ESPN’s “College GameDay” crew spent a weekend hyping the Utes last season in Salt Lake City.
But only one member of the popular pregame show is backing Utah this weekend.
“I just think Utah’s issues on offense are going to be too much to overcome,” former Alabama coach Nick Saban said.
“I think BYU goes in there and is dancing all over the place,” analyst Pat McAfee added.
Desmond Howard, Lee Corso, even Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes and LSU gymnast Livvy Dunne predicted the No. 9 Cougars would leave Rice-Eccles Stadium with a W.
Kirk Herbstreit, however, likes Utah to pull off the upset.
“I’m going with the Utah team that started the year 4-0. They’ve lost four in a row,” he said. “It could save their season. This is what college football is all about: a rivalry type of game, saving your season. Utah, at home, pulls off the upset.”
(Screenshot) The ESPN College GameDay crew makes its predictions for the 2024 Utah-BYU rivalry game at Rice-Eccles Stadium.
The undefeated Cougars are currently a 3-point favorite on the road.
— Aaron Falk
Game info
Kickoff: 8:15 p.m.
TV: ESPN
Broadcast crew: Dave Flemming, Brock Osweiler, Stormy Buonantony
Radio: ESPN 700 AM, 92.1 FM
Radio crew: Bill Riley, Scott Mitchell, Stevenson Sylvester
Pregame reading
(Chaim Zippel) BYU quarterback Jake Retzlaff poses for a photo with Rabbi Chaim Zippel. Retzlaff is the first Jewish quarterback to start at Brigham Young University.
• With a Jewish quarterback leading the Cougars, Utah’s rabbis have become rabid BYU fans.
• Utah coach Kyle Whittingham will keep his starting quarterback secret until game time.
• The rivalry game is back … but for how long?
• Big 12 Power Rankings: It‘s BYU’s world and everyone else is just living in it right now.