What: The 2009 NFL Draft
Where: Radio City Music Hall
When: 4pm (ESPN/NFL-N)

So another Draft is upon us and this year's should be just as fun as the last few years. We already know that Matthew Stafford will be the first pick, but the rest of the first round is up in the air. Matt Sanchez and Michael Crabtree are the current names rumored that teams are going to trade up for (the Pats are interested in Crabtree apparently), and who knows when the crazy Andre Smith will go.

Predictions, quotes and thoughts are welcome throughout the day, and feel free to make fun of my Mock Draft below, which is sure to be completely useless....

1. Detroit Lions: Matthew Stafford, QB, Georgia
2. St. Louis Rams: Jason Smith, OT, Baylor
3. Kansas City Chiefs: Aaron Curry, LB, Wake Forest
4. Seattle Seahawks: Mark Sanchez, QB, USC
5. Cleveland Browns: Eugene Monroe, OT, Virginia
6. Cincinnati Bengals: Andre Smith, OT, Alabama
7. Oakland Raiders: Michael Crabtree, WR, Texas Tech
8. Jacksonville Jaguars: Jeremy Maclin, WR, Missouri
9. Green Bay Packers: B.J. Raji, DT, Boston College
10. San Francisco 49ers: Tyson Jackson, DE, LSU
11. Buffalo Bills: Michael Oher, OT, Mississippi
12. Denver Broncos: Robert Ayers, DE, Tennessee
13. Washington Redskins: Brian Orakpo, DE/OLB, Texas
14. New Orleans Saints: Malcolm Jenkins, CB, Ohio State
15. Houston Texans: Aaron Maybin, DE, Penn State
16. San Diego Chargers: Chris "Beanie" Wells, RB, Ohio State
17. New York Jets: Josh Freeman, QB, Kansas State
18. Denver Broncos (from CHI): Vontae Davis, CB, Illinois
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Rey Maualuga, ILB, USC
20. Detroit Lions (from DAL): Brian Cushing, OLB, USC
21. Philadelphia Eagles: Knowshon Moreno, RB, Georgia
22. Minnesota Vikings: Percy Harvin, WR, Florida
23. New England Patriots: Clay Matthews, OLB, USC
24. Atlanta Falcons: Peria Jerry, DT, Mississippi
25. Miami Dolphins: Brandon Pettigrew, TE, Oklahoma State
26. Baltimore Ravens: Kenny Britt, WR, Rutgers
27. Indianapolis Colts: Darrius Heyward-Bey, WR, Maryland
28. Buffalo Bills (from PHI, which received from CAR): Donald Brown, RB, Connecticut
29. New York Giants: Hakeem Nicks, WR, North Carolina
30. Tennessee Titans: Everette Brown, DE, Florida State
31. Arizona Cardinals: Phil Loadholt, OT, Oklahoma
32. Pittsburgh Steelers: Darius Butler, CB, Connecticut

Game One: Michigan State vs. Connecticut
Location: Ford Field, Detroit
Start Time: 6:07PM EST (CBS)
Network and Announcers: Jim Nantz, Clark Kellogg
Favorite: UConn (-5)

Game Two: Villanova vs. North Carolina
Location: Ford Field, Detroit
Start Time: 8:47PM EST (CBS)
Network and Announcers: Jim Nantz, Clark Kellogg
Favorite: UNC (-7)

Game: Midwest Regional Final
Teams: Louisville Cardinals vs. Michigan State Spartans
Location: Indianapolis, Indiana
Start Time: 2:20PM EST (CBS)
Network and Announcers: Gus Johnson, Len Elmore
Favorite: Louisville (-7)

Game: East Regional Final
Teams: Pittsburgh Panthers vs. Villanova Wildcats
Location: Boston, Massachusetts
Start Time: 7:05PM EST (CBS)
Network and Announcers: Verne Lundquist, Bill Raftery
Favorite: Pitt (-2)

Game: West Regional Final
Teams: Missouri Tigers vs. Connecticut Huskies
Location: Glendale, Arizona
Start Time: 4:40PM EST (CBS)
Network and Announcers: Dick Enberg, Jay Bilas
Favorite: UConn (-6)

One of my favorite open threads was the Tiger Woods-Rocco Mediate open thread during the 2008 U.S. Open last year. I spent a day chronicling the playoff between the two, and had a blast doing so. I'm going to try and do a little of that today during Tiger's round, and if you want to follow along, you're more than welcome to do so. Woods is teeing off in about twenty, and I'll give you a hole-by-hole recap, as well as some video when it's warranted.

It's Tiger, It's Brendan Jones, and it's on the Golf Channel....NEXT!
___________________________________

Mark Rolfing says that Tiger looked brilliant in his warmup, but that he didn't seem to be swinging too hard. Brendan Jones is in for a heck of a round today. Here are some of the notable winners from earlier....

Lee Westwood, Camillo Villegs, Anthony Kim, Oliver Wilson (over KJ Choi)

HOLE #1

Tiger is walking to the tee, and getting his potassium in with a quick banana before his round. He and Brendan Jones are waiting for another match, that went into OT, to move out of the first fairway. Tiger is up first and he hits his first shot, a 3-wood, in the fairway down the right hand side. Jones follows with a good strike as well that just scoots through the fairway into the left side rough. And we're underway!!!

Tiger is away and sticks his shot within 10 feet of the pin. Man, the guy is a machine. Jones has a downhill lie, and will be trying to hit it on the right of the green and run it towards the hole (same thing Tiger did). He's short and in the left, front bunker.

Nice out by Jones and his bunker shot skips past the hole, but within Tiger's distance. Tiger with about a six footer.....Drains It! Welcome back.

Woods 1 up thru 1

HOLE #2

We've got a Par 5 for hole two, and it's 574 yards. Tiger with another shot in the fairway, and Jones follows with another drive in the rough. It should be okay though. Quick flip over to Phil Mickelson, and he smashes a drives through a Par 3 and into the gallery. Good one, Phil.

Jones with 252 to go....down the middle but short of the green. Tiger with 238 to go, but a difficult angle. WOW!!!! It's another shot within 10 feet of the hole. Perfect play, and he'll have an eagle attempt to go up 2 holes on Jones.



Jones within 12 feet after a chip, and he misses. Tiger won't even have to putt on this hole.

Woods 2 up thru 2

HOLE #3

Third up is a 205 yard Par 3, and Tiger has the honor. And there's his first bad shot of the day. It hits the fringe and bounces into the right side bunker. Jones is long, but right on the edge of the green. The two halve the hole and we're off to number four.

Woods 2 up thru 3

HOLE #4

We've got a Par 4, and Tiger sends another shot in to the fairway down the right. Jones follows with a shot way way right, and it's not a good start for him today. Jones is in the desert, and is out down the fairway. Woods' second is on the green about 30 feet or so away from the pin. Oh, and Cabrera has squared his match with Mickelson going to the 18th.

Jones' third shot is a nice one, and pitches it within five feet or so, and has a chance to split another hole. Tiger leaves his first long putt a bit short, and the two will push the 4th.

Woods 2 up thru 4

HOLE #5

Aaron Baddeley goes down to Paul Casey, and it looks like Mickelson might hold on against Cabrera. Jones and Woods both go right off the tee into the rough. Jones follows it with a dribbler down the fairway, and Woods ends up in the green side bunker.

"He's (Mickelson) got humps and bumps everywhere."- Roger Maltby

Well that's not a nice thing to say, Roger! It was said about his long putt, but it could certainly be taken another way. Cabrera has a 10-footer to extend the match, and he misses. He makes it, and this match with Mickelson will head into extra innings, after Phil gave up four straight holes leading into the 18th.

Jones shoot well past the green, and with a good chip, Tiger can take another hole. He chips out of the sand to about 12 feet or so. He'll likely have that to go 3 up. Jones flops it onto the green, Tiger misses his putt, and Brendan will have to hit a long putt to halve it. He finally makes a good stroke and they split another.

Woods 2 up thru five

HOLE #6

Six is a Par 3, and Tiger is still away. He hits it dead center right in the middle of the green a little ways past the hole. Jones follows with a shot within 10 feet of the hole, and he'll have a chance to get one back. Woods narrowly misses his putt and will finish the hole with a par. Jones misses his opportunity and Tiger lets him pick it up for the push.

Woods 2 up thru six

HOLE #7

Par 4, 463, and Woods has another FIR on the day. Phil wins his match and will be moving to face Zach Johnson who won his match as well. Jones is back in the rough. Tiger has 159, up hill, and leaves it short. The ball rolls way back down the hill and he'll have a tough chip for his third. Jones' second has a left to right, lie in the rough, and sticks it within 20 feet. That'll give him another chance at a hole.

Tiger chips it past Jones' ball and leaves himself a tough putt. He leaves it short and Jones has two chances to go back to only 1 down. Jones puts it within a foot and finally takes a hole.

Woods 1up thru seven

HOLE #8

Jones is up first on the Par 4 8th, and his tee shot ends up either in the fairway bunker or right beside. Tiger destroys his shot right down the center. Great swing there. Jones hits a fairway wood from the low rough, and that shot rolls off the green. Tiger with a pretty straightforward second shot from 258 away....and he nails it into the rough on the right of the green.

Both chip it on, with Tiger about five feet closer, and Jones will have a much tougher line to split the hole. BJ misses his 13-footer, and Woods will have about an 8-footer to move back to 2 up.

Tiger drains it, and we're going to the ninth after he gets the hole back he lost.

Woods 2 up thru eight

HOLE #9

Woods and Jones both end up in the fairway, and Woods' second shot from 150 hangs onto the green on the right side. 23 feet away on the putt, and Tiger leaves it waaaay short. Not a good stroke at all. Jones putts out, and Tiger will have a tough one to stay at 2 up. He drops it, and we're at the turn.

Woods 2 up thru nine

HOLE #10

The first hole after the turn is a Par 4 at 450, and Tiger pulls it a bit left onto the fringe of the fairway. The Golf Channel is now skipping Jones' tee shots, but I think he's over there with Tiger. Tiger's second hits the green, but rolls off.

Jones was actually closer to the pin than Tiger, and chips it right up near the hole. He's trying to hang around. Woods leaves it short, and Jones has a six-footer to get back to 1 down. He promptly misses, and Tiger now has the line to stay at 2 up. He's got it, and we're onto the 11th.

Woods 2 up thru ten

HOLE #11

Here's the huge Par Five on the course, and Tiger hits his tee shot....well we can't really see where it goes. Great job by the Golf Network cameras there. Okay, it was apparently in a fairway bunker, and he'll lay up his second shot into the fairway. Jones is in the fairway and hits another straight shot down the middle. He could be up if he could have just sunk a few early putts.

Woods' third is about 260 into the wind, and he's hitting a 3-wood. Nope, scratch that. Steve Williams talks him into a five, and he skips it up onto the green, but a good distance from the hole. Jones' chip ends up past the green in the rough, and he lets Tiger off the hook once again.

Woods just misses his putt, and Jones follows with a nice chip to leave him a short distance for a halve. He gets it.

Woods 2 up thru eleven

HOLE #12

Another short, but tough, Par 3. The wind is picking up in Arizona as well. Woods is away, and his shot starts right and stays right. Holds up on the fringe though. Jones lines up his tee shot, and hits another shot long past the hole. In fact he's actually right up against a wall. Not good.

Jones' ball didn't quite make it to that wall, but he's got a tough down hill chip to get it close. Annnnnd....he hits it about four feet back into the rough. That should be another hole for Tiger.

He puts a nice chip to about two feet, and will go up three with six to go.

Woods Up 3 thru twelve

HOLE #13

Another Par 5, and another shot heading right by Tiger. It holds up in the short stuff though, and he'll be okay. Jones' drives his ball well past Tiger's and is smack dab in the middle of the fairway. Woods' second shot....Wow! Just drills an iron a million feet into the air, and it comes down on the green and just slides past the hole and onto the fringe. He struck that one just about perfect. Jones follows that with a similar look but his roll takes him into the bunker.

BJ almost holes it out of the bunker, but Tiger still has an Eagle putt from the edge of the green. NAILS IT! This one could be over soon.

Woods 4 up with 5 to go

HOLE #14

Tiger finally gets his drive back into the fairway, and Jones follows that excellent shot with a slice onto another hole. That could be it, folks. Tiger's second is 168 into the wind, and he hits yet another green in regulation as his ball stops above the hole about 40 feet away.

Jones is in the middle of nowhere and will have a tough shot at hitting the green.....and he somehow makes it on! The ball hit the edge of a bunker, and sprinted back onto the back of the green. Both have ridiculously long birdie putts.

Jones takes a run at it, but his ball goes well past the hole. Tiger can end it end it here.....great putt, but it's just right. Jones has a seven footer to keep the match alive. He drops it and we're onto the fifteenth.

Woods 4 up with 4 to play

HOLE #15

Woods is away on this short Par 4, and he has a shot to drive the green with a good strike. They're waiting for a previous pairing to finish up the hole first though. After a long wait, Tiger's finally ready to go with his 3-wood. And he's on the front of the green. Great shot.

Jones tee shot is even better though. He almost holes it! It draws back to the hole and is only about 10 feet away. He's trying to make it interesting. Tiger leaves it short, and Jones has a chance to extend it.

He drains it! Great putt, and he's down three with three to go.

Woods 3 up thru 15

HOLE #16

The sixteenth is another Par 3, and Brendan Jones has the honor. He'll need a birdie here to get to seventeen. Jones drops it within about 25-feet, and Tiger's up. He steps away a few times as the wind picks up, but is ready to go now.....AND HE'S IN THE BUNKER!

Actually it's a pretty good lie, so he might be okay. He's actually closer to the pin than Jones. Here's his shot, and......he puts it within two feet. Jones has to hit another birdie to move on. And he just misses....Tiger takes his first round match 3 and 2.

WHAT: Super Bowl XLIII
WHO: Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Arizona Cardinals
WHERE: Raymond James Stadium, Tampa Bay, Florida
WHEN: Kickoff 6:28pm (NBC)
SPREAD: Steelers -7, O/U 47
ANNOUNCERS: Al Michaels, John Madden, Andrea Kremer, Alex Flanagan, Peter King
AA's PICK: I've been back and forth on this one a bunch of times, but it boils down to quarterback play. With that said, there's no one hotter right now than Kurt Warner, and I just can't trust Roethlisberger against a surging defense. I'm going Cardinals for the win, but it would behoove you to just take the seven points.

Cardinals 28 - Steelers 23 (MVPs: Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald)

I'll be trying to throw videos up throughout the game if I can, but I'll definitely have up your highlights and quotes later on tonight. Enjoy the game.

Teams: Houston Rockets vs. Detroit Pistons
Location: The Palace at Auburn Hills, Auburn Hills, MI
Start Time: 6:30 PM EST
Announcers and Network: Dan Shulman and Doris Burke, ESPN

Detroit is an interesting study because it's clear that the Allen Iverson Experiment isn't quite meshing the way they would like, and Houston is seeing its best production out of Yao Ming while dealing with Tracy McGrady's status as this generation's Grant Hill. I personally have a soft spot for Doris Burke as a color commentator, she never tries to talk over the action too much.

Teams: San Antonio Spurs vs. Los Angeles Lakers
Location: Staples Center, Los Angeles, CA
Start Time: 3:30 PM EST
Announcers and Network: Mike Breen, Jeff Van Gundy, Mark Jackson (ABC)

Same deal as earlier, this time with some high-powered Western Conference action. I had this debate with a buddy last night: if Andrew Bynum keeps powering his way to double-doubles on a consistent basis, there may not be a team that can compete with the Lake Show this year.
------------
Ridiculously even first half, aided along by an argument between Mark Jackson and Jeff Van Gundy over All-Star reserves -- Van Gundy thinks Paul Millsap of the Utah Jazz should be an All-Star.

Generally, the games played between the Lakers and Spurs this year have not done anything to dissuade me from the fact that these are probably the two teams that should, pending the draws, meet in the Western Conference Finals.

The Lakers have opened up a lead thanks to good ball movement and stiffening up on the defensive end. They're not in the Celtics' league yet as a defensive team; they are still capable of missing rotations. Fix that and they're a sure title team.

It's not helping that Luke Walton just committed what appears to be a flagrant....wait, no, no flagrant.

I really, really don't care what Jeff Van Gundy thinks about the number of movie award shows. TALK ABOUT BASKETBALL PLZ KTHXBAI.

Again, how good does Mitch Kupchak look for not giving in to J-Kidd fervor last season?

JVG: "The Memphis Grizzlies are the worst organization in professional sports."

The city of Detroit would like to have a word with you, Mr. Van Gundy, and then Minneapolitans wouldn't mind talking to you after that too.

79-66, Lakers after three, and again with the "Hotel California." (I had a rough night, and I hate the fuckin' Eagles, man!) Bynum has a big quarter with 9 points alone there and a couple of blocks. San Antonio doesn't quite have the spark with its new back-ups this season. They're really going to lean on Duncan, Parker, and Ginobili -- more than usual.

4th Quarter

17 point lead after Gasol throws a sick pass over his head to Odom waiting for the easy lay-in. That's just wrong.

Trevor Ariza gets the throwdown. Massive jam for a guy who's been the glue guy -- plays good defense, hustles, is physical, gets the chip-in points.

The Lakers fundamentally changed when Bynum came back, not only because they had a more physical player at the 5, but because it moved Lamar Odom to sixth man, where he could rotate among several positions off the bench and play a second team leadership role.

Teams: Dallas Mavericks vs. Boston Celtics
Location: TD Banknorth Garden, Boston, MA
Start Time: 1:00 PM EST
Announcers and Network: Mike Tirico, Hubie Brown (ABC)

Maybe "open thread" is the wrong term. I'll be watching, and while this is by no means a live blog, I'll be chipping in some observations as we go, hopefully.

1st Quarter

Is there anyone left who doesn't think that the Jason Kidd trade was a bad idea? I see the rotations early, and one would think that Rick Carlisle would have found a good way to put Devin Harris to use.

Dirk is 0-7 so far, and Dallas is working way too hard, thanks to the Celtics' defense. On offense, Hubie's right -- it's pretty much lay-up and kick-out drills. Even Brian Scalabrine is hitting 3s.

Ray Allen drops another 3. I'm not sure if the Celtics have missed one yet.

Hubie Brown's a little terrifying in HD.

Rondo pops a nice jumper to end the quarter, 38-23, Cees.

2nd Quarter

Another defensive breakdown by the Mavs when Scalabrine finds Eddie House on the backside just before the shot clock expires. Lead is 12 after Dirk hits one.

Mark Cuban should take MattyIce's suggestion of an oxygen tank for Kidd. Yikes. Another score and it's a 14-point lead again.

Now this is just Maryland-like on the part of the Mavs. 25 point lead on the same basic lay-in or kick-out for long shot offensive principles for Boston. Another jumper for Rondo. Remember how everyone knocked him and said you had to keep him out of the lane? Now, if that jump shot's as consistent as it looks, he'll be just as feared as the Big 3 down the line.

The Mavs have no handle right now. The passes aren't crisp at all and it's no surprise that they're turning the ball over.

Another House 3. 31 point lead.

Lead's now 36. Lazy pass, steal, kick out to House -- 72-41. Man, screw this game. That's 10 first-half 3s for the Cees. Ridiculously efficient shooting. Probably still over 65% for the game. OK, now it's merely a 28 point lead again.

The late shift means I get all homerrific: my focus will be between USC-Wazzu and the UConn-ND match-up.

Mississippi State @ Georgia (ESPN2, 6pm)- Brad Nessler, Jimmy Dykes
Charlotte @ Temple (ESPNU, 6pm)- Scott Graham, John Celestand
Iowa @ Penn State (BTN, 6pm)- TBD
Houston @ Arizona (FS Arizona, 6pm)- TBD (Will Air on FCS Atlantic)
Colorado State @ Wyoming (MTN, 6pm)- TBD
USC @ Washington State (FS Regional, 6pm)- TBD (Will Air on FS Northwest, Rocky Mountain, West, FCS Pacific)
Oregon @ California (OSN, 6pm)- TBD (Will Air on CSN California, CSN Northwest)
Kansas State @ Colorado (Big XII Network, 6pm)- TBD (Will Air on Altitude, ESPN Full Court)
Connecticut @ Notre Dame (ESPN, 7pm)- Dan Shulman, Dick Vitale, Erin Andrews
Northeastern @ Old Dominion (CSN Regional, 7pm)- TBD (Will Air on CSN Mid-Atlantic, CSS)
Rutgers @ St. John's (Big East Network, 7pm)- TBD (Will Air on MSG+, ESPN Full Court)
Indiana State @ Bradley (Valley, 7pm)- TBD (Will Air on FS Midwest, CSN Chicago)
St. Joseph's @ Pennsylvania (Comcast Network, 7pm)- TBD
Radford @ Liberty (Liberty Channel, 7pm)- TBD (Will Air on MASN)
Xavier @ Louisiana State (ESPN2, 8pm)- Ron Franklin, Fran Fraschilla
Texas A&M @ Texas (ESPNU, 8pm)- Clay Matvick, Dickey Simpkins
Northwestern @ Michigan (BTN, 8pm)- TBD
Mississippi @ South Carolina (SEC TV, 8pm)- TBD (Will Air on FS South, SUN, ESPN Full Court)
Gonzaga @ Loyola Marymount (KHQ, 8pm)- TBD (Will Air on FS Northwest, Prime Ticket)
Southern Utah @ Oral Roberts (KGEB, 8pm)- TBD (Will Air on FCS Central, ESPN Full Court)
Weber State @ Northern Arizona (FS Arizona, 8:30pm)- TBD (Will Air on FCS Pacific)
San Diego State @ Brigham Young (MTN, 9pm)- TBD
UC-Santa Barbara @ Pacific (ESPNU, 10pm)- Steve Physioc, Miles Simon
Oregon State @ Stanford (FS Northwest, 10pm)- TBD (Will Air on CSN Bay Area, FCS Pacific)
UC-Riverside @ Long Beach State (Prime Ticket, 10pm)- TBD
Utah State @ Hawaii (KJZZ, 11:59pm)- TBD (Will Air on KFVE, ESPN Full Court)

Coach K DEMANDS you watch his Duke squad today, or else you're gonna get it.

Pretty safe to say I'll be leaning on the remote all day, and starting early. Let's have some fun with this, because it's my last weekend with y'all here (more on this later.)

Maryland @ Duke (ESPN, Noon)- Mike Patrick, Len Elmore
Marist @ Siena (MAAC TV, Noon)- TBD (Will Air on MSG, FCS Atlantic, ESPN Full Court)
Villanova @ South Florida (Big East Network, Noon)- TBD (Will Air on CST, MASN, SNY, ESPN Full Court)
Kent State @ Akron (MAC TV, Noon)- TBD (Will Air on FS Ohio)
Auburn @ Arkansas (Raycom, 1pm)- TBD (Will Air on ESPN Full Court)
Texas Tech @ Missouri (Big XII Network, 1:30pm)- TBD (Will Air on Altitude, YES, ESPN Full Court)
Kansas @ Iowa State (ESPN, 2pm)- Terry Gannon, Stephen Bardo
DePaul @ Marquette (ESPN2, 2pm)- Sean McDonough, Bill Raftery
American @ Holy Cross (ESPNU, 2pm)- Bob Socci, John Feinstein
Loyola-Chicago @ Detroit (FS Detroit, 2pm)- TBD (Will Air on FCS Atlantic)
North Carolina State @ Boston College (Raycom, 2pm)- TBD (Will Air on ESPN Full Court)
Wisconsin-Milwaukee @ Butler (TWC Sports 32, 2pm)- TBD (Will Air on ESPN Full Court)
Charleston @ The Citadel (SportSouth, 3pm)- TBD
Kentucky @ Alabama (Raycom, 3pm)- TBD (Will Air on ESPN Full Court)
Memphis @ Tennessee (CBS, 3:30pm)- TBD
Wisconsin @ Illinois (ESPN, 4pm)- Dave O'Brien, Doris Burke
George Mason @ Virginia Commonwealth (ESPN2, 4pm)- Eric Collins, Bob Wenzel
UCLA @ Washington (FSN, 4pm)- TBD (Will Air on FS Arizona, Detroit, Florida, North, Northwest, Ohio (JIP), Prime Ticket, Rocky Mountain, Southwest, CSN Bay Area, New England, MSG+, FCS Pacific)
Utah @ Nevada-Las Vegas (VS, 4pm)- TBD
Baylor @ Oklahoma (ESPNU, 4pm)- Dave Armstrong, Jon Sundvold
Florida State @ Virginia (ACC Network, 4pm)- TBD (Will Air on FS South, CSN Mid-Atlantic, NESN, SUN, ESPN Full Court)
St. Francis-PA @ St. Francis-NY (NEC, 4pm)- Dave Popkin, Terry O'Connor, Paul Dottino (Will Air on MSG, FS Pittsburgh, FCS Atlantic)
Oklahoma State @ Nebraska (Big XII Network, 4pm)- TBD (Will Air on MASN, YES, ESPN Full Court)
Louisiana Tech @ Boise State (ESPN+, 4pm)- TBD (Will Air on Altitude, CST, KTVB 24/7, ESPN Full Court)
East Carolina @ Southern Methodist (CBS College Sports, 5pm)- TBD
Western Carolina @ Appalachian State (SportSouth, 5pm)- TBD
Southern Illinois @ Illinois State (Valley, 5pm)- TBD (Will Air on FS Midwest, CSN Chicago)
Florida Atlantic @ Arkansas State (Sun Belt TV, 5pm)- TBD (Will Air on CSS, ESPN Full Court)

Game: NFC Championship
Teams: Philadelphia Eagles at Arizona Cardinals
Location: University of Phoenix Stadium, Phoenix, AZ
Start Time: 3PM EST
Announcers and Network: Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, Pam Oliver (FOX)
Favorite: Eagles (-4)
AA's Pick: I think this thing is going to be a shootout, and can go either way, but whatever way that is....the Cardinals cover four at home. I'm guessing 31-28 Philly.

(FYI- S2N is out in the Pacific Northwest somewhere today, and I'm just lazy, so you're getting an open thread for each Championship game. I may check in from time to time with some quotes, but it's all yours today people.)

Now, on to a possible rout or surprise of the weekend, as the KW-1300 Cybernetic QB and his army of receivers faces off against Carolina and the skill-position Voltron of Steve Smith, DeAngelo Williams, and Jonathan Stewart.

Game: NFC Divisional Playoff #1
Teams: Arizona Cardinals (9-7, NFC West Champs) vs. Carolina Panthers (12-4, NFC South Champs)
Location: Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, NC
Start Time: 8:15 PM EST
Announcers and Network: Kenny Albert, Daryl Johnston, and Tony Siragusa (FOX)
Miscellany: Kurt Warner and his religious faith, Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin's top notch status, the crappiness of the NFC West, Jake Delhomme's Tommy John surgery, and Steve Smith's fisticuffs.
Favorite: Panthers (-10)
S2N's Pick: Panthers. 8-0 at home, Arizona is 3-5 on the road this year. If the Cardinals are able to stop both running backs, they deserve to win, but then Delhomme goes for Steve Smith.

Mostly regional stuff tonight. I might check in on the regional Big West action that will be on Fox Sports in my area, as well as some Pac-10 action.

Utah @ San Diego State (Versus, 4pm)- TBD
Virginia @ Virginia Tech (ACC Network, 4pm)- TBD (Will Air on FS South, Florida, CSN Mid-Atlantic, NESN)
Oregon State @ Stanford (FS Regional, 4pm)- TBD (Will Air on FS Arizona, Northwest, Prime Ticket, FCS Pacific)
Georgia Southern @ Charleston (CSS, 4pm)- TBD
Texas @ Iowa State (Big XII Network, 4pm)- TBD (Will Air on Altitude, YES, ESPN Full Court)
Connecticut @ Cincinnati (Big East Network, 4:30pm)- TBD (Will Air on FS Ohio, MASN, SNY, WCTX, ESPN Full Court)
Bucknell @ Navy (ESPNU, 5pm)- Bob Socci, John Feinstein
Memphis @ Central Florida (CBS College Sports, 5pm)- TBD
Nevada-Las Vegas @ Texas Christian (MTN, 5:30pm)- TBD
Mississippi @ Florida (SEC TV, 6pm)- TBD (Will Air on FS South, SUN, ESPN Full Court)
California @ Washington (CSN California, 6pm)- TBD (Will Air on FS Northwest, FCS Pacific)
Miami @ Boston College (ESPNU, 7pm)- Clay Matvick, Dickey Simpkins
Richmond @ George Washington (MASN, 7pm)- TBD
Syracuse @ Rutgers (Big East Network, 7:30pm)- TBD (Will Air on SNY, ESPN Full Court)
Mississippi State @ Arkansas (SEC TV, 8pm)- TBD (Will Air on FS South, SUN, ESPN Full Court)
Portland @ Gonzaga (KHQ, 8pm)- TBD (Will Air on FS Northwest, Pittsburgh)
Missouri State @ Northern Iowa (Valley, 8pm)- TBD (Will Air on FS Midwest)
Arkansas-Little Rock @ New Orleans (Sun Belt TV, 8pm)- TBD (Will Air on CSS, CST, ESPN Full Court)
Oakland @ Oral Roberts (KGEB, 8pm)- TBD (Will Air on FCS Central)
Western Kentucky @ Florida Atlantic (WKYU, 8pm)- TBD (Will Air on FCS Pacific)
Wright State @ Valparaiso (WYIN, 8pm)- TBD (Will Air on ESPN Full Court)
Texas A&M @ Oklahoma State (ESPNU, 9pm)- Brad Sham, Stephen Howard
Hawaii @ Boise State (KTVB 24/7, 9pm)- TBD (Will Air on ESPN Full Court)
Utah State @ New Mexico State (Aggie Vision, 9pm)- TBD (Will Air on ESPN Full Court)
Air Force @ New Mexico (MTN, 9:30pm)- TBD
Stanford @ Washington State (FS Northwest, 10pm)- TBD (Will Air on FCS Central)
Cal State-Fullerton @ UC-Santa Barbara (Prime Ticket, 10pm)- TBD
Long Beach State @ UC-Davis (CSN California, 10pm)- TBD
Loyola Marymount @ Pepperdine (ESPNU, 11pm)- Steve Physioc, Krista Blunk

Ed Reed, contemplating the ways he'll try to pick off Kerry Collins on the rare occasion he does drop back to pass.

I can't get excited about today's at all, so it's open threads. It's not fair to say that because this first one will be a defensive struggle, and that's still good football, but it's not anything I can say is worth live-blogging and I'd like to watch the games today like you guys without looking over my shoulder at the computer and join you all in the comment thread from time to time. I'll be live-blogging both of tomorrow's games. Now, watch as one of these two turns into the barn-burner of the playoffs.

Game: AFC Divisional Playoff #1
Teams: Baltimore Ravens (11-5, 2nd in AFC North) vs. Tennessee Titans (13-3, AFC South Champs)
Location: LP Field, Nashville, TN
Start Time: 4:30 PM EST
Announcers and Network: Greg Gumbel and Dan Dierdorf, CBS
Miscellany: Vince Young mentions, talk about the rookie QB Joe Flacco, Jeff Fisher's longest active tenure in the NFL with one team, Albert Haynesworth going from face-stomper to insanely dominant nose tackle, and of course, Ed Reed.
Favorite: Titans (-3)
S2N's Pick: Baltimore. This goes against the rookie QB rule, but why do I have the sense that the Titans are limping in and won't be able to run as well on the Ravens? I just do.

Bill Self and crew take on the T to the Izzo this afternoon in East Lansing. Currently watching Loovll at the Nova, and remarking about how amazingly overrated the Cardinals are this year. Scottie Reynolds is having his way with them right now.

Louisville @ Villanova (ESPN, Noon)- Dave Pasch, Len Elmore
Hofstra @ Virginia Commonwealth (CSN Regional, Noon)- TBD (Will Air on CSN Mid-Atlantic, New England, Philadelphia, CSS, MSG+)
Tennessee @ Georgia (Raycom, Noon)- TBD (Will Air on ESPN Full Court)
North Carolina State @ Clemson (Raycom, Noon)- TBD (Will Air on ESPN Full Court)
Georgia Tech @ Maryland (Raycom, Noon)- TBD (Will Air on ESPN Full Court)
West Virginia @ Marquette (Big East Network, Noon)- TBD (Will Air on CST, MASN, SNY, ESPN Full Court)
Providence @ Georgetown (ESPNU, 1pm)- Lou Canellis, Jack Armstrong
Texas Tech @ Baylor (Big XII Network, 1:30pm)- TBD (Will Air on ESPN Full Court)
Oklahoma @ Kansas State (Big XII Network, 1:30pm)- TBD (Will Air on Altitude, YES, ESPN Full Court)
Kansas @ Michigan State (CBS, 2pm)- TBD
Duke @ Florida State (ESPN, 2pm)- Mike Patrick, Jay Bilas
Missouri @ Nebraska (ESPN, 2pm)- Terry Gannon, Stephen Bardo
Oregon @ Arizona State (FSN, 2pm)- Barry Tompkins, Dan Belluomini (Will Air on FS Arizona, Detroit, Florida, Midwest, North, Northwest, Ohio, Rocky Mountain, South, Southwest, West, CSN Bay Area, Chicago, MSG+, FCS Pacific)
Old Dominion @ George Mason (CSN Regional, 2pm)- TBD (Will Air on CSN Mid-Atlantic, New England, CSS)
Vanderbilt @ Kentucky (Raycom, 2pm)- TBD (Will Air on ESPN Full Court)
Seton Hall @ Notre Dame (Big East Network, 2pm)- TBD (Will Air on MSG, MASN, FS Ohio, ESPN Full Court)
Rhode Island @ St. Joseph's (Cox-Rhode Island, 2pm)- TBD (Will Air on CSN Philadelphia)
Austin Peay @ Murray State (ESPNU, 3pm)- Dave Weekley, Mark Adams
East Carolina @ Marshall (CBS College Sports, 3pm)- TBD
Indiana @ Illinois (BTN, 3pm)- Dave Revsine, Jim Jackson
Brigham Young @ Colorado State (MTN, 3pm)- TBD
Towson @ Northeastern (CN8, 3pm)- TBD (Will Air on CSN New England)
Sam Houston State @ Stephen F. Austin (Southland TV, 3pm)- TBD (Will Air on ESPN Full Court)

Game: The BCS National Championship Game
Teams: Florida Gators (12-1) vs. Oklahoma Sooners (12-1)
Location: Miami, Florida, Dolphin Stadium
Start Time: 8PM EST (FOX)
Network and Announcers: Thom Brennaman, Charles Davis, Chris Myers
Favorite: Florida (-6), O/U 70
AA's Pick: Flordia 27 - Oklahoma 20

Okay folks, this is it! It's for all the marbles and the fun gets underway around 8 o'clock. I used the term "running quotes" above because this isn't going to be a specific live-blog (you don't need me telling you what you can see with your own eyes), but I will be updating this spot throughout the night. Feel free to leave your predictions in the comments, and I'll see you for the Championship Game later tonight!

Oh one more thing....your official "Band Shot" count will be at the top of the quotes starting at kickoff. Be sure to let me know if you see either and then....DRINK!
___________________________________

YOUR OFFICIAL BCS CHAMPIONSHIP GAME BAND COUNT: 34

And herrrre we......GO!

"Super Sam beat out Superman for the Heisman"- Charles Davis (Via Grant)

And yes....FOX did miss the flyover. Bastards. Band....Band! Double drink at the kickoff.

"Our camera hovering above the field like a humming bird."- Thom Brennaman

"They had 4 games that hit the 500 yd rushing mark, Tebow was one of them." - Thom Brennaman (Via JG)

"Oklahoma won the turnover."- Thom Brennaman

"Brown on first and twenty picks up three."- Thom Brennaman on a first down after a personal foul penalty.

Still first and ten, big guy.

I'm at the 3D telecast. I don't know who the color guy is but he just said about Tebow...

"...he just took it up the A-Hole." (GuJo For God)

Wow.

"If you're fortunate to spend 5 or 20 minutes around Tim Tebow, you're better for it."- Thom Brennaman

"Maybe only South Florida traffic can slow down these two teams."- Chris Myers

"He comes right across the face of number ten."- Charles Davis

"These thoroughbreds, these Secretariats, it could tighten up at halftime" - Charles Davis (Via Anon)

7-0 Florida

"These teams have run everybody out of the gym." - Thom Brennaman (Via SS)

"Tebow steps out of major trouble to gain a yard..erm add 5 on top of that for a gain of 6."- Thom Brennaman (Via Anon)

7-7

"That was Louis Murphy, the son of a Baptist Miner...Minerster....stirring it up."- Thom Brennaman

Wow that was terrible. Both Brennaman and Davis spent five minutes debating a fourth down call, and it was still third down. Thank god ESPN has taken this s**t show over.

"Big decision time here...do you go for it on 4th down?"- Brennaman
"Go, go, go ,go go"- Charles Davis on third and goal

Terrible....just terrible.

"I got so excited, I thought they were going on 4th down twice!"- Thom Brennaman
"I should have been there to help you partner."- Charles Davis

7-7 at the half. How about that 70 point over/under

"When Major Wright hits you, you feel it in a major wrong way."- Thom Brennaman

"Architectural like precision from Bradford."- Thom Brennaman

As one commenter mentioned....it's usually said as "surgical precision".

"If this is a tennis match, those are two unforced errors."- Charles Davis (Via RJBO)

14-7 Gators

"He lost his shoe after losing a defender!"- Thom Brennaman on OU's TD

14-14

"The field goal is almost conceded where they are on the field of play."- Charles Davis

Really? The opponent's fifteen yard line? Doesn't matter anyway as Florida scores a TD to go up 10 with 3 minutes left.

"Has traveled to Croatia, Thailand, three times to the Philippines with his family on Mission trips."- Thom Brennaman

Or just Missions.

"You can't punt the ball away."- Charles Davis on a 4th and 4 with 2:30 on the clock and Oklahoma down 10.

"They're getting ready to unload on Urban Meyer."- Thom Brennaman on the Gatorade being prepped

FINAL: Florida 24 - Oklahoma 14

Annnnnnnnd finish whatever you're drinking for a band girl crying!

Game: The GMAC Bowl
Teams: Ball State Cardinals (12-1) vs. Tulsa Golden Hurricane (10-3)
Location: Mobile, Alabama, Ladd-Peebles Stadium
Start Time: 8PM EST (ESPN)
Network and Announcers: Dave Pasch, Andre Ware
Favorite: Tulsa (-3)
AA's Pick: Ball State 45 - Tulsa 38

Game: The Tostitos Fiesta Bowl
Teams: Ohio State Buckeyes (10-2) vs. Texas Longhorns (11-1)
Location: Glendale, Arizona, University of Phoenix Stadium
Start Time: 8PM EST (FOX)
Network and Announcers: Matt Vasgersian, Tim Ryan, Laura Okmin, Chris Myers
Favorite: Texas (-9)
AA's Pick: Texas 31 - OSU 16