Welcome to perhaps the biggest Thursday of sports in 2013. Not only will fans be treated to a National Football League game, but they also will two elite college football games and action in the NHL and NBA.
Sporting News' scoreboards will provide play-by-play and real-time stats for all the action. Here is a look at the games:
 Robert Griffin III (AP) |
NFL
Washington Redskins at Minnesota Vikings (8:25 p.m. ET, NFL Network) Call it the ACL Bowl. Every Baylor and Oklahoma fan will be watching the college game, but they should at least flip a bit to see their old reconstructed favorites, Robert Griffin III and Adrian Peterson, light up the marquee in Minny. All Day will have his moments, but sooner rather than later, the Vikings won’t be able to bear just running as RG3 picks apart their pass defense with his arm. Then it will be plenty of Alfred Morris to seal the deal. Prediction: Redskins 34, Vikings 24 — Vinnie Iyer, Week 10 picks
Plus: Fantasy Football podcast | DraftStreet Week 10 picks | The Linemakers: props and more
College football
 Marcus Mariota (AP) |
No. 2 Oregon at No. 6 Stanford (9 p.m. ET, ESPN) Slowing Marcus Mariota will be the top priority for Stanford (7-1, 5-1 Pac-12) in a matchup of the winners of the past four conference championships.
The Cardinal handed Mariota the only loss of his career last season, 17-14 in overtime in Eugene. Stanford's victory ended then-No. 1 Oregon's three-year run as conference champion and dashed the Ducks' national championship dreams — not to mention Mariota's chances for the Heisman Trophy.
Mariota has thrown for 2,281 yards and 20 touchdowns and run for 587 yards and nine TDs this season. He's completing 64.0 percent of his passes and, perhaps most impressively, has not thrown an interception. The last time he was picked off was during last season's meeting with the Cardinal. Oregon enters the game 8-0, 5-0 in the Pac-12.
No. 13 Oklahoma at No. 5 Baylor (7:30 p.m. ET, Fox Sports 1) Baylor (7-0, 4-0) is the Big 12's only undefeated team and, with its highest ranking in 60 years, the only one in the top 10. While the Bears have a school-record 11-game winning streak, there is still a long way to go for a possible Big 12 title and BCS shot. They still have to play the rest of the teams in the top half of the league standings — Texas Tech, Oklahoma State and Texas — and Thursday night's game presents a major challenge.
The Sooners (7-1, 4-1) were hurt by spread offenses run by West Virginia, Oklahoma State and Texas A&M during the final stretch of 2012, so they switched to an alignment with three defensive linemen and five defensive backs. It's worked well for most of the season, as the Sooners rank 10th in the FBS in total defense, allowing 314.3 yards per game.
PLUS: Video: This week's heavyweight games | SN's Week 11 picks | Video: Why offense dominates | Also Thursday: Troy at Louisiana-Lafayette, 7:30 p.m. ET
 LeBron James (AP) |
NBA
Los Angeles Clippers at Miami Heat (7 p.m. ET) After a tremendous scoring surge ended in the opener of their road trip, the Clippers might have a tough time bouncing back against the defending NBA champions.The Heat have been tough to beat at home, winning 24 of 25 regular-season games in Miami dating to last season.
They're expected to have Chris Bosh back when they try for their fifth consecutive home win against the Clippers.
Houston Rockets at Los Angeles Lakers (9:30 p.m. ET) Dwight Howard plays his first game with the Rockets since leaving the Lakers in the offseason. Need we say more?
Atlanta Hawks at Denver Nuggets (9 p.m. ET) The Hawks have struggled to win in Denver. But with the Nuggets on the brink of their worst start in 15 years, the Hawks could be poised for a rare victory there.
 Alex Ovechkin (AP) |
NHL
Florida Panthers at Boston Bruins, 7 p.m. ET
New York Rangers at Columbus Blue Jackets, 7 p.m. ET
New Jersey Devils at Philadelphia Flyers, 7 p.m. ET
Minnesota Wild at Washington Capitals, 7 p.m. ET
New York Islanders at Carolina Hurricanes, 7 p.m.
Montreal Canadiens at Ottawa Senators, 7 p.m. ET
Dallas Stars at Detroit Red Wings, 7:30 p.m. ET
Edmonton Oilers at Tampa Bay Lightning, 7:30 p.m. ET
Calgary Flames at St. Louis Blues, 8 p.m. ET
Buffalo Sabres at Los Angeles Kings, 10:30 p.m. ET
Vancouver Canucks at San Jose Sharks, 10:30 p.m. ET