Jackson Free Press

Thursday, Dec. 17
NBA basketball, Orlando at Miami (7 p.m., TNT): The Magic and Heat renew their Florida feud.

Friday, Dec. 18
Men's college basketball, Coaches vs. Cancer Classic, Blue Mountain vs. Belhaven (8 p.m., Jackson): The Hilltoppers and Blazers collide at Rugg Arena.

Saturday, Dec. 19
Men's college basketball, Mississippi State at Houston (1 p.m., Houston, CSS, 105.9 FM): Suddenly, the Bulldogs look like the high-flying team everybody expected them to be. … NFL football, Dallas at New Orleans (7:30 p.m., NFL Network, 620 AM): America's team aims to spoil Who Dat Nation's party.

Sunday, Dec. 20
College football, New Orleans Bowl, Southern Miss vs. Middle Tennessee (7:30 p.m., New Orleans, ESPN, 1180 AM/103.3 FM): The scoreboard could get a workout from these spread offenses.

Monday, Dec. 21
NFL football, New York Giants at Washington (7:30 p.m., ESPN, 930 AM): Eli and the Giants try to revive their playoff hopes. Good news, they're playing the Redskins.

Tuesday, Dec. 22
Men's college football, Mississippi State vs. Centenary (7 p.m., Mississippi Coliseum, Jackson, 105.9 FM): The big, bad Bulldogs make their annual visit to the Big House. … College football, Las Vegas Bowl, Oregon State vs. BYU (7:30 p.m., ESPN): These team's nicknames are a bad joke waiting to happen in Sin City.

Wednesday, Dec. 23
Men's college basketball, Ole Miss at West Virginia (6:30 p.m., Morgantown, W.Va., ESPN2, 97.3 FM): The Rebels head up into the hills to meet the Mountaineers. Don't forget the jug, fellas. … College football, Poinsettia Bowl, California vs. Utah (7 p.m., ESPN): This minor bowl isn't what the Bears and Utes had in mind going into this season. There are worse places to go than San Diego.

The Slate is compiled by Doctor S, who's waiting for his faithful fans to send him presents.