SEC and Auburn fans, be sure to send Christmas cards to Michigan State for opening the door for the Auburn Tigers. Once, an eighth-straight SEC national title seemed dead, but the Spartans saved it for us.

Thursday, Dec. 12

NFL (7:30-11 p.m., NFL Network): The San Diego Chargers look to keep their slim playoff hopes alive with a win over Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos.

Friday, Dec 13

NBA (7-9:30 p.m., ESPN): Kobe Bryant has made his return to the LA Lakers, and will test himself against Kevin Durant and the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Saturday, Dec. 14

College football (2-5 p.m., CBS): A college football tradition continues as Army and Navy face off; the Midshipmen look to extend their all-series record of 57 wins, 49 losses and seven ties.

Sunday, Dec. 15

NFL (3-6 p.m., Fox): The New Orleans Saints look to keep their stranglehold on the number-two seed in the NFC in a road game against the St. Louis Rams.

Monday, Dec. 16

NFL (7:30-11 p.m., ESPN): Two teams with playoff hopes collide on Monday Night Football as the Baltimore Ravens travel to the Detroit Lions.

Tuesday, Dec. 17

NHL (6:30-9 p.m., NBCSN): Your weekly hockey fix features Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals at the Philadelphia Flyers.

Wednesday, Dec. 18

NBA (6-8:30 p.m., ESPN): We might see a preview of the Eastern Conference Finals when the two-time defending champions the Miami Heat host the team with the NBA's best record, the Indiana Pacers.

It seems fitting that the BCS will end with Florida State facing an SEC team. The first BCS Championship Game featured Tennessee defeating Florida State before the new millennium started.