LSU-Clemson 'College GameDay' picks: Who picked who to win in Death Valley

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LSU has found itself at the center of the talk for much of the college football offseason, as Lane Kiffin was hired away from Mississippi to replace Brian Kelly in Baton Rouge.

Can the 13th-ranked Tigers quiet the outside noise for one night with a Week 1 win over No. 23 Clemson?

It's something Kiffin, Sam Leavitt, Whit Weeks and Co. will look to do at 7:30 p.m. ET when they kick off against Dabo Swinney's squad at Tiger Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 5.

LSU was picked fifth in the SEC preseason poll in Kiffin's first season. The Tigers' roster features mostly transfer players such as defensive end Princewill Umanmielen, who followed Kiffin over from Ole Miss to LSU, and offensive lineman Jordan Seaton, but it also features several returnees like tight end Trey'Dez Green and D.J. Pickett, the No. 80- and No. 64-ranked players, respectively, on USA TODAY Sports' top 100 college football player list.

Clemson, on the other hand, is looking to bounce back from a 7-6 overall record and a 4-4 mark in ACC play last season. Swinney will look to redshirt junior quarterback Christopher Vizzina to lead the Tigers' offense alongside star wide receivers T.J. Moore and Bryant Wesco Jr, while Will Heldt and Sammy Brown headline the defense.

Here's who the "College GameDay" crew picked to win Saturday's game between LSU and Clemson, including Nick Saban, Pat McAfee, celebrity picker Lainey Wilson and more:

LSU-Clemson picks on College GameDay: Who Nick Saban, Kirk Herbstreit, Pat McAfee, Lainey Wilson picked

Desmond Howard: LSU
Nick Saban: LSU
Kirk Herbstreit: No pick
Lainey Wilson (guest picker): LSU
Pat McAfee: LSU

The LSU crowd was BUZZING after @PatMcAfeeShow picked LSU to beat Clemson!
Let's have a day of college football 🏈 pic.twitter.com/UDmJuyWe14
— College GameDay (@CollegeGameDay) September 5, 2026