, but then again I also like Big & Rich, so I guess you could say I am a little bias.
That being said, you'll never please everyone and I don't think Lil' Wayne would be better than Big & Rich and you would more than likely have a lot more people complain about that.
from 2 months ago
No, you can't please everyone. But for a couple of years they seemed to be changing the opening song every year and then they landed on the B&R song and just stuck with it. If they're going to keep it forever, I want them to let me know so I can destroy all hope.
It's not like I'm some huge lil' wayne fan, but he's relevant. I'd rather them let someone new do the song every year instead of hearing "Bulldogs barkin' at the Wolverines" over and over.
But something tells me I'm not going to get my wish and that I'll have to enjoy the zing in my zang zang.
from 2 months ago
It used to be Bubba Sparxxx before that. That was actually good. But Big and Rich kills my eardrums
2 months ago
In week four, I'm betting that the second-biggest nonconference clash of the season (UGA at ASU) will get gameday.
Also, lots of these picks are for games hosted by SEC teams, which (for the most part) will be on CBS. Gameday tends to prefer games broadcast on the ESPN/ABC family of networks, so I think there will be more Big East, Big Ten, Pac 10 and Big 12 games than are projected in this article. Still, the Cocktail Party and maybe a couple other SEC clashes will probably get the nod.
2 months ago
Florida/Miami is all but confirmed. It's the 8pm game on ESPN. Not to mention there are no other games that are even close.
Week one is probably going to be LSU/App St., or one of the neutral site games.
2 months ago
The GameDay Wikipedia article (as of early morning July 23) says that the first weekend will be Michigan State at California, which doesn't make much sense. Any of the games mentioned above would be a whole lot better.
It was added yesterday (the 22nd) but no citation was given, so it could be someone just making stuff up: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/College_GameDay_%28football%29
2 months ago
Fla will be on GameDay at least three to four times, these guys love Muyer almost as much as Mr sweater vest.
2 months ago
Week 7: Penn State does not host Wisconsin, Wisconsin hosts Penn State
2 months ago
Georgia at ASU will certainly be gameday during week 4
2 months ago
Georgia at ASU will easily make gameday the fourth week of the season, how did you miss this pac 10/sec showdown
2 months ago
Good article. Love the picture - my favorite place on earth - Bryant-Denny!
2 months ago
Good article and predictions. You never know though. I never thought Gameday would come to fayetteville 2 years ago, but they did. Was a fun day kicking Tennessee arse!
2 months ago
I really wish that gameday was in Northern California more, but oh well, it's our fault for being bad fans.
2 months ago
bama fans are delusional. "if bama beats clemson". you couldn't beat FSU last year in your big ACC neutral site game!!! hell, you couldn't even beat louisana-monroe at home!!!!!!!
from 2 months ago
Ouch! That hurts Tide. Just like I was hurting after my Hog's 4th quarter debacle against Bama last year (thanks for a horribly coached game Houston). Hope we get you back, but it certainly won't happen this year.
from about 1 month ago
its a month later and you my friend are WRONG!!!!!!!! 34-10 HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
from about 1 month ago
Mike: many congratulations to the Tide players & fans!! I have been wrong before, but seldom this badly. A month ago I didn't think Bama had a chance against Clemson, and the Tide wiped them out!!
Smash mouth offense and dominating defense. That is a combination that has won SEC championships for 50 years.
There is no way to tell if Bama can keep it going for a whole season, but on week one the Tide turned in one of the best games in the nation!!
Damn, crow tastes lousy.
from about 1 month ago
Thats true. You can't base everything on ONE game.
2 months ago
Nick -
You contradicted yourself stating that ESPN won't send GameDay west for an early morning trip as they (BYU) play at Washington. Then the next week, you predict they would be at USC.
Here would be my guesses despite Wiki's stating Michigan State-Cal. (And subject to change seeing how the season plays out.)
Week 1 - Alabama vs. Clemson at Atlanta
Week 2 - Miami at Florida
Week 3 - Ohio State at USC
Week 4 - Georgia at Arizona State
Week 5 - Illinois at Penn State
Week 6 - Ohio State at Wisconsin
Week 7 - Texas vs. Oklahoma at Dallas
Week 8 - LSU at South Carolina
Week 9 - Georgia at LSU
Week 10 - Florida vs. Georgia at Jacksonville
Week 11 - Alabama at LSU
Week 12 - Georgia at Auburn
Week 13 - Michigan at Ohio State
Week 14 - Notre Dame at USC
Week 15 - SEC Championship Game
Ryan - 2004 was a year GameDay was not at Michigan-Ohio State when they were at BYU-Utah watching the Utes clinch a BCS bowl berth.
2 months ago
John:
Quick response to my contradiction. Meant to add that ESPN wouldnt waste time and money going out west two weeks in a row seeing they are undoubtedly going for the USC/OSU contest. They would much rather stay on the east coast week two than travel out there two weeks in a row. potentially three if the rumors of MSU at Cal are true.
Thanks for reading and for the willingness to question me. I will try to do better next time.
2 months ago
I love all the talk about Game Day but you're forgetting one important factor. Game Day usually goes where ABC and ESPN have the contract for the game.
There are some great game that will get the shaft on a Game Day visit. My guess is that ESPN would play the trump card to get the LSU/Auburn Game and the Florida/Georgia Games. These two will decide the East and West Championships. LSU/Auburn will be a great game (four point or less in the final two minutes) but ESPN doesn't go to Jordan Hare. I think Auburn isn't flash enough and I couldn't make the two hour drive from Hartsfield International with Corso either. So Florida/Georgia will be the only SEC hosted game.
Tennesse/Auburn, Georgia on the road and all the classics in the SEC will be minus Game Day. Instead you'll see them at the ABC game of the week (translated major market) each week.
from 2 months ago
That's unture Leigh, they've been to SEC games that CBS broadcasted as well. So, the SEC will get their share of GameDay appearances.
And, GameDay has been at Jordan Hare in the past and they will be back.
2 months ago
Week #2--Miami @ Florida..WHEN WE TURN GAINESVILLE...INTO...CANESVILLE.....AGAIN....Go CANES!!! (just remember...the last time the University of Florida beat the Hurricanes was September 7th, 1985)...But I think your list is right on...good post!
2 months ago
have yall heard the story of why gameday wont come back to Athens? Last time Gameday came to Athens it was for for the Tennesse game in 1998 if i remember correctly. Rumor has it that they picked Tennessee to win and some uga fans threw beer bottles at the set. I would be suprised if Gameday comes back to Athens for several reasons. Theres not really a good place for them to set up the set. The bridge would prob be the best spot for it but its not that wide. This is how much Gameday hates going to Athens... last year when the Dawgs hosted Auburn in the unprecedented "Blackout" game, College Gameday decided to go to Arnherst at Williams. Who gives a dang about Arnherst at Williams?
Go Dawgs!!
from 23 days ago
Herbstreit asked the question in some blog in the preseason... 'why have we not been back to Athens? We've got to get back there'. There are a few occasions like the GA/AU game last year, where it just didn't make sense to me, why they didn't come to Athens. But largely, they've covered Georgia on the road.. that's just how the big games fell those years. I don't think it has anything to do with any previous issues from that '98 appearance. If you look at our schedule this year, I don't think they'll be back in '08. Our big games are outside of Athens. The only two games that have a shot are GA / TN, and unless TN beats Florida, or there are no other marquis matchups that day, that won't be an option. Then, it's Georgia / GT... and unless GT is up for the ACC Championship, there's no way they'll come to that one.. and even then, its a stretch... they'll have to look like a big spoiler for us, and we'll have to have no more than one loss or undefeated.
about 1 month ago
gameday can come to dawg games but they better stay out of athens according to many i know.
they will be in trouble if they show.
pulpwood smith reports that he will personally take care of fowler.
gameday has been to gainseville 12 times knoxville 8 times and athens 1 time.
starting to get the picture?
they won't be able to pull the show off if dawg fans are around the set.
it is a shame but they started it and the dawg nation will finish it if they show.
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