The game of the year in the Pac-12 takes place at 5 p.m. PT on FOX Saturday evening. The 20th-ranked Utah Utes (4-2, 2-1 Pac-12) welcome the seventh-ranked USC Trojans (6-0, 4-0 Pac-12) to Rice-Eccles Stadium for a battle between the Pac-12’s defending champions and the upstart many believe can claim the title this season.

ESPN’s College GameDay crew offered their predictions for the game Saturday morning during their picks segment. Here’s how they picked:

  • Desmond Howard: Utah
  • Pat McAfee: USC
  • Peyton Manning (guest picker): USC
  • Lee Corso: USC
  • Kirk Herbstreit: Utah

“I like USC to make the playoff, so to do that they obviously have to win today,” said McAfee.

Added Manning: “I like Cam Rising, but Utah has not shown up against Florida and UCLA, their two big games prior to this one. I’m going with USC. I think Caleb Williams is a special player.”

Herbstreit has questions about USC on the road, particularly in a tough environment at Rice-Eccles Stadium.

“All this USC talk, I just want to see USC go on the road and play the way they’re able to play at home,” he said. “Their defense is getting pressure, that’s great. And I think Utah — Peyton, you just brought it up — they’ve struggled defending the run. At Florida, last week against UCLA. At home, with the MUSS, it’s different. I’m going Utah because they’re at home.”

The GameDay crew agreed, though, that if USC beats Utah, they’ll enter into a Nov. 19 contest with UCLA at 10-0.