Saturday Open Thread: Bowl Games and Georgia Basketball

We've got bowl games, which you've seen predicted starting with Rutgers and Notre Dame at noon, followed by Cincy and North Carolina at 3:30 or so, Miami takes on Da 'Ville in the Russell Bowl after that Belk Bowl ends, with a ESPN (all 4 of these games are on ESPN, starting at noon) ending their feast of bowl games in Michigan taking on Kansas St. Oh, and Man City takes on Crystal Palace (which always makes me think of Dabney Coleman), is on now for those who like the commie football.

And for Georgia, we've got a pair of basketball games that will both be televised. Our ladies tip off at 4, and the game will be on CSS for those who get the channel (and also available on ESPN3). It will also be in Athens, at Stegeman Coliseum of course, if you'd rather watch it live in front of you. The girls have had a week to stew on their season's first loss with coach Andy Landers, having dropped one in a trip to Rutgers last Saturday. The 19th ranked Lady Dawgs (11-1) play an up tempo, perimeter focused game led by senior PG Khaalidah Miller.

The men face Colorado at 10 p.m. in Boulder and available for those who get the Pac 12 Network. The Buffaloes are ranked 21st under 4th year head coach Tad Boyle, and will be a very difficult test for Georgia coming off a hard fought victory over Western Carolina. But the Dawgs are riding a 5 game winning streak, and have been steadily getting healthy and out of Mark Fox's punishment corner. Charles Mann should be ready to go, with Taylor Echols having gotten some work behind him. Kenny Gaines is playing well, as is freshman wing Juwan Parker. With the athletic defender Brandon Morris back ready to roll at SF, that gives Fox options in his front court with 6'8 scorers Cameron Forte and Nemi Djurisic joining 6'8 defensive oriented Donte Williams and Marcus Thornton. I don't expect a win, but we did pull off a miracle thanks to someone who will be there the last time we played at Colorado.