I’ve worked retail, and as someone who has seen both sides of the chaos known as “Black Friday” I can tell you that there are few places I’d rather avoid than the massive lines and crowds of deal-obsessed customers in stores this weekend.  Instead, I’ll be plopped on my couch watching some of the interesting matchups the NCAA has to offer as the conference races wind down.

Here is a look at every nationally televised game we’ll have to watch, starting with the hugely consequential Arkansas-LSU game and then going in chronological order of kickoff time.

Black Friday College Football Schedule

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#3 Arkansas at #1 LSU

• Arkansas-LSU Date: Friday, November 25th
• Arkansas-LSU Kickoff Time: 2:30 PM EST
• Arkansas-LSU TV: CBS
• Arkansas-LSU Point Spread: LSU -13
• Arkansas-LSUOver/Under: 52

Arkansas-LSU Preview:

Now this is what I’m talking about.

As a midwesterner (hence my writing for Midwest Sports Fans), I do get sick of the domination of the SEC in football, but this game has potential to be great. Most media members have assumed LSU’s ticket to the national championship game is a foregone conclusion, but Arkansas presents a solid challenge.

Averaging nearly 40 points per game, and with a loss to Alabama in Tuscaloosa as their only blemish, Bobby Petrino’s dynamic Razorbacks will attempt to unseat the top-ranked Tigers.

Arkansas quarterback Tyler Wilson has thrown for 3,215 yards and 21 touchdowns to lead the pass-heavy Arkansas offense.  He will certainly face a test and the freakish LSU defense will be in his face all afternoon Friday.

With one of the toughest, most hostile home fields in all of sports, it wil be fun to watch the Tigers try to cement their status further as the nation’s best team.

Eastern Michigan at Northern Illinois

• Eastern Michigan-Northern Illinois Date: Friday, November 25th
• Eastern Michigan-Northern Illinois Kickoff Time: 11:00 AM EST
• Eastern Michigan-Northern Illinois TV: ESPNU
• Eastern Michigan-Northern Illinois Point Spread: Northern Illinois -19.5
• Eastern Michigan-Northern Illinois Over/Under: 64.5

Eastern Michigan-Northern Illinois Preview:

This game has MAC championship implications as NIU (8-3, 6-1 MAC) enters tied with Toledo for tops in the MAC West.  NIU will bring their high-powered offense (41.5 points per game, 9th in FBS) into this one, and former Michigan defensive coordinator Ron English, now the head coach at Eastern Michigan, will have his hands full trying to stop it.

NIU’s Jasmin Hopkins needs just 159 yards to join Huskies quarterback Chandler Harnish in the 1000-yard club this season.

Louisville at South Florida

• Louisville-South Florida Date: Friday, November 25th
• Lousiville-South Florida Kickoff Time: 11:00 AM EST
• Lousiville-South Florida TV: ESPN2
• Lousiville-South Florida Point Spread: South Florida -3
• Louisville-SouthFlorida Over/Under: 43

Louisville-South Florida Preview:

Despite being only 6-5 overall and 4-2 in Big East play, Louisville is still in the thick of the race for the Big East title.  They have allowed over 30 points only once this season (35 to West Virginia), so they will lean on their defense on the road in this one.

If South Florida quarterback B.J. Daniels can’t play due to a right shoulder injury, the Cardinals will have a good chance to pull the (slight) road upset.

Lousiville hasn’t won in South Florida in their last 4 trips.

Iowa at #21 Nebraska

• Iowa-Nebraska Date: Friday, November 25th
• Iowa-Nebraska Kickoff Time: 12:00 PM EST
• Iowa-Nebraska TV: ABC
• Iowa-Nebraska Point Spread: Nebraska -9.5
• Iowa-Nebraska Over/Under: 53.5

Iowa-Nebraska Preview:

Nebraska will be happy to be back in Lincoln after getting pummeled 45-17 in Ann Arbor.  The Huskers are eliminated from the Big Ten championship race, but they still have bowl position to play for.

Iowa will try to win their third straight game, as they have beaten Purdue and Michigan the last two weeks.

For Nebraska, watch for Rex Burkhead (1108 yards, 14 touchdowns) to try to get back on track after struggling last week.  For Iowa, expect steady doses of Marcus Coker (1297 yards, 14 touchdowns) and receiver Marvin McNutt (1240 yards and 12 touchdowns).  Coker and McNutt are among the most talented rushing/receiving combos in the Big Ten.

Boston College at Miami

• Boston College-Miami Date: Friday, November 25th
• Boston College-Miami Kickoff Time: 3:30 PM EST
• Boston College-Miami TV: ABC
• Boston College-Miami Point Spread: Miami -14.5
• Boston College-Miami Over/Under: 44

Boston College-Miami Preview:

If you’re in the mood for some mediocre ACC football, this game is right up your alley. Miami, plagued by off the field issues and under a self-imposed bowl ban, will host the Eagles, who have struggled mightily on offense this season.

Miami senior quarterback Jacory Harris will lead the Hurricanes in the final home game for the recruiting class of 2008.  That class, under then-head coach Randy Shannon, was considered one of the best in the nation, but the Canes have largely underachieved during that span, with Shannon being fired and replaced by Al Golden as head coach.

Pittsburgh at West Virginia

• Pittsburgh-West Virginia Date: Friday, November 25th
• Pittsburgh-West Virginia Kickoff Time: 7:00 PM EST
• Pittsburgh-West Virginia TV: ESPN
• Pittsburgh-West Virginia Point Spread: West Virginia -7
• Pittsburgh-West Virginia Over/Under: 57

Pittsburgh-West Virginia Preview:

West Virginia will already know their Big East chances by the time the game starts, as they need a Louisville loss to South Florida to be able to win the conference.  They hold the advantage over Rutgers and Cincinnati by virtue of head-to-head wins over both, but their loss to Louisville has them unable to fully control their own destiny.

For Pittsburgh, this game will be tough.  They lost starting running back Ray Graham to a season-ending knee injury two weeks ago.  They will now rely on Zach Brown (269 yards, 4 touchdowns) to lead their offense, along with quarterback Tino Sunseri (2037 yards, 9 touchdowns passing).

The Mountaineers have been fantastic on offense, with quarterback Geno Smith tallying 3497 yards and 24 touchdowns so far.  West Virginia averages nearly 40 points per game, so Pittsburgh will have a tough time slowing them down.

This game will be extremely interesting if South Florida handles Lousiville early in the day.

California at Arizona State

• Cal-Arizona State Date: Friday, November 25th
• Cal-Arizona State Kickoff Time: 10:15 PM EST
• Cal-Arizona State TV: ESPN
• Cal-Arizona State Point Spread: Arizona State -5.5
• Cal-Arizona State Over/Under: 53.5

Cal-Arizona State Preview:

To finish out a long day of college football, we have a matchup between two middle of the pack, yet bowl-eligible Pac-12 programs.

The Golden Bears come into this one having narrowly lost to #9 Stanford last week.  Cal’s Isi Sofele (1121 yards, 8 touchdowns) will try to chew up the clock and keep Arizona State’s potent passing offense, led by Brock Osweiler (3377 yards, 21 touchdowns) off the field.  Arizona State, meanwhile, will try to snap a 3-game losing streak and finish the regular season on a positive note.

So, there you have it.  If you’re not out shopping this Friday, you know what your football viewing options are.

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Follow me on Twitter @keithmullett

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Image credits: thekartel.com, kansas.com, seattletimes.com, draftpartyblog.com, zimbio.com

I speak for everyone at MSF when I say that we are thankful for Thanksgiving football, all of the men and women overseas who protect our freedom and allow us to enjoy daily pursuits like blogging, and of course all of our amazing readers who continue to continue to inspire us to provide the best sports content we can every single day.

So enjoy this thank you from us, in the form of two videos featuring your favorite MSF authors (or at least the ones I had easily accessible photos of…) and have a happy Thanksgiving!

This first video stars Jerod, Drew, Tyler, Chris, and me! It tells the story of Thanksgiving…as only JibJab can.

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And here is the second video. Before you say anything, yes, I know it’s a Christmas video; but it’s the only other JibJab video that was free…so we went with it.

In this video is Josh, Keith, Kurt, Jon, and Ari (who has a great guitar solo towards the end…)

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Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Now…get ready for some football!

However, when it comes to drink selections, us guys are often stuck deciding between cheap wine, poorly mixed eggnog, or some form of pink punch in a wide-rimmed Cosmo that just screams estrogen overload.

But fear not.

I have come across a plethora of new drink recipes (and a beer) to help guys quench their thirst, sound knowledgeable about their holiday spirits selection, and maintain masculinity at the same time. I’ll share five with you, then feel free to hop into the comment section to share your own.

Captain Morgan Knighted Welshman

Recipe:

• 1.5 oz Captain Morgan Original Spiced Rum
• 6 oz. cola
• Splash of amaretto

How it works: Add Captain Morgan Original Spiced Rum and cola in ice-filled glass. Top with a splash of Amaretto.

Why it works:  The Knighted Welshman is named after the spiced rum’s namesake, Captain Henry Morgan, who was indeed a real-life Welsh privateer known for legendary adventures and epic battles on the high seas. So when the guy beside you raves about how great the cider is, turn around and walk the plank toward this awesome cocktail.

Bulleit Rye Manhattan

Recipe:

• .75 oz. Bulleit Rye
• .25 oz. dry vermouth
• .50 sweet vermouth
• Dash of Stirrings Blood Orange Bitters
• 1 maraschino cheery

How it works:  In a shaker, combine Bulleit Rye, dry vermouth and sweet vermouth. Shake and pour over an ice-filled mixing glass. Add dash of bitters and garnish with a maraschino cherry.

Why it works:  Don’t let the cherry fool you.  This Manhattan is the ultimate in masculine sophistication – smooth and tasty with just enough bite to remind you why this is a great drink for men – from Frank Sinatra and the Rat Pack, to you and your buddies this holiday season.

Dickel Southern Belle

Recipe:

• 1 oz. George Dickel Cascade Hollow Batch Recipe
• .50 oz. triple sec
• 2 oz. pineapple juice
• 1 splash grenadine
• 2 oz. orange juice

How it works:  Add George Dickel Cascade Hollow Batch Recipe, triple sec, pineapple juice, grenadine and orange juice in rocks ice-filled glass.  Top with grenadine and stir once.

Why it works:  Thrown by the pineapple and orange juice, fellas?  Don’t be, because nothing warms up a snowy, wintry evening like sipping this stiff whisky drink and imagining a warm beach and cool waves.  Be warned, you may need to order two of these – one for you and one for that sweet Southern Belle across the room!

Crown Royal Press 

Recipe:

• 1.5 oz. Crown Royal Deluxe
• 2 squeezed lemon wedges
• 3 dashes bitters
• 1 splash lemon-lime soda
• 1 lemon wedge

How it works:  Serve on the rocks and top with lemon-lime soda.  Garnish with a lemon and serve.

Why it works:  Taking a chance on a cheesy pickup line at a holiday party is one thing, but a real man never presses his luck when it comes to selecting the right spirit.  Instead, he checks out the Crown Royal Press, featuring a solid balance of sweet with the age old beauty that is a dash of bitters.

Guinness Black Lager

Recipe:

• 1 bottle of Guinness
• The balls to drink it

How it works:  Cola brown with a tan head, Guinness Black Lager emits a sweet aroma. Unlike stouts, this lager should be served cold to fully appreciate the nutty, caramel overtones.

Why it works:  Let’s face it – cocktails are great, but sometimes a man just needs a good beer and what better brew to try this holiday than Guinness’ newest offering.  It’s new enough to make you seem trendy and knowledable about all things beer, but classic enough you don’t look like the annoying know-it-all reciting the number of hops in each sip!

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Now it’s your turn.

What is your favorite holiday cocktail?

Tell us below and include the recipe. We can all benefit from eachother’s selections.

And to be completely honest with you, I’m not sure I will be able to consume any turkey until after the game.

The Packers (10-0) have been the best team in the league since Week 1 and look to continue their dominance tomorrow against Detroit Lions, which is 7-3. Deja vu takes us back to 1962, when the 10-0 Packers faced the Lions in a week 11 Thanksgiving game. The Packers lost that day 26-14.

Could history repeat itself?

The Packers

10-0.

The Packers are ranked first in the league for average number of points scored at 35.5 per game.

On Aaron Rodgers’ “bad day” he puts up 299 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception. That’s not too shabby.

Rodgers has set a standard for NFL quarterbacks that no one else in the league can come close to right now. Of course, it doesn’t hurt that he has a nice variety of receivers to target. From rising star Jordy Nelson to solid veteran Donald Driver, the depth the Packers have is unbelievable. That is why this team is ranked third in passing yards, averaging 304.9 per game.

During the Tampa Bay game in week 11, James Starks, the team’s top rusher, left the game with a knee injury and his status is uncertain for Thursday’s game. Running the ball has not been Green Bay’s strong suit the past few years; however, Starks has helped the team by adding another dimension to its game, even it is only to gain a few yards and keep the clock running. Hopefully the Packers won’t need a player like Starks for Thursday, or hopefully struggling running back Ryan Grant can pull something together.

The Packers’ defense is the biggest concern against the Lions tomorrow. Inconsistent as ever, the defense we saw in Tampa Bay was not the one we saw shut down the Minnesota Vikings just a week earlier. The defense has been able to get pressure on the opposing quarterback, but not enough to be significant. The quarterback is still able to make plays even with the pressure of the Packer defense.

This Green Bay team needs to focus on making tackles to stop the play advancement. That was made very clear against Tampa Bay and their powerhouse running back LeGarrette Blount.

The Lions

The Lions are a new team this year. They started off strong, initially keeping up with Green Bay in the race to go undefeated. In week 6 they experienced their first loss to another power team, the San Fransisco 49ers, and they have since lost two other games.

Here’s the reasons the Lions are going to put up a fight:

1. This is their Thanksgiving game, and they know everyone’s eyes are on them. With their fans leaving the dining room table to cheer them on at Ford Field, losing is not an option.
2. They have nothing to lose. If they don’t win on Thursday, who is going to say they are a crappy team? No one, because they would have just lost to the only undefeated team in the league and the most recent Super Bowl champions. The pressure is on Green Bay.
3. The Lions are hungry for wins, not in the sense that this will make or break their season, but in the sense that this is their year to take opportunity by the horns and hold on tight.

However, the Lions need to be wary of this 10-0 Packers team.

Quarterback Matthew Stafford has jumped the gun with ill-advised a few times in recent games and it has cost him, particularly in week 10 against the Chicago Bears. With defensive players like Charles Woodson and Tramon Williams, interceptions could be deadly for Stafford and the Lions. The offensive line will need to work hard to keep the pressure off Stafford to keep him calm and relaxed during the game.

One question that many of us are pondering is “Do the Lions have what it takes to shut down Aaron Rodgers?” So far, no Green Bay opponent has done so. However, Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh is someone the Packers need to keep their eye on. Suh is an aggressive player, one who has been criticized for his tough play being dirty. Keeping him away from Rodgers is a must.

Lions-Packers Prediction

Could it be a close game? Definitely.

Will it be? No.

The Packers’ defense will get the pressure on Stafford and get into his head. I expect at least one defensive touchdown for the Pack.

While Suh might put the pressure on Rodgers, it won’t be enough to throw off the Green Bay offense. Once they get rolling, they won’t stop.

Both teams are coming off a short week of practice and mental preparation. After a messy win over Tampa Bay for the Packers, they know they can’t make the mistakes they did in week 11 against the more solid Lions. The Lions are coming off a high with a win against the Carolina Panthers, but they still gave up a lot of points. Giving up points against the Panthers might be okay. Against the Packers, it’s a whole different ball game.

Final Score:

Green Bay: 35 | Detroit: 13

What do you think?

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Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Have a safe and fun holiday!

Green Bay Packers at Detroit Lions Game Info

• Packers-Lions Date: Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 24th
• Packers-Lions Kickoff Time: 12:30 PM EST
• Packers-Lions TV Network: FOX
• Packers-Lions Announcers: Joe Buck and Troy Aikman
• Packers-Lions Point Spread: Packers -5.5
• Packers-Lions Over/Under: 55

Maybe it’s the unseasonably warm weather here in Ohio, or the absence of NBA games that were supposed to have already started, or that I haven’t heard a whole lot about this year’s Black Friday mega-deals, but it sure seems like Turkey Day snuck up on me this year.

Of course if you’re reading this article, you are probably almost as excited about watching an entire day of football as you are enjoying the best (and likely biggest) meal of the whole year and the company of loved ones.

Like cooking out and baseball on July 4th, and college football (and hopefully not too much of a hangover) on New Year’s Day, Thanksgiving and NFL football combine to make one of the greatest days of the year for sports fans.

For the third straight year, this is the official image of Thanksgiving Day football on MSF.

So just what can we expect to see as we eat second and third helpings of turkey, stuffing, pumpkin pie, and chocolate chip cookies (my grandma’s cookies are always the perfect way to cap off the meal)?

The NFL really nailed it this year, as we have 3 great games to watch and story lines galore. Here is everything you need to know to get ready for this year’s Thanksgiving Day NFL action.

Note: Point spread information is current as of late Sunday night. As the lines move, we will do our best to update the article to provide the most current information possible.

NFL Thanksgiving Day Football TV Schedule

Point Spreads – Kickoff Times – Announcers – Picks & Predictions

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Green Bay Packers at Detroit Lions Game Info

• Packers-Lions Date: Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 24th
• Packers-Lions Kickoff Time: 12:30 PM EST
• Packers-Lions TV Network: FOX
• Packers-Lions Announcers: Joe Buck and Troy Aikman
• Packers-Lions Point Spread: Packers -5.5
• Packers-Lions Over/Under: 55
• MSF: Packers-Lions Preview and Prediction

Packers-Lions Preview and Prediction

Remember when the only think to look forward to about watching the Lions on Thanksgiving was seeing what havoc Barry Sanders would inflict upon their opponent? And remember when Sanders retired and everyone began lobbying for a different team to take Detroit’s place in the annual Thanksgiving slot?

The 2011 incarnation of the Lions, with Matthew Stafford, Calvin Johnson and Ndamukong Suh has shed all of those ugly memories, morphing into an offensive powerhouse with a penchant for overcoming huge leads and a mean streak on the defensive side.

Fortunately for us fans, the Lions will get to play the undefeated Packers, so the chance for a dramatic finish will be high.

The Packers looked a little less invincible this past week against Tampa Bay than they normally do, so it will be interesting to see what a short week against what is likely the toughest opponent they have faced yet this year will bring.

I expect both teams to be able to move the ball with ease, but I think the Lions will turn the ball over a couple of times and allow Green Bay to get out to a large lead. Despite the Lions’ ability to overcome double-digit deficits, I see them falling a little short in this one.

• Packers-Lions Spread Pick: Packers -5.5

Miami Dolphins at Dallas Cowboys

• Dolphins-Cowboys Date: Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 24th
• Dolphins-Cowboys Kickoff Time: 4:15 PM EST
• Dolphins-Cowboys TV Network: CBS
• Dolphins-Cowboys Announcers: Jim Nantz and Phil Simms
• Dolphins-Cowboys Point Spread: Cowboys -6.5
• Dolphins-Cowboys Over/Under: 44

Cowboys-Dolphins Preview and Prediction

Just a few weeks ago, this game might have seemed like a dud, but the Dolphins have surged to 3 straight victories, including this past week’s 35-8 drubbing of the Buffalo Bills.

Once considered the frontrunners in the “Suck for Luck” sweepstakes, the Dolphins are showing signs of life and competing every week behind quarterback Matt Moore and Reggie Bush, who is starting to resemble the Reggie Bush of years past.

Dallas comes in at 6-4 and tied for the NFC East lead. Say what you will about the Cowboys’ postseason failures and Tony Romo’s lack of clutch play, the fact is that Romo and his team are dominant in November. In November, as a starter, Romo is 18-2 with 49 touchdown passes against only 12 interceptions in his career.

The Dolphins are going to come back to earth sometime, and I expect that to be now. On a short week, traveling to Dallas, Miami will struggle in all phases, and I see Dallas rolling over them and staying atop the NFC East.

• Dolphins-Cowboys Spread Pick: Cowboys -6.5

San Francisco 49ers at Baltimore Ravens

• 49ers-Ravens Date: Thanksgiving Night, Thursday, November 24th
• 49ers-Ravens Kickoff Time: 8:20 PM EST
• 49ers-Ravens TV Network: NFL Network
• 49ers-Ravens Announcers: Brad Nessler and Mike Mayock
• 49ers-Ravens Point Spread: Ravens -3
• 49ers-Ravens Over/Under: 39
• MSF: 49ers-Ravens Preview and Prediction

What more can you ask for in a Thanksgiving evening game (other than for cable companies to all pick up the NFL Network)?

The Brothers Harbaugh square off against one another for the first time as NFL head coaches, with Jim Harbaugh’s 49ers, a surprising 9-1 and the runaway leader of the NFC West traveling to face John Harbaugh’s Ravens, who are tied for the AFC North lead after beating the Cincinnati Bengals last week.

These teams are built similarly, with punishing defenses (the 49ers are 1st against the run, the Ravens are 3rd) and elite, multi-purpose running backs (Frank Gore and Ray Rice). The winner of this game will likely be the team who is able to have more success running against the other’s front 7.

Of concern for the Ravens is getting Rice consistent touches. This season, Rice has averaged just over 14 carries per game, which for a star back is not nearly enough. He is a valuable part of the receiving game too, with 51 receptions, but the Ravens need to find a way to establish Rice early and often.

The Ravens’ game plan lately has been a pass-heavy attack, but Joe Flacco is not Aaron Rodgers or Drew Brees; he is not the type of quarterback who can give his team the best chance to win by consistently throwing over 35 times per game.

I think the 49ers will be able to run on Baltimore, especially if Ray Lewis were to miss the game (he is questionable currently with a toe injury that forced him to miss the Cincinnati game). As long as Alex Smith is able to play conservative, mistake-free football like he has done in the first 10 games this year, I think the 49ers win.

• 49ers-Ravens Spread Pick: 49ers +3

That’s all the information you’ll need to know to enjoy this Thanksgiving’s NFL games. We at MSF hope you enjoy great food, family, friends, football and fun (holy alliteration!) this Thanksgiving.

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

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Follow me on Twitter @keithmullett

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Image credit: footballbabble.com

One thing that Bears fans aren’t thankful for is this year’s season.

With the signing of Jay Cutler during the off-season, many Bear fans thought this was the end of the QB woes that have plagued Chicago since Jim McMahon.

That has not been the case.

The Bears are a dismal 4-6 with almost no chance of making the playoffs. So-called “Savior” Jay Cutler has thrown 18 interceptions and has shown no leadership qualities at all. If this happens again next season I am not afraid of calling the Cutler signing a terrible waste.

It’s not all Cutler’s fault. What I don’t like is he doesn’t have show any leadership qualities. He doesn’t look like the guy who can lead his team to the playoffs, let alone the Super Bowl.

Worst of all, the Bears may have delayed roster progression for years to come. Without a first or second round pick in this season’s draft, the Bears will be forced to try to find a late round sleeper.

Yes the Bears are bad, and they could be this bad for a while.

Management’s ignorance in failing to improve the O-line has finally shown through. Even signings of 1st round draft pick Chris Williams and the free agent signing of Olrando Pace couldn’t help this struggling, high school-playing, O-line.

It seems the hype around this Bears team was was over calculated. Even Peter King fell for it! He picked the Bears to win the Super Bowl! Being a Bears fan I even thought that was a little too much, but I can’t say anything because he IS Peter King and I really do respect him a lot.

The Bears have defiantly been a disappointment this year. Something needs to change, and if that means hiring some new coaches so be it. I think the Bears do need some new coaches, and that they would benefit greatly by getting rid of offensive coordinator Ron Turner.

So have fun this Thanksgiving. Enjoy some turkey and some good old classic Thanksgiving day football. I have certainly not enjoyed this year’s Bear’s football season, nor has anyone else in Chicago.

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Jay Cutler / Greg Olsen photo credit: Bears Backer

This post is from 2009!

If you accidentally landed here, click to view all of our 2011 Thanksgiving Day content, including the Thanksgiving Day Football Schedule.

Today is the third Thursday in November, which means one thing and one thing only to me and many of you reading this: we are now officially one week away from the greatest meal of the year.

We are also one week away from a day when it is generally accepted in most households that the TV will be tuned to football all day long.

And, of course, we’re one week away from being able to share a wonderful day with friends and family and let them know that we are thankful for their presence in our lives.

But you don’t need our help with that. You’re here for one thing and one thing only: the Thanksgiving Day TV schedule for the NFL and college football games that will accompany our turkey, stuffing, pumpkin pie, and eventual food coma.

Let’s get right to it.

Keep in mind that I am posting this on November 19th. So, depending on when you view this, some of the information may be incomplete. For example, point spread and over-under info won’t be available until Monday, and I’m not sure yet who is announcing the Texas-Texas A&M game Thanksgiving night.

But bookmark this page and, like we did with last year’s Thanksgiving Day football TV schedule, we’ll get it all worked out for you a few days before Thanksgiving.

Update 11/21: The complete college football tv schedule and point spread listing for Thanksgiving weekend have been posted.

NFL Thanksgiving Day TV Schedule

Green Bay Packers at Detroit Lions

• Packers-Lions Date: Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 26th
• Packers-Lions Kickoff Time: 12:30 PM
• Packers-Lions TV Network: FOX
• Packers-Lions Announcers: Joe Buck and Troy Aikman
• Packers-Lions Point Spread: Packers -10.5
• Packers-Lions Over-Under: 47.5
• Packers-Lions Spread Pick: Probably going to take the Packers minus the points…but not if it’s by more than seven and Stafford is playing. With the momentum of Week 11, and the injuries to GB’s D, Detroit could put up a fight. Update: Now that the spread is up at -11 and Stafford isn’t playing, I’m going with the Packers. It will probably be high scoring and the Packers have many more ways to score. Packers-Lions free pick: Packers -10.5
• MSF: Lions-Packers Preview

Oakland Raiders at Dallas Cowboys

• Raiders-Cowboys Date: Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 26th
• Raiders-Cowboys Kickoff Time: 4:15 PM
• Raiders-Cowboys TV Network: CBS
• Raiders-Cowboys Announcers: Jim Nantz and Phil Simms
• Raiders-Cowboys Point Spread: Cowboys -13.5
• Raiders-Cowboys Over-Under: 40.5
• RaidersCowboys Spread Pick: Oakland has been such an up and down team this year, pulling off upsets of Philly and Cincinnati while only winning three games. The biggest difference between those two upsets and this one is that it’s at Dallas. The Cowboys are not a great offensive team, but they certainly are better than two TDs in two weeks. I think Romo and the Cowboys get up early and don’t look back. Bruce Gradkowski will have a hard time evading DeMarcus Ware and finding anywhere to throw the ball against a D that has been playing well and picking up its offense. I think the whole thing clicks for the Cowboys on Thanksgiving. Raiders-Cowboys free pick: Cowboys -13.5
• Dallas Sports Fans: Raiders-Cowboys Preview

New York Giants at Denver Broncos

• Giants-Broncos Date: Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 26th
• Giants-Broncos Kickoff Time: 8:20 PM
• Giants-Broncos TV Network: NFL Network
• Giants-Broncos Announcers: Bob Papa and Matt Millen
• Giants-Broncos Point Spread: Giants -6.5
• Giants-Broncos Over-Under: 42
• Giants-Broncos Spread Pick: Denver is really playing poorly right now. The Giants haven’t been all that great themselves, but they are scoring points. I don’t think Denver will be able to contain Eli Manning and the Giants, and I don’t think the Broncos have any kind of rhythm on offense right now. Even though this game is at home for Denver, I think their precipitous slide continues. Giants-Broncos free pick: Giants -6.5
• MSF: Giants-Broncos Preview

NCAA College Football Thanksgiving Day TV Schedule

Texas Longhorns at Texas A&M Aggies

• Texas-Texas A&M Date: Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 26th
• Texas-Texas A&M Kickoff Time: 8:00 PM
• Texas-Texas A&M TV Network: ESPN
• Texas-Texas A&M Announcers: TBA
• Texas-Texas A&M Point Spread: Texas -22.5
• Texas-Texas A&M Over-Under: TBA
• Texas-Texas A&M Spread Pick: Texas A&M is such a Jekyll & Hyde team this season so it’s hard to tell which team will show up. Considering the game is on Thanksgiving, it’s a rivalry game, and it’s at home, I think the Aggies will bring a decent performance. They are not going to beat Texas, but they won’t just roll over and get beaten by 40. The Longhorns will roll by at least a couple of TDs, but I think Texas A&M can beat the spread. Texas-Texas A&M free pick: Texas A&M +22.5
• Dallas Sports Fans: Texas-Texas A&M Preview

This is the only game that is actually on Thanksgiving, but there are plenty of intriguing matchups on Friday, including:

• Illinois at Cincinnati (not that Illinois really has a chance, but…)
• Alabama at Auburn
• Pittsburgh at West Virginia
• Nevada at Boise State

We will obviously have all of the information for those games when we post our Week 13 college football TV schedule on Saturday night or Sunday of this week.

Enjoy your Thanksgiving of food, family, and football everyone. I know I will.

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* – Lions fan ready for Thanksgiving photo credit: AP via MLive.com

***This post is for 2008.

Here is the 2010 college football Thanksgiving schedule

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Welcome back to MSF for the latest college football TV schedule, this time for Thanksgiving week.

For so many reasons, Thanksgiving weekend is one of the greatest weekends of the year. And one of the primary reasons is the plethora of football on television. (And if you want to know the NFL Thanksgiving Day schedule, hop on over to the NFL Thanksgiving Day TV Schedule.)

Like last weekend, there are plenty of big college football games to keep you entertained through Saturday, November 29:

– Oklahoma travels to Oklahoma State in the final HUGE regular season Big 12 game. So far, not true road team has one of the “Games of the Year” in the Big 12 yet; Texas beat Oklahoma in Dallas. If Oklahoma State can pull off the upset, the BCS could be thrown in chaos. Go Cowboys!

– Auburn travels to Alabama for the Iron Bowl. The Crimson Tide is #1 and poised for their SEC title showdown against Florida. Can their rivals spoil the fun? Even better, can Auburn beat Alabama, and then Alabama beat Florida? And totally ruin the BCS!?!? Do it! Go Auburn!

– Florida and Florida State renew their annual rivalry. Hey, and Florida State is even in the top-20 this year!

– Ball State plays Western Michigan tonight, trying to complete an undefeated regular season.

– Oregon takes on Oregon State, where a Beavers win could allow them to supplant USC as the Pac-10 champs.

– And many, many more good and meaningful games. It’s amazing how good the college football TV schedule looks when there are no Big Ten games on there.

So let’s get to it. The Week 14 College Football TV Schedule for Thanksgiving weekend, through Saturday, November 29:

– Any games with ??? means there is no current TV listing. Check your local listings for the weekend of Saturday, November 29 if you need information about these games.

– The ABC games on Saturday, November 29 in the same time slot are regional. A lot of times, the game not on ABC is on one of the ESPN networks.

– A few games on ESPN Classic this Thanksgiving weekend. Isn’t that a little ridiculous? It used to be that teams strived to get on ESPN Classic by playing an amazing game. Now Navy-Northern Illinois and Bowling Green-Toledo, among others, are playing on ESPN. Kind of devalues the brand a little bit, no?

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Enjoy your weekend of food and football.

Update: This post is from 2008!!!

Here is the 2010 NFL Thanksgiving Day Football Schedule.

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Thanksgiving Day is almost upon us, and that means a bevy of things: turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, family two hand touch in the yard, bloated passing out on the couch, and of course, NFL football.

I was just checking the NFL schedule for Week 13 in preparation for writing this post and I received some outstanding news: there are three NFL games on Thanksgiving Day this year. I thought that there were only two. I did not think that there was any way that I could be more excited for Thanksgiving Day; now I know that there is. More football!

(And if you want even more football, check out the College Football TV Schedule for Thanksgiving Weekend.)

Anyway, let’s get down to business. A quick rundown of the Thanksgiving Day TV schedule, announcer pairings, and my meaningless predictions. The point spreads have not been posted as of me writing, at least anywhere I looked. I’ll update the post later this week once they are announced. (Update: Point spreads and over-under odds are updated.)

And I did not find the official announcer pairings listed anywhere either; however, I am making my best educated guess by listing the #1 team for each network. They usually handle the Thanksgiving Day games.

Here we go:

Tennessee Titans at Detroit Lions

• 12:30 ET on CBS
• Announcer Pairing: Jim Nantz and Phil Simms
• Point Spread: Tennessee Titans -11
• Over-Under: 44
• Prediction: I am going out on a limb right now and saying that Detroit will get their first (and possibly only) victory on Thanksgiving Day. The Titans just lost to the Jets, and I have a feeling they could be slightly deflated after seeing their undefeated record go by the wayside. And the pretty much have the AFC South clinched, so I think a slight letdown is possible. I have seen numerous opinion pieces this week about how the Detroit Lions should lose their annual slot on Thanksgiving Day because of their franchise’s putridity. Tennessee is the MUCH better team, but I think that for this one day the pride of the Lions will be on display.

Seattle Seahawks at Dallas Cowboys

• 4:15 ET on FOX
• Announcer Pairing: Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, and Pam Oliver
• Point Spread: Dallas Cowboys -13
• Over-Under: 47
• Prediction: Dallas is going to win this one in a rout. Tony Romo is back and getting into a rhythm, and it looks like the Cowboys figured out how to get T.O. involved in the offense again. The Cowboys are starting to get on a roll and their 2008 season could end up looking a lot like the 2007 season of the Giants — which ended in a Super Bowl run after they got hot near midseason despite struggling in the first half of the season. Seattle will play hard, and they do have Matt Hasselfavre back, but it won’t matter. Dallas will win by at least 20.

Arizona Cardinals at Philadelphia Eagles

• 8:15 ET on NFL Network
• Announcer Pairing: Bob Papa and Chris Collinsworth
• Point Spread: Philadelphia Eagles -3
• Over-Under: 46 1/2
• Prediction: With the turmoil that Philadelphia current has going on, it is hard to pick the Eagles. And now that they are pretty much out of the playoff picture, I could see a letdown performance by the Eagles. And despite the Cardinals’ loss to the Giants today, this is a really good team. I love Kurt Warner, and I just don’t think that the Eagles are capable of scoring enough points to stay in this game. Somehow, I think the Eagles will keep it close through the second half, but the Cardinals will pull away late for the Thanksgiving Day victory.

All of us here at Midwest Sports Fans wish you and your family a hearty and happy Thanksgiving with your family, and a wonderful day of food and football. What could be better? That’s why Thanksgiving is the quintessential American holiday.

[tags]thanksgiving nfl, detroit lions, nfl tv schedule[/tags]