The Music City Bowl is today featuring the LSU Tigers and Notre Dame. The game kicks off at 2pm and will be televised on ESPN. Notre Dame will start sophomore Malik Zaire (Ma-Leak, Zie-Ear) at quarterback in place of senior Everett Golson. Golson started all 12 regular season games for the Irish but had struggled down the stretch and was pulled in favor of Zaire during Notre Dame’s 49-14 loss to USC in the regular-season finale. Irish coach Brian Kelly says they are pleased with the way Golson has looked the past couple of weeks…

cut 14 (12) “obviously”

In response to Kelly’s announcement, LSU coach Les Miles made it clear the starting quarterback switch wouldn’t change much in the way his defense heads into today’s game. The game kicks off at 2pm and will be televised on ESPN.

The Pelicans return to the Smoothie King Center tonight to take on the Phoenix Suns. The Pels are 15-15 and coming off a 107-100 weekend road loss to the Chicago Bulls. The Suns carry a six-game winning streak into tonight’s contest. Tipoff is scheduled for 7PM.

In college hoops action, LSU continues their winning ways as they defeated Southern Miss 87-67 last night in Baton Rouge. Sophomore forward Jarell Martin lead the Tigers in scoring with 24. Jordan Mickey added 14 points and 10 rebounds as LSU improves to 10-2. The Tigers have won their last 7 games.

Louisiana Tech blew past Southern Arkansas, 74-52. Alex Hamilton lead the Bulldogs with 17 points, Xavian Stapleton came off the bench to add 16. Muleriders’ guard Jaron Davis lead all scorers with 18. Tech improves to 9-4 for the season, a perfect 7-0 at home.

Southern falls to 3-11 as they lose to Hawaii 71-57. Tre Lynch lead the Jags with 13 points in the loss.

A full slate of action scheduled for tonight, ULM travels to Georgia State for a big Sun Belt matchup, Nicholls State hosts Spring Hill, McNeese State hits the road to take on Mississippi State, Arkansas Little Rock hosts UL-Lafayette in another Sun Belt matchup, and UNO will take on Central Baptist College.