Silva: 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 NFC teams.
SportsTalk: Albert Pujols signs with the Angels and Prince Fielder joins the Tigers. Which team is better now?
Ryan Callahan scored three goals as the New York Rangers beat Philadelphia 5-2 on Saturday for their seventh straight win over the Flyers.
Jeremy Lin hit a free throw with 4.9 seconds left to overcome a dreadful second half and lift the New York Knicks to their fifth straight victory, 100-98, over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Saturday night.
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.
CFT: Jordan Jefferson makes it clear he wasn't happy with LSU's game plan in the Tigers' BCS Championship Game loss to Alabama.
Move over, Hollywood and NFL types, golf's two real A-listers take center stage Sunday at Pebble Beach, both in need of a win.
The United States swept favored Switzerland out of the Davis Cup on Saturday when Mardy Fish and Mike Bryan beat Roger Federer and Stanislas Wawrinka 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, 6-3.
Luis Suarez's refusal to shake hands with Patrice Evra overshadowed Manchester United's 2-1 win over rival Liverpool that lifted the defending champions to first place in the Premier League on Saturday.
Marlies Schild of Austria won her sixth World Cup slalom of the season Saturday after overall leader Lindsey Vonn and defending champion Maria Hoefl-Riesch crashed out in the opening run on the windy Pyrenees course.
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.
Boston College (9-4) 
vs.
Vanderbilt (6-6)
Date: Dec. 31
Time: 3:30 p.m. ET
Location: Nashville, Tenn.
Television: ESPN
Payout: $1.7 million
Last result: Kentucky 35, Florida State 28
2008 results: Boston College; Vanderbilt
2008 statistics: Boston College; Vanderbilt
Tickets: Buy them here
Coaches: Jeff Jagodzinski (Boston College); Bobby Johnson (Vanderbilt)
Bowl history/last appearance: Boston College 13-6 (won 24-21 over Michigan State in '07 Champs Sports); Vanderbilt 1-1-1 (lost 36-28 to Air Force in '82 Hall of Fame)
Series: Boston College leads 2-0 (27-22 in '62, 19-6 in '63)
What Boston College must do to win: The Eagles need to keep bringing along redshirt freshman quarterback Dominique Davis. Vanderbilt is likely going to try the same strategy as Virginia Tech in the ACC championship game and load up on the run and see if Davis can produce enough passes for a win. Good thing for Boston College, it has more practice time to work with its QB. The Eagles are 94th in the nation in offense, which sounds bad until you see Vanderbilt is 117th. BC has won eight straight bowl games.
What Vanderbilt must do to win: The Commodores will try and win their first bowl game since 1955. Find some offense, any offense. The defense is pretty good, but the offense just lost its legs midway through the season. There is no passing game to speak of and teams sit on the run. The good news is this is a home game for Vandy and that should provide some comfort to the offense.
Who the NFL is watching: Boston College linebacker Mark Herzlich and defensive tackle B.J. Raji.
Opening point spread: Boston College by 4 (41)
Prediction: Boston College 17, Vanderbilt 16
MVP: Boston College RB Montel Harris
Live vote: Who will win?
CFT: Jordan Jefferson makes it clear he wasn't happy with LSU's game plan in the Tigers' BCS Championship Game loss to Alabama.
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 |
| Slideshow |
 |
The Week in Sports Pictures The Giants on top of the football world, getting ready for the London Olympics and more. more photos |
Jeremy Lin hit a free throw with 4.9 seconds left to overcome a dreadful second half and lift the New York Knicks to their fifth straight victory, 100-98, over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Saturday night.
Doron Lamb hit a 3-pointer with 3:18 left to put No. 1 Kentucky ahead to stay, and the Wildcats took a big step toward a Southeastern Conference regular-season title by beating Vanderbilt 69-63 Saturday night for their 17th straight win.
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.