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Predicting every ESPN College GameDay location for 2017

By Nicholas Ian Allen

Nov 26, 2016; Columbus, OH, USA; ESPN College Gameday hosts from left Desmond Howard and Rece Davis and Lee Corso and Kirk Herbstreit discuss the days matchups on their set outside Ohio Stadium before the game between the Ohio State Buckeyes and Michigan Wolverines. Ohio State won the game 30-27 in double overtime. Mandatory Credit: Greg Bartram-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 26, 2016; Columbus, OH, USA; ESPN College Gameday hosts from left Desmond Howard and Rece Davis and Lee Corso and Kirk Herbstreit discuss the days matchups on their set outside Ohio Stadium before the game between the Ohio State Buckeyes and Michigan Wolverines. Ohio State won the game 30-27 in double overtime. Mandatory Credit: Greg Bartram-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 15, 2016; Gainesville, FL, USA; A general view of the Swamp where it says “It’s Great to be a Florida Gator” during the second half between the Florida Gators and Missouri Tigers at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Florida Gators defeated the Missouri Tigers 40-14. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 15, 2016; Gainesville, FL, USA; A general view of the Swamp where it says “It’s Great to be a Florida Gator” during the second half between the Florida Gators and Missouri Tigers at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Florida Gators defeated the Missouri Tigers 40-14. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

Week 6: Oct. 7

Candidates

  • Ole Miss at Auburn
  • LSU at Florida
  • Kansas State at Texas
  • Notre Dame at North Carolina
  • Michigan State at Michigan
  • Air Force at Navy

The first weekend in October has a similar feel to Week 5. There are several games with the potential to be big-time matchups, though, in the preseason, few have the look of a national showcase game.

But, looking back at our predictions through September, ESPN doesn’t appear likely to visit a SEC stadium through the first four weeks of 2017. That likely increases the odds GameDay visits Gainesville for the first time since 2012.

Florida has an opportunity to win the SEC East for the third straight season, and if the Gators were 5-0 on Oct. 7 (a tall task given games against Michigan and Tennessee, as well as a pesky trip to Kentucky), they would undoubtedly host LSU as a top-10 team. The Tigers should be 5-0, and would probably be ranked in the Top 5. Even in Florida has one loss, this game is still the one to beat, and though it’s possible some of the others on the schedule could pit two higher ranked teams.

Auburn also fits as an SEC site, and though Ole Miss is ineligible for a bowl, quarterback Shea Patterson is one of the most talented players in the league, which should make the Rebels interesting. Of course, if Texas starts strong, a trip to Austin would make sense for GameDay as well.

As for an out of the box option, despite including Navy in two previous off-campus GameDays, the show has never been to Annapolis — home of the United States Naval Academy. The leg of the Commander-in-Chief battle between the Midshipmen and Air Force would be a great backdrop for ESPN in Week 6.

College GameDay Location Prediction: LSU at Florida

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