Saints Coach Sean Payton says there are no plans to rest the starters for the regular-season finale at Carolina. Payton says they are still playing for a chance to get the first seed in the N-F-C playoffs or at least a bye. The team had a walk-thru practice on Christmas Day and Drew Brees, Michael Thomas, CJ Gardner Johnson and Vonn Bell were among a large group of players listed as limited because of injuries.

The last time LSU’s defense was on the field, we saw them put together domianting performances against Georgia and Texas A-and-M. Defensive Coordinator Dave Aranda credits the players for trying to improve, even though the team was winning…
cut 17 (14) “…winning”
LSU will face an explosive Oklahoma offense on Saturday.
______________________________________________________________

How motivated will Miami be to play in today’s Independence Bowl contest against Louisiana Tech? The Hurricanes are 6-and-6 and playing a group of five school. Bulldogs Coach Skip Holtz says there are several reasons why his team is fired up to play in the Indy Bowl…
cut 20 (18) “….them play”
Since 2006, the Hurricanes have just one bowl win and that was in 2016 over West Virginia.

The Pelicans concluded a four-game road trip with a 112-100 victory over Denver on Christmas night. Brandon Ingram had 31 points to end the Nuggets 7-game winning streak. Ingram hit a career high 7 3-pointers. New Orleans went 3-and-1 on the road swing. They return home Saturday to host Indiana.