EagleBank Bowl Open Thread

Game: EagleBank Bowl

Teams: UCLA vs. Temple

Location: RFK Stadium, Washington D.C.

Start Time: 4:30 PM ET

Network and Announcers: ESPN - Bob Wischusen and Brian Griese, SR: Rob Stone
Favorite: UCLA -5

49er16's Pick: UCLA

Misc: RFK Stadium has to be used for something right? Also it figures Daniel Snyder would never let EagleBank use his stadium for this bowl game.

Random thoughts: The story of this game is obviously is the fact that this is Temple's first bowl appearance in 30 years. UCLA is obviously the favorite because they simply have better players than Temple, but it will be interesting to see if UCLA can match Temple's passion.

The Links: NCAA Tournament Edition

Giorgia Palmas to start us off this mourning. Day 1 of the NCAA tournament was pretty generic with no upsets except Western Kentucky over Illinois. Hopefully today we will have some upsets. Or at least some compelling games.

- Cal was an epic fail, yesterday (SF Chronicle)

- Kansas' Sherron Collins must respond to the challenge (KC Star)

- UCLA may have had a down year, they are still tough in the NCAA tournament though (LA Times)

- American U. was this close to beating Villanova (Washington Post)

- A reserve guard was huge for Memphis (NY Times)

- Western Kentucky has done it again (Chicago Tribune)

- Butler couldn't overcome a jittery start against LSU (Indianapolis Star)

- Washington beat Mississippi St. in a complete team effort (Seattle Times)

- Xavier looks to exploit Portland St. weakness (Cincinnati Enquire)

- Many Harris was huge in Michigan's win over Clemson (Detroit News)

- Blake Griffin and Oklahoma won last night (The Oklahoman)

- Tubby Smith and Minnesota need better players (Star-Tribune)

- If Louisville doesn't shoot well, they could be done early (Courier-Journal)

- Even Ray Ratto said yesterday's games were boring and hoping today's games gives us some action (CBSsport.com)

- Jim Calhoun is out of the hospital and was at practice today (ESPN)

Here's the play where Blake Griffin was flipped on his back by a Morgan St. player:

The Links: NCAA Tournament Edition

Blake Lively is what we needed to start the NCAA first round.

- Allison Abbott is not a fan of March Madness (Fire Andy Reid Now!)

- Tubby Smith and Minnesota are glad to be back in the tournament (Rivals)

- The ladies of Louisville (Busted Coverage)

- Here's the Al McGuire dance to start you off (Searching for Billy Edelin)

- Todd Bozeman's past and present are in Kansas City (SF Chronicle)

- UCLA might not last long in the tournament, but USC will (LA Times)

- VCU and Eric Maynor have some unfinished business in the tournament (NY Times)

- Why does the Big Ten receive so much hatred (Indianapolis Star)

- Cal St.-Northdridge basketball team sure has gotten into trouble with the law (Newsday)

- Has Gonzaga gone from overachievers to underachievers? (Seattle Times)

- Michigan is looking just to get out of the 1St. round, Michigan St. is looking to reach the final four (Detroit News)

- Michael Jordan's son Jeff Jordan is playing in the NCAA tournament for Illinois (The Oregonian)

- Everyone is jumping on the Memphis bandwagon now (Memphis Commercial-Appeal)

- Luke Nevill's career at Utah (Salt Lake Tribune)

- Louisville should be the favorite in the tournament (Louisville Courier-Journal)

Links

It's going to be cold in the Northeastern part of this country.... Stocks are set to open higher today... Chris and Rihanna are hiding in Beverly Hills... Barry Bonds wants to play some baseball... Nomar and A's close to signing a deal... Will you go and watch 'Watchmen' this weekend?... Danielle Lloyd looking good

- Lou Pinella vs. ESPN (Awful Announcing)

- Good thing the Seahawks signed T.J. Houshmandzadeh, because he has to get an MRI already (PFT)

- Carmelo has been suspended by the Nuggets (Fanhouse)

- John McCain's daughter is looking for a date (College OTR)

- A classic article on Mel Kiper (Stiles Points)

- The Phillies will have gold trim on their jersey's for opening night (700 Level)

- Sidney Weeks was a smooth transition for Kareem to Walton for the UCLA dynasty (LA Times)

- The Mets are doing what the Mets do, making a mess out of a situation (NY Post)

I guess Eagles fans really miss Brian Dawkins

Weekend Links

Marisa Miller is a great way to start Sunday. There is an awesome slate of college basketball and NBA games. So enjoy some basketball and try and keep warm.

- There are two NFL players missing off of the Gulf Coast (Fanhouse)

- Despite layoffs, the Cleveland Browns are giving their office an Mangini Makeover (PFT)

- I guess the rumor is true. Duke gets all the calls by the refs (Fire Andy Reid Now!)

- Former Michigan QB and Current Arkansas QB Ryan Mallett has been arrested for "public intoxication" (Deadspin)

- A great story about a Pennsylvania family traveling long distances to see their son play at NC State (News & Observer)

- I had a nightmare last night, thinking about what UCLA player Darren Collison did last night to Cal (SF Chronicle)

- The continued saga of Frank McCourt vs. Manny Ramirez (LA Times)

- Lorenzo Romar inspired a Washington win yesterday (Seattle Times)

- This Dwayne Wade kid is pretty good (NY Post)

CAL vs. UCLA Live Blog

Teams: Cal vs. UCLA

Where: Haas Pavilion, Berkley, California

Start Time: 9PM EST, 6PM WST

Network and Announcers: ESPN, Dan Shulman, Jay Bilas, Bobby Knight

Notes: Both teams come into the game with a 21-7 record and looking up at Washington for the Pac-10 title. UCLA has been here before. The Bruins have won three straight Pac-10 titles. Cal is new in the game. Cal made a bold decision last year by firing Ben Braun and hired former Stanford coach Mike Montgomery. The usually sturdy Bruin defense has stumbled lately losing three out of five games. Cal on the other hand, has won six out of the last seven. UCLA thrashed Cal in their last meeting 81-66, so Cal is looking for revenge.

I should be a fun game. You can enter the live blog by clicking here.