Jack Nicklaus appears as guest picker on College GameDay (and makes Masters prediction)

With the Masters rescheduled to an unprecedented November date, and with the inability to host fans on the grounds, the powers that be at Augusta National were determined to think outside the box to make the tournament a special one no matter the circumstances. Broadcast innovations and special merchandise access were among the surprises in store for this year’s event, but the biggest thrill came in the form of ESPN’s College GameDay being hosted on the grounds.

The announcement was made in late October, and the time since consisted of speculation on what the show would have in store. Usually reserved for raucous college campuses, Augusta’s hushed grounds might not seem like the ideal spot for GameDay, but without fans on hand all year, this was the perfect opportunity for the multi-sport crossover.

The only question remaining was who would be the guest picker? Would it be a golfer? One of Augusta’s prominent members? Or would another wildcard be in store? That question was answered Saturday morning as golf legend Jack Nicklaus graced us with his presence on the set (virtually, of course).

And although Nicklaus didn’t get a chance to pick his Ohio State Buckeyes (their game against Maryland was canceled as a result of Covid protocols), he did give his picks on other games on the slate for today. Here’s who he chose:

Not many upsets in the cards for the Golden Bear, and his Masters pick followed that same script, saying he likes Justin Thomas to take home the green jacket. Although that would technically be an upset of Nos. 1 and 2 in the world Dustin Johnson and Jon Rahm, the win would hardly be a surprise.