ESPN College GameDay is going the Iron Bowl in Week 13.
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Compare: CFB Teams | CFB Players
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While Week 13 is laced with big, playoff-impacting games, ESPN made the obvious and right choice in opting to broadcast from Alabama vs. Auburn.
Amazingly, this will be the first time College Gameady visits an SEC campus this season, and it's the first SEC game they've picked since October 2016.
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Location: Auburn University – Auburn, Ala.
Compare: Alabama vs. Auburn
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History
This is Auburn's first time hosting GameDay since Nov. 30, 2013, when we saw the best single play in the history of college football: The Kick Six. It will be the school's eighth time hosting all-time, four of which have been when Alabama was in town for the Iron Bowl.
It is Auburn's first appearance since Nov. 29, 2014, and 18th all-time, which is tied for 18th among all programs. Alabama, meanwhile is making their 41st appearance, most among all program. The Tide are 26-14 in their GameDay appearances, while Auburn is just 8-9.
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Guest Picker Prediction
Charles Barkley was the guest picker the last time GameDay visited Auburn, while Bo Jackson joined the set in 2011. Who might ESPN invite to pick games in Week 13?
Here are a few options:
Jimmy Buffett
Jimmy Buffett is a Mississippi native and graduated from Southern Miss but he did attend Auburn and spent much of his life in the state. The 70-year-old music star is a well-known football fan and would have mass appeal if he's available.
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Frank Thomas
Like Buffett, Thomas is not from Alabama but he did attend Auburn, where he originally enrolled on a football scholarship before joining the baseball team.
The five-time MLB All-Star and two-time AL MVP is less than a decade into his retirement and remains popular in the area and throughout the country.
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Josh Donaldson
Josh Donaldson played baseball at Auburn from 2005-07 before being drafted by the Chicago Cubs in the 48th round of the 2007 draft. The three-time All-Star and 2015 AL MVP would be a rare baseball guest picker.
