Your weekend lineup 11/4

"Good luck in the Sugar Bowl." - winning coach

MLB

Manager hot stove! Red Sox, Cards, and of course the Cubs continue their searches. Cubs interview Mackanin and despite the sarcastic post from yesterday he really did know what he was talking about in his interviews and seemed like he could be a very solid manager. He has experience at different levels and could be exactly what Theo wants as he tries to integrate the various departments in the Cubs machine, whatever that means. I truly think Maddux will end up in Boston and don't think Epstein wants to ignite a media firestorm and hire Francona. Mackanin seemed very knowledgeable and I could get on board with that decision. 

NBA

Lockout talks resume on Saturday and the players union mulling decertification, thus effectively ending the season. Still hope they can salvage a drastically shortened season and implement a sweet format as I stated before but it sounds like the situation gets worse and worse every day.

Alabama-LSU 8/7pm central on CBS

We all know the deal. Number 1 vs. Number 2. Nick Saban vs. Les Miles in the de facto SEC and/or National Championship. Trent Richardson and home field for Bama is the difference, the Crimson Tide squeak out a win and Les Miles eats 2 cubic feet of grass. Take the 5 or so points that LSU is getting.

#9 South Carolina at #7 Arkansas 7:15/6:15 central on ESPN

The undercard to LSU-Bama. With a USC loss, Georgia takes first place in the East division after their easy win, and sets up a potential SEC championship matchup between the winner of LSU-Bama. 

Nothing of note in the B1G. Maybe Iowa over #15 Michigan at home, take the 3.5 points. Assuming Nebraska and MSU win (with Nebraska blowing out NU, 2:30pm Big10 Network) that leaves a tie between those two schools for first in the Legends divison, with Penn State dominating the leaders division.

NFL

1/12pm games

Two "back" remote button games:

Bucs at Saints - Fox

Bucs want a tie for the NFC south lead and the Saints look to take control of the division if the Falcons can't beat the Colts. The Colts are tied for first in the Andrew Luck division. Falcons are -7.5 and if you don't think they're covering you're a fool. 

Jets at Bills - CBS

Bills look to ride last weeks momentum from shutting out the Skins and the Jets want to set up a potential three way tie if the Pats lose. Speaking of...

4/3pm central "back" remote button games:

Giants at Pats

Could be wrong but I believe this is the first time the Giants have gone to NE since Syracuse's own David Tyree won the Super Bowl and singlehandedly (headedly?) beat the undefeated Patriots. Giants want to increase their distance between the Eagles after Monday night's inevitable beatdown. 

Packers at Chargers

Watching Aaron Rodgers has become appointment viewing. Unquestionably the best quarterback in the league on the best team in the league. Dude's a machine. 

Sunday Night

Ravens at Steelers - 8/7pm central on Sunday

Great comeback by the Ravens last week at home vs. AZ (AZ?), but you can trust Joe Flacco about as far as you can throw him and the dude weighs 245 lbs. Steelers for sure to cover the three point spread.

Hawks and Bears covered in this weeks rundown.

Enjoy the weekend everybody!