Stanley Cup Champ Matthew Tkachuk Makes Bold Picks as First NHL Guest Picker on College GameDay — Picks ‘U’ Over Florida
Matthew Tkachuk, off back-to-back Stanley Cup titles with the Florida Panthers, ventured into uncharted territory Saturday — not the rink, but the gridiron. The NHL All-Star became the first-ever NHL player to be a celebrity picker for ESPN's College GameDay to join Rece Davis, Kirk Herbstreit, Desmond Howard, Pat McAfee, and Nick Saban in the lead-up to the marquee Miami–Florida game.
Live at the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Florida, Tkachuk committed to the Hurricanes — waving a University of Miami jersey and making his decision: Miami over Florida. "It is all Canes, all day, baby.
Picks & Predictions
Tkachuk didn't leave it at the in-state split. He provided nine college football picks, some straight up and some against the spread. Here are some of the highlights:
Matchup Tkachuk's Pick
Syracuse @ Clemson Syracuse (cover)
Missouri vs. South Carolina Missouri (cover)
Florida State vs. Kent State Florida State (strong pick)
Oklahoma vs. Auburn Oklahoma
Illinois vs. Indiana Illinois
Utah vs. Texas Tech Utah
Michigan vs. Nebraska Michigan
Additional Context
Tkachuk is recuperating from lower-body surgery (ruptured adductor muscle and sports hernia) and won't miss Panthers play for probably around December.
Before coming in to set, Tkachuk said he "did homework for the first time since ninth grade." Clearly, he was not taking the job lightly.
His showing stirred up some approval and some disapproval — a few thought that ESPN had a chance to place a star on who was more overtly linked to the University of Miami.
Bottom Line:
Matthew Tkachuk made his College GameDay debut memorable — standing at the 'U' in a top rivalry game, making bold picks, and becoming the first NHL player to do so. Whether or not his picks come to fruition remains to be seen, but the excitement, the personality, and the crossover appeal are undeniable.
