Just in time for Christmas, Saints quarterback Drew Brees has sent a commemorative football to every player and coach that helped him set the NFL’s career passing record. There were 174 balls that went out to Brees current and former teammates and assistant coaches too. The gift also includes a signed letter. New Orleans travels to Carolina for a Monday night matchup against the Carolina Panthers.

This afternoon, Tulane and UL-Lafayette meet in the Cure Bowl for a 12:30 kick-off in Orlando. The Cajuns like to run the football with Trey Ragas, Elijah Mitchell adn Raymond Calais, while the Green Wave have defended the run well, holding five of their last six opponents to less than 135 yards rushing.

The New Orleans Bowl is also tonight as Appalachian State faces Middle Tennessee in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome from an 8 PM kick-off. Two good quarterbacks in this one, Zac Thomas for Appalachian State, while the Blue Raiders have Conference USA MVP Bent Stockstill.

LSU basketball fans have a late night in front of them as the Tigers will face St. Mary’s at 10 PM in Las Vegas. Both teams were in the NIT last year, this season LSU is 7-3, while St. Mary’s is 7-4. The California-based school is on a four-game winning streak. Jordan Ford leads the Gaels, averaging 23 points a game and shooting 39-percent from three-point land.

In other action, Louisiana Tech is at Louisiana. The Ragin Cajuns have wn five in a row, while the Bulldogs have won four straight and U-L has won four of the last five meetings, including a four-point win in Ruston last year.

ULM will host Stephen F Austn at 2 PM. Daishon Smith is getting closer to full health. He missed several games with a hamstring injury, but scored 19 in a win over Grambling on Tuesday and for the season he’s averaging 18 ponts a game and shooting 49-percent from three-point territory.

Elswhere…Nicholls is at Boston, McNeese meets Missouri Kansas City, Northwestern State hosts southern and Grambling is at Portland.