Bit of a funny/sad story as mentioned in the newsletter. Biggest Bears regular-season game in a decade tonight. And yet I will be at a staging of "A Christmas Story" on ice or roller skates or mud or some craziness because someone clearly doesn't know me ... or sports. So I'm gonna play games in that entire show window as an excuse to go to the lobby and sit at the bar (there better be one). Sorry "gotta work". Have I mentioned I love this job? Gets me out of so much. Like the Curb episode where Larry uses his mother's death to get out of everything. I see Emory Hunt is on the Cats; will punch up to 3. True home game.

It's been a storied run for the Redbirds during this playoff season. Both teams are built similarly in the trenches on both sides of the ball. They also love to establish the ground game as well. Villanova has the better secondary and are more apt to connect on some much needed passes if the run game should come to a halt. And that'll be the difference here vs Illinois State.