Predicting Where 'College GameDay' Should Go for Rest of 2016 Season
For many fans, waking up to watch ESPN's College GameDay is a Saturday morning tradition. And for a select group of schools, they get to host the popular kickoff show.
GameDay has traveled to nine different locations this season—including the upcoming stop in Salt Lake City—and there's an excellent chance it avoids repeating a destination in 2016.
After featuring Washington vs. Utah in Week 9, Kirk Herbstreit and Co. have three likely trips on the radar. However, the three other locations are uncertain at best.
We'll attempt to predict each of the six remaining destinations for the GameDay crew before bowl season. Feel free to add your guesses in the comments section.
Week 10: Alabama at LSU
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Since both teams have a bye in Week 9, you can probably write this location in pen. Unless GameDay chooses Nebraska at Ohio State, the show is headed to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on Nov. 5.
Alabama is once again doing Alabama things, rolling over opponents en route to an 8-0 record. The Crimson Tide are ranked No. 1 in the country and eyeing a second straight national title.
But LSU would thoroughly enjoy complicating those hopes.
Since the dismissal of head coach Les Miles and offensive coordinator Cam Cameron, the Tigers have won three straight games in convincing fashion. LSU only has one conference loss, so it remains in the SEC West Division hunt.
Alabama can afford a loss, but the Bayou Bengals need a win.
Week 11: Baylor at Oklahoma
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If Washington keeps winning while USC topples both Cal and Oregon, the first trip to Seattle since 2013 could be in order. But both Baylor and Oklahoma may be undefeated in Big 12 action.
Although it hasn't always been pretty, the Bears are 6-0 overall and Seth Russell is 14-0 in his career as a starter. They're favored against Texas (per Odds Shark) and should be at home against TCU, too.
Meanwhile, Oklahoma has recovered from a pair of September losses and opened conference play with four straight wins. Presuming the Sooners dispatch 1-6 teams in Kansas and Iowa State, their backloaded Big 12 schedule officially starts Nov. 12 vs. Baylor.
GameDay last traveled to Norman in 2012.
Week 12: Washington State at Colorado
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While several clashes on Nov. 19 have conference title implications, the most underrated one is Washington State vs. Colorado.
Isn't that fitting?
Stanford and Oregon have owned the Pac-12 North Division, and Washington was an offseason darling for good reason. Washington State finished fourth in the preseason media poll, but head coach Mike Leach's squad has earned a victory in all four conference games.
Heading into the season, the Buffs needed to begin showing improvement in the win column. Head coach Mike MacIntyre entered a tough situation, as Colorado was 2-25 against Pac 12 opponents over the last three years. A 6-2 (4-1) start absolutely fits that demand.
If Colorado defeats UCLA and Arizona, GameDay will seriously consider Boulder to host for the first time since 1996.
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Week 13: Michigan at Ohio State
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Not since 2007 has "The Game" mattered for both teams in the Big Ten standings, and that was also the last year College GameDay featured the rivalry clash. That should change in 2016.
Even if Ohio State loses a second game and allows Michigan to lock up the East Division before Nov. 26, the Wolverines will likely be one victory from securing their first undefeated regular season in 19 years.
But to achieve that unblemished mark, head coach Jim Harbaugh's team will need to overcome the Buckeyes in Columbus—which Michigan hasn't managed to do since 2000.
Although Ohio State is regularly involved in GameDay locations, the school has only hosted the show once over the last five-plus seasons.
Week 14: Pac-12 Championship Game
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Championship week is full of appealing locations. In addition to those title games, Baylor travels to West Virginia and Oklahoma State heads to Oklahoma for Bedlam.
However, if Washington remains undefeated to this point, the Huskies deserve another moment on the national stage.
Between now and Dec. 3, head coach Chris Petersen's upstart squad takes on Utah, Cal, USC, Arizona State and Washington State. At least four of those teams are headed to a bowl game, so Washington's upcoming slate is full of potential problems.
Through seven weeks, though, the Huskies have posted a 35.1-point margin of victory. That's dominance. GameDay could be in Santa Clara, California, to preview Washington's pursuit of a 13-0 record and College Football Playoff berth.
Week 15: Army-Navy Game
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College GameDay featured the Army-Navy Game for the first time in 2014 and returned last season. It needs to be a yearly tradition.
The prisoner exchange, drill and ceremony and each academy singing the other's alma mater are delightful to see. Football is secondary when Army and Navy meet.
Still, it's an entertaining matchup—especially this season. Navy owns a 14-year winning streak, but head coach Jeff Monken has Army on an upward trend. The Black Knights already have four victories, matching the program's highest mark over the last six years.
Can Army snap the streak? We'll find that out Dec. 10 but, hopefully, College GameDay extends it to three.
All recruiting information via Scout. Stats from cfbstats.com or B/R research. Quotes obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Follow Bleacher Report CFB Writer David Kenyon on Twitter @Kenyon19_BR.
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