Rotoworld: Oregon RB LaMichael James and Oklahoma State WR Justin Blackmon among top 10 players who are being overhyped for the 2012 draft.
SportsTalk: Albert Pujols signs with the Angels and Prince Fielder joins the Tigers. Which team is better now?
The Detroit Red Wings equaled an NHL record with their 20th straight win at home, beating the Philadelphia Flyers 4-3 Sunday night on the strength of Johan Franzen's tiebreaking goal early in the third period.
PBT: Boston's Rajon Rondo continues to be named in trade talks, which is madness. The Celtics guard creates offense and makes everyone around him better, which was evident in Sunday's win over the Bulls.
Arc's five up, five down: After No. 11 Michigan State's 58-48 upset of No. 3 Ohio State, you'd be a fool to discount the Spartans' national title chances now.
Miami coach Al Golden says the worst is behind him, but his headaches figure to continue now that former booster Nevin Shapiro, now in jail, says his involvement with the Hurricanes program will result in stiff penalties.
Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods both greeted Sunday with unbridled optimism. But the day would end happily only for Mickelson.
The United States completed a 5-0 rout of Switzerland in the Davis Cup on Sunday, with 19-year-old Ryan Harrison and John Isner winning closing singles matches.
Zambia has won the African Cup of Nations, beating pre-tournament favorite Ivory Coast 8-7 on penalties in a dramatic final at Stade de l'Amitie.
Tessa Worley of France fought off gusting winds to win a second consecutive World Cup giant slalom Sunday in the Andorran Pyrenees. Overall leader Lindsey Vonn was more than a second behind and finished eighth.
Robins: It’s the Year of the Dragon on the Lunar calendar, and this Chinese influence could extend to it also being the year of the Pekingese on the green carpet at the 136th Westminster Dog Show on Tuesday.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
|
1. Texas two-step
This is big, everyone. So big that it could be the biggest event in the history of West Texas — which, granted, isn't necessarily a large deal.
It's so big that flights in and out of Lubbock are sold out the entire weekend, and hotels are overbooked and overpriced. My pal Dave Curtis, bless his soul, is flying into Amarillo (can you fly into Amarillo?) and making the utterly desolate two-hour drive south on I-27.
Load up on the Mountain Dew and peanuts, Davey boy. Then buckle up for 100 passes and a four-hour game. And maybe, just maybe, the upset of the season.
Don't kid yourself, if Tech beats Texas it will be a huge upset considering the Red Raiders have yet to play a team with a pulse. And I'm including Nebraska and Kansas in that group.
But the big question: If Tech wins, does it vault all the way to No. 1?
Two ways to look at it:
• Of course not, Tech just happened to play Texas after the Longhorns endured three straight big games against Oklahoma, Missouri and Oklahoma State, and it was only a matter of time before the emotional tank ran dry.
• Of course they should. Tech is No. 7 in the BCS, and really, who would have a better win than Texas? Maybe Alabama (Georgia). At the very least, the Red Raiders should be No. 2 behind Alabama and ahead of Penn State (Texas is a better win than Ohio State).
2. Vote of confidence
So Auburn athletic director Jay Jacobs says he supports coach Tommy Tuberville. Imagine that, the guy who has won six in a row over Alabama, the guy who graduates his players, whose players stay out of trouble, who has averaged nine wins a season going into 2008, has the "support" of his athletic director.
Look at Jacobs, everyone. He's so cute. He wants everyone to know that he is in control of the Auburn football team, gosh darnit.
Meanwhile, the Batphone will ring and our fearless leader (read: megalomaniac) will decide Tubs' fate. And Jacobs will say, "Yes, sir, Mr. Lowder."
How ironic that Ole Miss, the team Tubs left to hitch up with Auburn, the team Tubs said he wouldn't leave unless it was in a "pine box," has the power to push powerful trustee Bobby Lowder over the edge with one simple victory.
What goes around always comes around, doesn't it?
3. Amnesia, Gators style
Seriously, Florida fans are upset because Georgia showed poor sportsmanship during last year's World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party?
Let me reintroduce Florida fans to a guy named Spurrier.
In his 12 seasons as coach in Gainesville, Steve Spurrier — you remember him, right? The guy who built your program? — humiliated and emasculated Georgia in every possible way. Throwing in the end zone with a 30-point lead; running a reverse at the goal line with a 30-point lead; throwing in the fourth quarter, up by 30, in a rare game in Athens, to score the most points ever at Sanford Stadium. All different games.
And you're worried about a 15-yard penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct? Here's a bigger concern: Protect your quarterback. Couldn't do it last year, won't be able to do it this year. I keep saying this, and I'll say it again: The 'Dawgs aren't out of the national title race.
4. Another step back
Gary Pinkel has it all figured out. He says his Missouri team is too distracted by outside influences: the Internet, newspapers, magazines, television. You know, all those things that make the popularity of the game what it is.
Here's how I know Missouri's uber-wideout Jeremy Maclin is ready for the NFL: He doesn't think the outside influences affect him, but he said, "It's bigger than me, we lost the games."
Yep, ready to go.
5. Remember me, Part II
Last week Houston Nutt rolled into Arkansas with his new team (Ole Miss) and beat his old team (Arkansas) amid 80,000 fans who acted like Nutt never accomplished a thing at the school. This week, another favorite son, Gus Malzahn, strolls into Fayetteville to take on the Hogs. A legendary high school coach in Springdale, Ark., and offensive coordinator at Arkansas for a season, Malzahn is the architect of the hottest offense in the game at Tulsa.
The difference between this week and last: Hog fans love Malzahn. Other than that, not much of a difference in the final outcome. Former coach wins, Arkie loses.
Don't feel too bad, Hogs. In a couple of years after Bobby Petrino gets the itch (again), and leaves for another job (again), Malzahn will be yours for the taking. That is, unless some athletic director gets smart first and hires the best offensive mind in the game.
Miami coach Al Golden says the worst is behind him, but his headaches figure to continue now that former booster Nevin Shapiro, now in jail, says his involvement with the Hurricanes program will result in stiff penalties.
CFT: Jordan Jefferson makes it clear he wasn't happy with LSU's game plan in the Tigers' BCS Championship Game loss to Alabama.
 | Special feature |
 |
NBCSports.com |
CollegeFootballTalk headlines |
 | Video: Football from NBC Sports |
 Memphis fulfills BCS dream Tigers officials thrilled to announce that school has been accepted to join the Big East Conference in 2013. |
 | Slideshow |
 | NBCSports.com |
| Slideshow |
 | more photos |
 | Slideshow |
 | NBCSports.com |
| Slideshow |
 | NBCSports.com |
| Slideshow |
 | NBCSports.com |
| First Person |
 | Tailgating pictures View photos of college football celebrations before and after games from our readers, then send your own. |
| Special feature |
 |
NBCSports.com |
Zambia has won the African Cup of Nations, beating pre-tournament favorite Ivory Coast 8-7 on penalties in a dramatic final at Stade de l'Amitie.
Wesseling: Each NFL team enters the offseason with a series of pressing needs. Sometimes a team can address them all, sometimes they ignore them all. But if a team's smart, they'll listen to us. These are the most crucial aspects for AFC teams.
Paul Pierce has been around long enough to know what Rajon Rondo's performance can mean for the aging Boston Celtics.
