Baton Rouge is buzzing this weekend as ESPN’s College GameDay heads to town for one of college football’s most anticipated matchups: LSU vs. Alabama.
Adding to the excitement, two beloved LSU sports legends – pitching phenom Paul Skenes of the Pittsburgh Pirates and LSU gymnast Olivia “Livvy” Dunne – are set to join the show as this week’s celebrity guest pickers.
Skenes and Dunne, who are dating, are well-known among LSU fans.
Skenes, a former standout national championship-winning pitcher for the Tigers, has quickly made a name for himself with the Pirates.
As long as he stays healthy, Skenes seems well on his way to becoming one of the best – if not THE best – pitcher in all of baseball.
Dunne, meanwhile, has built a massive following as she heads into her final season of gymnastics at LSU.
The pair made headlines earlier this year when they walked the red carpet together at the 2024 MLB All-Star Game.
This week’s game is no ordinary rivalry – it’s a playoff elimination clash with both teams still vying for a spot in the expanded 12-team College Football Playoff.
Alabama comes into the game ranked #11 in the initial playoff rankings, while LSU sits at #15. A victory for the Tigers could potentially boost them into the playoff picture.
For Skenes, returning to Tiger Stadium as a guest picker is a homecoming of sorts. Drafted as the #1 overall pick after a dominant final season at LSU, Skenes has continued to impress in the majors, where he’s already become a fan favorite.
The LSU-Alabama game, which kicks off Saturday at 7:30pm EST in Baton Rouge, has extremely high stakes for both teams.
Alabama is slightly favored by 2.5 points, but with both teams in contention for a shot at the SEC title, the matchup is expected to be fiercely competitive.
If LSU wins out, they could claim the best conference record in the SEC, setting themselves up for a strong postseason.
Alabama, already with two SEC losses, will need more than just a win over LSU to stay in contention. For both teams, this game is crucial to keeping their seasons alive.
What are your thoughts on ESPN’s decision to choose both Skenes and Dunne as the celebrity guest pickers?
Is there anyone else with LSU connections who you would have preferred?
More importantly, what’s your prediction for the actual game? … Can Alabama beat LSU on the road in THAT environment???
