ESPN College GameDay analyst Desmond Howard feigned a selection of his former school, Michigan, as the 2015 Big Ten champ. Then he got serious, and picked the school’s in-state rival. Howard announced his pick of Michigan State as Big Ten champions Saturday morning on ESPN, becoming a rare college football prognosticator to not pick defending national champion Ohio State to win the conference. In explaining his pick, Howard dismissed concerns about the Spartans’ defense after losing coordinator Pat Narduzzi, and praised new co-coordinators Harlon Barnett and Mike Tressel. “I think the players are going to have the same concepts, the same schemes, they’re going to be OK on defense,” Howard said. He also said Spartans quarterback Connor Cook is flying under the radar a bit nationally. “He’s a guy we’re not hearing a lot about, but he’s one of the best quarterbacks in the country,” Howard said. Howard also went on to pick the Spartans as one of the four team’s in this season’s College Football Playoff. After Howard made his pick, fellow analysts Lee Corso and Kirk Herbstreit both picked Ohio State to take the league crown. Corso noted Ohio State’s more favorable schedule, particularly in hosting Michigan State. Herbstreit, a former Buckeyes quarterback, also cited the schedule, plus Ohio State’s focus…
Continue Reading: Desmond Howard picks Michigan State to win Big Ten, fellow GameDay analysts pick Ohio State
