Celebrities Predictions for GameDay Saturday

As the World Football College Center (A.k.a. Pullman) prepares for its Saturday shutdown in what will be the 217th consecutive flurry of the Ol & Crimson flag, we turn our attention to the field match. More specifically, what will happen when two Top 25 teams with 5-1 records battle for supremacy in the Pac-12 North? We appealed to Who's Who judges for their expertise. Here's what they told Cougfan.com …

Bob Roberston, the legend at the Golden Gorge: Go with the buddies Stimulated by the GameDay audience, WSU celebrates a 35-28 victory over the Oregon Ducks.

John Bley, Treasurer of Ol Crimson Booster Club: There are three seconds left. The ducks have the ball on the 20 yard line of the Cougs. 32,952 Coug flags waving fiercely cause hurricane effects around Martin Stadium. The ducks are trying the placement. Ball caught up in a storm Ol'Crimson. Result: wide (very wide) on the right. Cougs 23, Ducks 21.

Neil Everett, ESPN Anchor: Pullman is a great place to party, but not for a visiting football team. I remember that Mariota ducks had a goose a few years ago. Leach is a magician but Cristobal is a bull whose ducks will not disappear. I love Cougar Gold but I love Oregon more. Quack 31-28.

Mark Rypien, WSP Hall of Famer and Super Bowl MVP: What an exciting week at Pullman. GameDay is here for the first time! Cougs 38, Ducks 29

Yogi Roth, Pac-12 Networks Analyst: I really do not know. The Cougs have had the last three years with the Ducks, but Justin Herbert makes the difference – again, Garnder Minshew is my second-best quarterback at the conference. Oregon has not played hard on the road and this crowd will be proud. The defense of Oregon is much better than I thought and his front is elite. My instinct says that if this match is tight, WSU wins – every game has improved in the second half. I am really torn. I'm not trying to be politically correct – I do not know who to choose.

Jed Collins, Cougar great and columnist CF.C: The campus has been buzzing all week. The Cougs come out with a new energy of the break week and take a fast forward. Minshew stands out from the QB battle and the Cougs take it out in a shootout. Cougs 49, Ducks 42 (ICYMI finds the latest Qed analysis Monday morning here)

Brenna Greene, KREM-2 sports journalist in Spokane: Full Disclosure: I missed my return to the Halloween party to attend the Halloween Oregon-USC game and I almost grew up in Autzen, but to be honest, I do not think the Cougs have faced one of such a high level of Oregon this year. The second half of Wazzu's schedule is significantly more difficult than the first half. Oregon 45, WSU 35.

Gabe Marks, WSU and Pac-12, leader of all-time catches: Minshew leads the boys on the mound and on the national scene. Cougs 38 Ducks 35

Cindy Brunson, WSU graduate and commentator on Pac-12 networks: My head says: 1) Oregon has already played against three ranked teams this season, between a QB1 stud and a legitimate racing game. 2) The Ducks will be keen to bounce back WSU with former coaches Coug, Joe Salave'a and Jim Mastro, as well as a Jim Leavitt CD that has already proven it can slow down the air raid (in Colorado). 3) Mike Leach is just 2-4 in Wazzu after a week off. BUT my heart says: The loss of the freshman LT Penei Sewell (ankle) should be a problem for Oregon, and the Martin Stadium will rock! WSU 33, Oregon 28.

Shawn McWashington, Fab Fiver of 1998 Rose Bowl: I predict that Lee Corso goes against his duck friend and puts on the Cougar headgear for the first time. And in an emotional match, I see the Cougs start quickly. On the arm of this talented QB and WSU who use the clock, the Ducks will come back and make it interesting. But the Cougs prevent them from winning 48 to 44.

Mike Marlow: AD of North Arizona and former AD of the WSU and Oregon: The pageantry surrounding College GameDay is well deserved by all Coug fans and alums. The journey to realize this opportunity is a great achievement for Mike Leach and his staff. This certainly corresponds to the vision of Bill Moos and Elson Floyd when they rented the course for WSU Athletics. "WSU 34, Oregon 31.

Related story: The images and sounds of the arrival of the GameDay Pullman

Gerard Wicks, former goalkeeper of the WSU: Our guys must be ready to play mentally and physically. It's a game they dreamed of playing in their childhood. Prepare all week and win all games on all three sides of the ball. We take care of that, we win the game. Cherish the moment but do not be afraid to be big; the big players liven up in big games. The offensive must score points and the defense must put an end to one of the best offenses in the country. I have my winning Cougs 42-38

Kelly Koopmans, WSU Graduate and KOMO-4 Seattle Anchor: Gameday paves the way for an unforgettable match, though close. The Mississippi Stache leads the Cougs in a clash that comes down to OT. Ol 'Crimson smiles in the Palouse while WSU wins Oregon 38-31.

Alex Brink, QB Color Analyst and WSU Radio Color: If Cougs can start fast and protect football, he will win. The crowd will make the difference. WSU 38, UO 31

Derek Deis, Grad WSU, KXLY-4 Spokane host and WSU pre-match: The crime trade is sweeping the game. But with the Ducks leading 34-31 in the fourth quarter, Boobie Williams stands as a linebacker, passes over a safety goal and sprints 44 yards for the winner of the match. Cougs 38, Ducks 34

Nick Daschel, Portland Oregonian: Many people in this region are ready to crown Oregon as champions of the North Pac-12 after their victory against AT, against Washington, forgetting that the Ducks play four of their last six games on the road. It starts with Pullman, and the idea is that the Ducks will not be able to handle emotional games back to back. The only concern of the state of Washington is if the focus is put too much on College GameDay and not on the game itself. Cougars 38, Ducks 28:

Paul Sorensen, WSU Hall of Famer and columnist CF.C: A day in town for the 217 pilots of Il Crimson flying for 15 years. WSU will not disappoint on the field either. It is the biggest Saturday of the Palouse. Cougs 48, Ducks 41.

Bud of fluff, WSU graduate and former Seattle Times columnist: Let's hope that the crew of GameDay will be out of traffic in Colfax in time to see it. The rested cougets have the ducks exactly where they want them. WSU 31, Oregon 24.

Mkristo Bruce, WSU sack master 2003-06: The Cougs are going to run their business like last year. Minshew has a record day while the mustache shines in the sun. Cougs 50, Ducks 47

Cody O 'Connell, twice first team WSU All-American: I see that it is the most difficult game yet. With the arrival of GameDay in town, the stadium will be electric. I think this one is going to be tight but the defense is going to do its job and the offense is going to do its job. WSU 38, Oregon 34 (ICYMI – Our Story Last Week: Catching Cody O 'Connell)

Spotlight on the WSU's victory over Oregon in 2017 …