LSU Football vs. Alabama Crimson Tide: College GameDay Predictions Guest Picks – Sports Illustrated

Nick Saban and the ESPN College GameDay crew will travel to Baton Rouge this weekend for No. 14 LSU vs. No. 11 Alabama in Week 11.

Saban will return to Tiger Stadium this weekend, with all eyes on the legendary head coach’s analysis for Saturday night.

The stage is set for Saban and Co., with the former Alabama and LSU coach set to headline.

After a 17-year tenure with the Crimson Tide, Saban joined the ESPN College GameDay staff and hasn’t skipped a beat.

“[Saban] has been phenomenal,” College GameDay host Rece Davis said on Oct. 15. “The quickness with which he’s adapted to television. He is one of the most talented communicators I have ever been around. He can explain things and grab your attention in psychological football or tell you about his business ventures. He can communicate. Everybody knows that, and that’s why everybody in the world wants him to come and talk.”

“But television and being in a band is a different dynamic,” Davis said. “Typically for most people, I think it takes almost a whole season. For him, he adapted very quickly. He understands the team, he’s a great advocate for the show, comes up with ideas and still isn’t shy about expressing his opinion, he’s not overbearing. This person listens to everyone and takes it into account. He was great and I think probably the only thing that surprised me.”

College GameDay isn’t shy about covering the storied rivalry between LSU and Alabama with the team set to cover the historic game again in 2024.

2023: Tuscaloosa – No. 8 Alabama 42, No. 14 LSU 28

2019: Tuscaloosa — No. 2 LSU 46, No. 3 Alabama 41

2018: Baton Rouge — No. 1 Alabama 29, No. 4 LSU 0

2016: Baton Rouge — No. 1 Alabama 10, No. 15 LSU 0

2015: Tuscaloosa – No. 7 Alabama 30, No. 4 LSU 16

2013: Tuscaloosa – No. 1 Alabama 38, No. 10 LSU 17

2012: Baton Rouge — No. 1 Alabama 21, No. 5 LSU 17

2011: New Orleans — No. 2 Alabama 21, No. 1 LSU 0

2011: Tuscaloosa — No. 1 LSU 9, No. 2 Alabama 6 (OT)

2009: Baton Rouge — No. 1 Alabama 27, No. 15 LSU 21 (OT)

2005: Tuscaloosa — No. 5 LSU 16, No. 4 Alabama 13 (OT)

All eyes will now be on who will be the visitor Saturday night in Baton Rouge.

Who will it be? Let’s look at a few options.

Kim Mulkey: LSU head women’s basketball coach

One of the greatest women’s basketball coaches of all time, Mulkey needs no introduction. She paved the way for the evolution of the women’s game while leading the LSU basketball program to the first National Championship in program history.

Mulkey has been active in the LSU athletics department from attending baseball games to gymnastics meets. Now she will surely be a contender for the guest pick slot for College GameDay on Saturday.

When the GameDay crew went to Columbia, South Carolina earlier this year for the Gamecocks’ matchup against LSU, it was head coach Dawn Staley who got the nod as a guest of choice.

Will Mulky get a thumbs up this week?

Joe Burrow: The legendary LSU quarterback

LSU quarterback Joe Burrow cemented his status as the greatest quarterback in LSU history after leading the Tigers to a 2019 National Championship victory while winning the Heisman Trophy along the way.

Now a signal caller for the Cincinnati Bengals, Burrow continues to take the National Football League by storm.

The question here: How could Burrow be an away pick on Saturday, then suit up on Sunday for his organization?

Most importantly, the Bengals play a Thursday Night Football slot against the Baltimore Ravens this week; clearing Burrow’s schedule for Saturday and Sunday.

Will he get his nod as away selector with a ‘clear’ schedule on Saturday?

Paul Skeens: #1 pick in 2023 MLB draft, former LSU pitcher

LSU great Paul Skeens took Baton Rouge by storm during his time with Jay Johnson’s squad after leading the Tigers to a national championship alongside Dylann Crews and Co.

Now the former No. 1 overall pick of the Pittsburgh Pirates is making his way as one of Major League Baseball’s best pitchers.

It’s now the baseball off-season, and Skeens isn’t shy about returning to Baton Rouge for a game-day experience.

If he’s back in town this weekend, could Skeens be the guest of choice on College GameDay?

Lil Wayne: The Louisiana Legend

ESPN’s College GameDay isn’t shy about having returning pickers as guests on its show. We’ve seen Louisiana rapper Lil Wayne pick a guest once, and with ties to LSU, he’s sure to be a contender.

He’s fresh off a performance for his festival in New Orleans, where he brought out LSU superstar Flau’Jae Johnson as a guest.

The relationships go on and on. Will the crew give him another chance to be the away pick on Saturday morning?

Andrew Whitworth: LSU and NFL Legend

The LSU graduate made his way as one of the best offensive linemen in NFL history after a historic 16-year career with the Cincinnati Bengals and Los Angeles Rams.

He became a quarterback for the LSU program and, after a Hall of Fame career on the field, became an analyst off the field.

Whitworth cemented his status as a legendary Tiger before an iconic career in the National Football League. Could the ESPN College GameDay team look his way this weekend?

No. 14 LSU will return to action on Nov. 9 against the Alabama Crimson Tide with kickoff set for 6:30 pm CT at Tiger Stadium.

Immediate takeaways: No. 8 LSU falls to No. 14 Texas A&M in College Station

LSU dishes out America’s No. 1 quarterback

Nick Saban calls LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier a “sleeper” ahead of the 2024 season

Follow Zach Nagy on Twitter: @znagy20 and LSU Tigers on SI: @LSUTigersSI for all the coverage surrounding the LSU program.