‘Definitely a Blessing,’ ‘The Pasadena Kid’ — Bryce Young Backs Hometown UCLA With Kirk Herbstreit Against Oregon on College GameDay

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Kirk Herbstreit and guest picker Bryce Young, the Carolina Panthers quarterback, were the only ESPN College GameDay pickers to take No. 21 UCLA to win at No. 13 Oregon on Saturday.

Desmond Howard, former Alabama coach Nick Saban and Pat McAfee picked the Ducks. Pro Football Network’s College Football Playoff Meter also favors Oregon, giving the Ducks a 69.5% chance to win the game at Autzen Stadium and the Bruins a 30.5% chance.

Oregon (3-1) will play without starting quarterback Dante Moore, who remains in the concussion protocol, and Dylan Raiola will make his first start for the Ducks against the unbeaten Bruins.

Bryce Young Makes His Picks as Celebrity Guest Picker

Young was the show’s celebrity guest picker with the Panthers on their bye. Expected weather from Hurricane Isaias moved the show inside Coleman Coliseum in Tuscaloosa, where Young played for Alabama from 2020 to 2022 and won the 2021 Heisman Trophy. His appearance was confirmed Thursday on The Pat McAfee Show.

“I’m excited,” Young told McAfee. “I’m trying to do my research, figure stuff out … It’s always fun to watch [College Gameday], so to be able to be a part of it is definitely a blessing.”

“Of course, Roll Tide,” Young said as he took Alabama over Georgia. He was also the only picker to take Texas A&M over Missouri, while Herbstreit was alone in taking Kansas State over Houston.

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“Bryce Young, the Pasadena kid, who grew up a die hard Bruins fan, picks UCLA,” one fan wrote.

Young’s hometown is Pasadena, Calif., where UCLA plays its home games at the Rose Bowl. He played high school football at Mater Dei in Santa Ana, Calif., and chose Alabama over USC.

Dante Moore Remains Out for Oregon Against UCLA

Moore was hurt on a late hit by linebacker Desman Stephens in the second quarter of Oregon’s 41-27 win at USC on Sept. 26, and he left the game in an ambulance. He has returned to practice but was listed as out on the Big Ten’s availability report.

Raiola, a junior who started two seasons at Nebraska before transferring, went 19-of-25 for 289 yards and two touchdowns in relief at USC. He has 413 yards, five touchdowns and no interceptions in two appearances this season.

“He had an expectation when he stepped out there on the field and performed at a really, really high level, and everybody had confidence in him because they see him do it a lot in practice,” Oregon coach Dan Lanning said this week.

Raiola said the Ducks put the USC game behind them last week and have been preparing for UCLA.

Raiola’s PFN Impact grade of 81.3 this season is tied for 40th of 165 graded and qualified FBS quarterbacks. Moore’s PFN Impact grade of 82.4 ranks 37th of 165 graded and qualified FBS quarterbacks.

Even without Moore, Oregon is a 10.5-point favorite, according to CBS Sports.

Oregon has won 11 of the past 12 meetings with UCLA, though the Bruins lead the all-time series 40-33. The Ducks are 2-0 at home, and their only loss came Sept. 12, 39-31 at Oklahoma State.

Looking Ahead in Week 6 to Oregon

UCLA is 4-0 under first-year coach Bob Chesney, including 2-0 in the Big Ten and 2-0 on the road, heading into Saturday’s Week 6 game. The Bruins last played Sept. 26, a 54-3 win at Maryland in which they ran for 266 yards and intercepted four passes, returning two for touchdowns.

Quarterback Nico Iamaleava went 15-of-24 for 209 yards and a touchdown against the Terrapins. Iamaleava’s PFN Impact grade of 75.4 this season ranks 75th of 165 graded and qualified FBS quarterbacks.

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“They’re both very, very good football players,” Chesney said this week of Moore and Raiola. “You can’t really think one way or the other who’s going to be out there and who’s not. We’ve got to prepare for both.”

“Bryce Young and Kirk Herbstreit are the only 2 people I’ve seen pick #UCLA to win,” another fan wrote Saturday.

PFN’s College Football Playoff Meter gives the Bruins a 22.5% chance to make the playoff, a figure that more than doubles to 46.1% with a win and falls to 12.2% with a loss.

PFN’s College Football Playoff Meter puts Oregon’s playoff chance at 73.7%, rising to 84.2% with a win and falling to 49.8% with a loss. UCLA hosts Wisconsin at the Rose Bowl on Oct. 17, the same day Oregon hosts Nebraska.

This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network.

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