ESPN College Gameday makes 12-team CFP predictions

ESPN College Gameday makes 12-team CFP predictions where the Ducks could host a number of schools in the first round.

As soon as that theme song kicks in at 6 am PST, you know it’s college football season.

ESPN’s College Gameday made their season debut today with Week 0, highlighted by the Georgia Tech-Florida State game in Ireland.

During the show, all four analysts, Desmond Howard, Pat McAfee, Nich Saban and Kirk Herbstreit, made their predictions for the upcoming 12-team playoff system that’s going to hit the sport right in the face in December.

Not surprisingly, the Oregon Ducks made the playoff in all four projected brackets. It was just where they would play and their seed is what differed.

Howard gave the Ducks the most love as he said Oregon would have the No. 1 overall seed and would receive a first-round bye. In his bracket, the Ducks would play the winner of the 8-9 game, which would be Michigan or Oklahoma.

Either matchup would be interesting as the Ducks would play Michigan again or Dillon Gabriel would face his former team with a trip to the semifinals on the line.

In the other three brackets, the Ducks would be hosting a first-round game. Nick Saban had Oregon, a No. 6 seed, would host No. 11 LSU. It would be the first time the Tigers would visit Autzen. No. 3 seed Florida State would be waiting in the quarterfinals.

Herbstreit has Boise State making a second trip to Eugene this season as the 12-seed with No. 4 Utah waiting. Finally, McAfee has Kale DeBoer and his Alabama team come to Autzen as the No. 11 seed with No. 3 seed West Virginia waiting to play the winner.

All four matchups would be exciting, but getting to play SEC powers LSU or Alabama inside Autzen would be a thrill for any Duck fan. No doubt, the Oregon faithful will be more than ready to welcome former Husky coach DeBoer back to town with some unfinished business ready to be taken care of.

In any scenario, having the Ducks in the playoff picture and one of the favorites to win the whole thing should make this season so memorable for so many reasons.