>>Illinois Battles Eastern Kentucky

(Champaign, IL)  --  Undefeated Illinois hosts Eastern Kentucky on Saturday night at Assembly Hall.  The Fighting Illini, at 11-and-0, are ranked 10th in the country.  Illinois will try to not look past the Colonels to its match up with rival and number-11 Missouri on December 22nd.

>>Packers Battle Bears At Soldier

(Chicago, IL)  --  The Green Bay Packers battle the Chicago Bears for the second time this season when the teams meet Sunday at Soldier Field.  The Packers have a five-game winning streak against Chicago and can clinch the NFC North if they make it six.  The Bears are just a game back at 8-and-5, but have lost two straight and four of their last five.  Chicago lost 23-10 at Green Bay in Week Two.

>>Vikings, Rams Look To Keep Slim Playoff Hopes Alive

(St. Louis, MO)  --  Two teams looking to stay in the playoff hunt square off Sunday as the Minnesota Vikings lock horns with the St. Louis Rams at the Edward Jones Dome.  The Vikings beat the Bears 21-14 at home this past Sunday to improve to 7-and-6.  They are tied with Washington and Dallas, one game out of the final playoff spot in the NFC.  The Rams are just a half-game further back at 6-6-and-1.  St. Louis notched its third straight win this past Sunday, rallying for a 15-12 victory over the Bills at Buffalo.

>>No Progress After Second Day Of NHL Labor Talks With Mediator

(Iselin, NJ)  --  The NHL and the Players' Association met with federal mediators for a second straight day on Thursday, but there was no progress made once again in the ongoing labor dispute.  The two sides also met with mediators on November 28th and 29th but those talks broke off without any progress.  A total of 526 regular season games, the Winter Classic and the All-Star Game have already been cancelled due to the lockout.