Fran Fraschilla Might Visit Your Town... But Not for Long
ESPN college basketball analyst Fran Fraschilla is accustomed to being in many towns during a college basketball season, but not often is he in four different locations in a five-day stretch. His Rivalry Week experience will involve calling four games from Wednesday, Feb. 8 to Sunday, Feb. 12 with an “off-day” on Friday, Feb. 10 as he travels to Texas from Arizona. While Fraschilla enjoys sightseeing the campuses of the games he is calling, this week will require quick stops at each place... and of course, friendly travel weather.

Dick Vitale’s 40^th Duke-North Carolina Matchup
Hall of Fame college basketball analyst Dick Vitale, who worked his first game for ESPN in December 1979, will be courtside for No. 9 Duke at No. 5 North Carolina on ESPN on Wednesday, Feb. 8, at 9 p.m. It will mark the 40th time he has called one of sports’ most storied rivalries.

 “I’m very excited,” said Vitale. “It has been a thrill to sit courtside and to see so many magical moments between these two schools. For a basketball junkie like me, it is a dream come true.”

Top Matchups during 16th Annual Rivalry Week
ESPN’s 16th annual Rivalry Week – more than 65 men’s college hoops games Monday, Feb. 6 to Monday, Feb. 13 – will once again showcase many of the sport’s top rivalries. Highlights:

• ESPN and ESPN2 will combine to televise three games between teams in the top 11, on Wednesday, Feb. 8: No. 11 Georgetown at No. 2 Syracuse at 7 p.m. followed by No. 9 Duke at No. 5 North Carolina at 9 p.m. on ESPN and No. 10 Kansas at No. 6 Baylor at 7 p.m. on ESPN2.
• ESPN3 will offer No. 7 Murray State, the only remaining undefeated team, twice: against Tennessee State on Thursday, Feb. 9, at 8 p.m. and against Austin Peay on Saturday, Feb. 11, at 8:30 p.m.
• ESPN will televise a matchup between ranked teams Saturday, Feb. 11 as well as the top team in the country: No. 12 Michigan State at No. 3 Ohio State at 6 p.m. and No. 1 Kentucky at Vanderbilt at 9 p.m.
• ESPNU will showcase an Ivy League rivalry pitting No. 21 Harvard at Princeton on Saturday, Feb. 11, at 7 p.m.

ESPN college basketball analyst and former coach Fran Fraschilla on playing your rival: “I always subscribed to the ‘one-game-at-a-time’ philosophy as a coach, but there’s something sweeter about beating your rival. It certainly makes the next booster club function that you attend a little easier.”

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COLLEGE BASKETBALL

• Men’s College Basketball: Top Matchups during Rivalry Week
• Fran Fraschilla Might Visit Your Town... But Not for Long
• Dick Vitale’s 40^th Duke-North Carolina Matchup
• Inside look at ESPN’s Dick Vitale on ESPNU All-Access on Wednesday
• ESPN3 Home to Exclusive Women’s College Basketball Games

NBA, MLB, COACH HURLEY & MORE

• Lakers/Kobe, Knicks/’Melo to Collide in Madison Square Garden Showdown
• Baseball Tonight Returns Tuesday
• The Street Stops Here on ESPNU on February 19
• First of Two Black History Month Programming Weekends
• SportsCenter Special: Face to Face with Tim Tebow
• espnW This Week: Kate Fagan Wraps Up Super Bowl XLVI, Hoops Across America Features Duke University and Sage Steele’s runDisney Marathon Training

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Men’s College Basketball: Top Matchups during Rivalry Week
contact: michael.c.humes@espn.com 
ESPN’s 16th annual Rivalry Week – more than 65 men’s college hoops games Monday, Feb. 6, to Monday, Feb. 13 – will once again showcase many of the sport’s top rivalries. Highlights:

• ESPN and ESPN2 will combine to televise three games between teams in the top 11, on Wednesday, Feb. 8: No. 11 Georgetown at No. 2 Syracuse at 7 p.m. followed by No. 9 Duke at No. 5 North Carolina at 9 p.m. on ESPN and No. 10 Kansas at No. 6 Baylor at 7 p.m. on ESPN2.
• ESPN3 will offer No. 7 Murray State, the only remaining undefeated team, twice: against Tennessee State on Thursday, Feb. 9, at 8 p.m. and against Austin Peay on Saturday, Feb. 11, at 8:30 p.m.
• ESPN will televise a matchup between ranked teams Saturday, Feb. 11, as well as the top team in the country: No. 12 Michigan State at No. 3 Ohio State at 6 p.m. and No. 1 Kentucky at Vanderbilt at 9 p.m.
• ESPNU will showcase an Ivy League rivalry pitting No. 21 Harvard at Princeton on Saturday, Feb. 11, at 7 p.m.

ESPN college basketball analyst and former coach Fran Fraschilla on playing your rival: “I always subscribed to the ‘one-game-at-a-time’ philosophy as a coach, but there’s something sweeter about beating your rival. It certainly makes the next booster club function that you attend a little easier.”

_______________________________________________________

Fran Fraschilla Might Visit Your Town... But Not for Long
contact: michael.c.humes@espn.com 
ESPN college basketball analyst Fran Fraschilla is accustomed to being in many towns during a college basketball season, but not often is he in four different locations in a five-day stretch. His Rivalry Week experience will involve calling four games from Wednesday, Feb. 8 to Sunday, Feb. 12 with an “off-day” on Friday, Feb. 10 as he travels to Texas from Arizona. While Fraschilla enjoys sightseeing the campuses of the games he is calling, this week will require quick stops at each place... and of course, friendly travel weather.

_______________________________________________________

Dick Vitale’s 40^th Duke-North Carolina Matchup
contact: michael.c.humes@espn.com 
Hall of Fame college basketball analyst Dick Vitale, who worked his first game for ESPN in December 1979, will be courtside for No. 9 Duke at No. 5 North Carolina on ESPN on Wednesday, Feb. 8, at 9 p.m. It will mark the 40th time he has called one of sports’ most storied rivalries.

“I’m very excited,” said Vitale. “It has been a thrill to sit courtside and to see so many magical moments between these two schools. For a basketball junkie like me, it is a dream come true.”

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Inside look at ESPN’s Dick Vitale on ESPNU All-Access on Wednesday
contact: gracie.blackburn@espn.com 
ESPNU All-Access offers a never-before-seen look into the life of one of the most recognizable voices in sports television, ESPN Analyst Dick Vitale.  ESPNU cameras followed the basketball Hall of Famer in his hometown of Sarasota, Fla., to provide a glimpse of a typical college basketball workweek. All-Access gives highlights from his call of the N.C. State at North Carolina game on January 26 and two days later announcing the St. John’s at Duke game alongside Brent Musberger. All-Access: Dick Vitale at North Carolina and Duke premieres Wednesday, Feb. 8, on ESPNU at 6 p.m.

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ESPN3 Home to Exclusive Women’s College Basketball Games
contact: rachel.l.margolis@espn.com 
Two Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) matchups highlight ESPN3’s women’s basketball schedule this week. Siena plays at St. Peter’s on Thursday, Feb. 9, at 6 p.m., followed by Iona at Loyola (Md.) on Friday at 4 p.m.

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Lakers/Kobe, Knicks/’Melo to Collide in Madison Square Garden Showdown
contacts: ben.cafardo@espn.com; nate.smeltz@espn.com 
ESPN will televise an NBA doubleheader Friday, Feb. 10, beginning with the New York Knicks and Carmelo Anthony hosting the Los Angeles Lakers and Kobe Bryant – who holds the single-game scoring record at Madison Square Garden with 61 points – at 8 p.m. Mike Breen and analyst Hubie Brown will provide commentary with reporter Lisa Salters. In the nightcap, the Oklahoma City Thunder and Kevin Durant visit the Utah Jazz and Al Jefferson at 10:30 p.m. Mike Tirico has the call with analyst Chris Mullin and reporter Heather Cox. Coverage begins with Kia NBA Countdown 7:30 p.m. with analysts Magic Johnson, Michael Wilbon, Jon Barry and Chris Broussard. 

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Baseball Tonight Returns Tuesday
contacts: ben.cafardo@espn.com; nate.smeltz@espn.com 
ESPN’s Baseball Tonight returns Tuesday, Feb. 7, at 3:30 p.m. with host Karl Ravech and reporters Buster Olney and Jayson Stark. ESPN’s deep roster of MLB commentators will provide in-depth analysis of the top MLB storylines heading into Spring Training.

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The Street Stops Here on ESPNU on February 19
contact: gracie.blackburn@espn.com
ESPNU will air a portrait of one of the most successful basketball coaches at any level, Bob Hurley Sr., and his career-long struggle to inspire and motivate his St. Anthony High School players in The Street Stops Here. The film premieres Sunday, Feb. 19, at 8 p.m. and re-airs five times leading up to the 2012 Final Four.

Produced by Chicago-based TeamWorks Media, the documentary shares the inspiring story of a coach’s mission to change lives armed with nothing more than a basketball. The film chronicles the team’s record-setting 25^th state championship season and includes interviews with some of basketball’s most renowned names: Duke basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski; North Carolina basketball coach Roy Williams; and Hall of Fame high school coaching legend, Morgan Wootten.

The ESPNU premiere has exclusive post-film roundtable discussion moderated by ESPN college basketball analyst Jay Williams with the coach and his sons Danny Hurley, head coach at Wagner College, and Bobby Hurley, former Duke star and assistant coach at Wagner College.

On Friday, Feb. 17, ESPNHS.com will have several short video vignettes, an extended written feature on Hurley and a “Where are they now?” look at the players featured in the documentary.

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First of Two Black History Month Programming Weekends
contact: kimberly.jarvis@espn.com 
ESPN’s annual Black History Month programming continues with daily “Free to Be” vignettes and encore presentations of the network’s award-winning SportsCentury program, as well as archival interviews from Up Close and Schaap One on One.  Highlights for this week include the first of two back-to-back “ESPN Films Weekend” on ESPN Classic, starting with Black Magic, Part I on Friday, Feb. 10, at 10 p.m. followed by Black Magic, Part II.  The film, directed by Dan Klores, tells the story of the injustice that characterized the Civil Rights Movement in America, as told through the lives of basketball players and coaches who attended and worked at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU).  Schedule

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SportsCenter Special: Face to Face with Tim Tebow
contact: bill.hofheimer@espn.com 
Hannah Storm conducts an in-depth 30-minute conversation with one of the biggest newsmakers of the 2011 NFL season when SportsCenter Special: Face to Face with Tim Tebow airs Tuesday, Feb. 7, at 10:30 p.m. on ESPN2. The Broncos quarterback helped lead Denver to an improbable 8-5 record after a 1-4 start. Behind Tebow, the Broncos earned a playoff berth and beat the Steelers in overtime in dramatic fashion in the Wild Card round. Storm interviewed Tebow during Super Bowl week in Indianapolis where he discussed the season, as well as his performance and popularity. This is the second Face to Face special for Storm, who had a similar NFL-themed show last week featuring interviews with NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers, Rookie of the Year Cam Newton, Colts owner Jim Irsay and Lions defensive lineman Ndamukong Suh. Preview

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espnW This Week: Kate Fagan Wraps Up Super Bowl XLVI, Hoops Across America Features Duke University and Sage Steele’s runDisney Marathon Training
contact: colleen.s.lynch@espn.com 
Kate Fagan wraps up espnW.com ‘s Super Bowl XLVI coverage from Indianapolis with a look back at an exciting game. This week Hoops Across America series continues with a focus on Duke University.  Viv Bernstein takes an in-depth look at the traditions, fans, coaches and community that support the teams. ESPN anchor Sage Steele continues her training for the runDisney Princess Half Marathon on February 26 at Walt Disney Word.  Several new personal video diaries have been added to the site and fans can also follow her progress on Twitter via #runSage. On Wed., Feb. 8, the site will preview the LPGA season with a look at Lexi Thompson and Yani Tseng.

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ESPN’s 16th annual Rivalry Week men’s college basketball schedule tips off with the top eight teams over three days, highlighted by four against ranked rivals:

• No. 1 Kentucky hosting No. 11 Florida on Tuesday, Feb. 7, at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN.
• ESPN and ESPN2 each televise a matchup between ranked foes Wednesday, Feb. 8, at 7 p.m.: No. 2 Syracuse at home against No. 14 Georgetown and No. 8 Kansas visits No. 6 Baylor (network assignments are to be determined).
• Also on Wednesday, ESPN showcases one of sports’ biggest rivalries when No. 5 Duke visits No. 6 North Carolina at 9 p.m.

ESPN’s multimedia coverage of Super Bowl XLVI continues through the weekend from Pan Am Plaza (201 South Capitol Avenue) in downtown Indianapolis.  All shows are available for free public viewing. 

Actors Adam Sandler and Andy Samberg, and Indy Car driver Graham Rahal, who will be part of ESPN’s Sunday NFL Countdown season finale, are among the notable guests scheduled to appear on ESPN programs this weekend. Scheduled highlights (all times ET):

Schedule of ESPN’s on-site programming for Saturday, Feb. 4:

10 a.m. - SportsCenter (ESPN)
Host: Steve Levy. Analysts: Tedy Bruschi and Steve Young.                 

1 p.m. – ESPN Deportes and ESPN International SportsCenter
Host: Ciro Procuna. Analysts: Alvaro Martin, Raul Allegre. 

6 p.m. - SportsCenter (ESPN)
Host: Stuart Scott. Analysts: Trent Dilfer and Keyshawn Johnson.

Schedule of ESPN’s Super Bowl programming for Sunday, Feb. 5:

Sunday’s coverage will feature more than 17 hours of Super Bowl-related programming, beginning at 6 a.m. with Mike & Mike in the Morning live from ESPN’s Bristol, Conn., studios.

Chris Berman, covering his 30^th Super Bowl, will host a four-hour Super Bowl XLVI edition of Sunday NFL Countdown (10 a.m.-2 p.m.) with analysts Cris Carter, Mike Ditka, Tom Jackson, Keyshawn Johnson, Tedy Bruschi, Trent Dilfer, Jerry Rice, and Steve Young.  Monday Night Football’s Mike Tirico, Jon Gruden and Ron Jaworski will join the crew from the stadium.  NFL Insiders Chris Mortensen and Adam Schefter will also contribute reports, and reporters Rachel Nichols (covering the Giants) and Ed Werder (Patriots) will provide updates on the teams throughout the day.

Special celebrity guest appearances at Pan Am Plaza during Countdown:
11:45 a.m. – Adam Sandler and Andy Samberg, stars of the upcoming movie That’s My Boy will be on-set (Jets head coach Rex Ryan made a cameo appearance in the movie);
1:55 p.m. – IZOD IndyCar driver Graham Rahal will drive through downtown Indianapolis to deliver the Super Bowl XLVI picks to the set.

Pre-game coverage:

3 a.m.         NFL Matchup (ESPN – re-airs at 6:30 a.m.) – Taped Saturday in Indianapolis 
Host:  Sal Paolantonio.  Analysts: Merril Hoge and Ron Jaworski 

6 a.m.         Mike and Mike in the Morning (ESPN Radio/ESPN2) **
Hosts: Mike Greenberg and Mike Golic

Guests: ESPN analyst Herm Edwards (7 a.m.), Super Bowl winning coach and Monday Night Football analyst Jon Gruden (7 a.m.), and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell (9:03 a.m.)

9 a.m.         SportsCenter (ESPN) **
Hosts:  Bob Ley and Hannah Storm
(Super Bowl XLVI segments from Lucas Oil Stadium – Host: Mike Tirico. Analysts: Merril Hoge, Jon Gruden and Ron Jaworski)
SportsCenter anchor Karl Ravech will be live in Durham, Conn., midpoint between and Met Life Stadium (Giants) and Gillette Stadium (Patriots). 

9 a.m.         SportsNation (ESPN2) **
Hosts:  Michelle Beadle and Colin Cowherd.  Guest analyst: Herm Edwards                 

10 a.m.       Sunday NFL Countdown (ESPN)
Full release.

11 a.m.       First Take (ESPN2)
Host:  Jay Crawford.  Analyst: Skip Bayless

Post-game coverage:

 10:30 p.m.  NFL PrimeTime (ESPN) – live from Lucas Oil Stadium
Host: Berman. Analysts: Jackson and Young. 

11:30 p.m.  SportsCenter (ESPN) **
Hosts: Steve Berthiaume and Robert Flores
(Super Bowl XLVI segments from Pan Am Plaza – Hosts: Stuart Scott and Steve Levy.  Analysts: Cris Carter, Trent Dilfer, and Keyshawn Johnson)

* Commentator and guest schedules subject to change

** Originating from ESPN Studios in Bristol, Conn. 

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February 3, 2012 

ESPN on-air personalities offer their predictions for Super Bowl XLVI and the votes are split right down the middle. Of the 34 ESPN picks, 17 chose the Patriots, while 17 selected the Giants as the anticipated winner of this year’s Super Bowl game in Indianapolis: 

Picking the Patriots: 

Chris Berman, Host, Sunday NFL Countdown and Monday Night Countdown: 27-23: “Much respect to the Giants, but I think Tom Brady is ready to top even himself.”

Tedy Bruschi, NFL Live analyst and three-time Super Bowl champion linebacker with the Patriots: 27-24: “Stephen Gostowski writes his name next to Adam Vinatieri in the book of Super Bowl heroes with a game-winning kick as time expires.”

John Clayton, ESPN.com senior NFL writer: 24-20. “It's hard to beat Tom Brady three times in a row at his game of comeback football in the fourth quarter. Though I worry about the Patriots' defense, I think Brady and Bill Belichick will find a way to squeak out a victory.”

Colin Cowherd, Host, ESPN Radio’s The Herd: 28-27: “The media coverage and the tenor of the Super Bowl has been overwhelmingly New York, and I sense an upset.”

Trent Dilfer, Monday Night Countdown analyst and Super Bowl champion quarterback: 28-27: “My brain tells me the matchups are in the Giants’ favor, but my gut tells me the revenge factor wins out.”

Herm Edwards, NFL Live analyst:  31-27: “From what I've seen the past five weeks, the Giants are the best team going into this game, BUT it's going to boil down to red zone offense. I see Tom Brady throwing four touchdowns and Eli Manning throwing three.”

Jon Gruden, Monday Night Football analyst and Super Bowl champion coach: 30-27: “I don’t think you can get Tom Brady twice in the same game.”

Tim Hasselbeck, NFL Live analyst: 27-24: “Even though I see this as a bad matchup for the Patriots, I believe their ability to control the tempo on offense will be the difference in the game and will prevent Tom Brady from getting hit too often.”

Eric Mangini, NFL Live and First Take analyst, and former assistant coach with the Super Bowl champion Patriots: 34-31: “The Giants have become the trendy pick and I understand why. Tom Brady, however, is going to have better answers to the problems New York can create and he will take advantage of the Giants’ inconsistent disguise. Both teams will score a lot of points and it will probably come down to who has the ball last.”

Kenny Mayne, Sunday NFL Countdown contributor: 31-30: “I take New England by one point because that's the minimum a team can win by and I see it as a pick 'em game. If Ed Hochuli can explain in 30 minutes or fewer how a team can win by less than a point I will believe him and make that my prediction.”

Sal Paolantonio, NFL correspondent: 31-27: “We’re in the middle of a trilogy. Super Bowl XLII was a new hope, and you can’t have a ‘Return of the Jedi’ without the ‘Empire Strikes Back’.”

Ryen Russillo, Scott Van Pelt Show co-host: 24-20: “The Patriots will have a similar game plan to what they did against Baltimore to neutralize the Giants’ front.”

Adam Schefter, NFL Insider: 27-16. “The Giants are the better and more complete team. But they also have to figure out a way to beat Bill Belichick, Tom Brady and the memory of Myra Kraft.”

Mark Schlereth, NFL Live analyst and three-time Super Bowl champion: 27-24: “Everything points to the New York Giants but Bill Belichick will have a one-back plan that attacks the Giants’ NASCAR front and keeps pressure off Brady.”

Mike Tirico, Monday Night Football play-by-play commentator: 28-22: “It’s hard for me to think that Bill Belichick and Tom Brady will lose their second Super Bowl in four years to the Giants.”

Scott Van Pelt, SportsCenter anchor and ESPN Radio host: 23-20: “The entire basis of this pick is Tom Brady and that’s ridiculous.”

Trey Wingo, NFL Live and NFL PrimeTime host: 27-24: “Every matchup favors the Giants, so of course I’m going with the Patriots.”

Picking the Giants:

Michelle Beadle, Co-host, SportsNation: 28-25: “The Giants will ride the momentum train and the backs of their defense -- and I don’t like the Patriots.”

Cris Carter, Sunday NFL Countdown and Monday Night Countdown analyst: 27-24: “All I can say is ‘salsa’.”

Mike Ditka, Sunday NFL Countdown and Monday Night Countdown analyst: 24-17: “The Giants are better on both sides of the ball, and the Patriots are going to have a tough time scoring a lot of points against this defense.”

Mike Golic, NFL Live analyst and co-host of ESPN Radio’s Mike & Mike in the Morning: 24-20: “Right now the Giants are playing better than the Patriots, and I think they’re a more balanced team. It could come down to who has the ball last, but I have a lot of faith in Eli if they have the ball last to do what he did in week 9 against the Patriots.”

Mike Greenberg, co-host of ESPN Radio’s Mike & Mike in the Morning and SportsCenter anchor: 34-20: "I like the Giants in a big way – a big way for Big Blue. They are the healthier team, and that's the most important factor. They're the hotter team, and, frankly, they're the better team. I like the Giants and I don't think it's that close."

Merril Hoge, NFL Live, NFL Matchup and NFL PrimeTime analyst: 27-20: “The NFL is about matchups and all the matchups are in the Giants’ favor, and they just need to execute.”

Gary Horton, ESPN Scouts Inc.: 23-17: “The difference in this game is the evolving three-wide receiver package the we didn’t see early on. The Giants can match the Patriots offensive explosiveness and they are playing at a higher level.”

Tom Jackson, Sunday NFL Countdown and Monday Night Countdown analyst: 24-20: “All of the emotional intangibles are in the Patriots’ favor but I believe the Giants are a better football team – and a healthier team.”

Ron Jaworski, Monday Night Football and NFL Matchup analyst: 27-21: “Eli’s on a roll and Hakeem Nicks has a big game against the Patriots’ makeshift secondary.”

Suzy Kolber, NFL32 host: 27-24: “Finally healthy, the Giants defense is the force they hoped it would be before the season started. Their unique pass rushing ability can get Brady off his mark. Offensively, no quarterback has been more clutch this season than Eli Manning and he’s complimented by two additional weapons that weren’t available to him when they beat the Patriots in week 9.”

Steve Levy, SportsCenter anchor: 31-30: “Eli is now just as cool as Brady, although in a different way.”

Chris Mortensen, NFL senior analyst and NFL32 co-host: 34-24: “Everybody wants to talk about the last time these two teams played in the Super Bowl. That’s irrelevant. This time the Giants are just the better team. They have played a tougher schedule and are more battle-tested.”

Antonio Pierce, NFL Live analyst and Super Bowl XLII champion with the New York Giants: 29-27: “Eli Manning in the fourth quarter doing what he has done all year long – throw a game-winning touchdown.”

Rick Reilly, Contributor, Monday Night Countdown: 25-24: “Sixty-five thousand people will learn to salsa at Lucas Oil Stadium.”

Jerry Rice, NFL Live analyst and four-time Super Bowl champion: 28-21: “The Giants are too strong on defense with Justin Tuck, Jason Pierre-Paul, and Osi Umenyiora, who hopefully shows up for the football game. Also, the Patriots don’t have the secondary to keep up.”

Stuart Scott, Anchor, SportsCenter, and Co-Host, Monday Night Countdown: 31-27: “I always expect greatness out of Tom Brady, but I just don’t know how New England’s secondary is going to contain Manningham, Cruz and Nicks.”

Damien Woody, NFL Live analyst and two-time Super Bowl champion with the New England Patriots: 27-24: “The Giants have two things in their favor: a hot quarterback in Eli Manning that can expose a poor New England secondary and a pass rush that can get after Tom Brady.”

Note: Game predictions for ESPN’s Keyshawn Johnson and Steve Young will  be revealed during this weekend’s Super Bowl Sunday edition of Sunday NFL Countdown (10 a.m. ET).

Other ESPN predictions…

ESPN.com writers:

Dan Graziano, NFC East ESPN.com blogger: Giants, 31-24.

“The Giants weren't the best team in the NFL for most of this season, but they have been for the past six weeks. Eli Manning should torch an overmatched New England secondary. Frankly, the Giants' past two opponents were tougher than this one.”

James Walker, AFC East ESPN.com blogger: Patriots, 27-24

“I picked the Patriots in the preseason, so there's no point in backing out now. I doubt Tom Brady will have two bad games in a row, especially against an inconsistent Giants secondary.”

Kevin Seifert, NFC North ESPN.com blogger: Giants, 27-21 

“The Giants' defensive line overpowered the Patriots four years ago and is in position to do the same Sunday.”

Jamison Hensley, AFC North ESPN.com blogger: Patriots, 31-20

“Tom Brady didn't play well in the AFC Championship game and he remembers losing to the Giants in the Super Bowl four years ago. A motivated Brady is a dangerous one. He will prove that you don't need a defense to win a ring.”

Pat Yasinskas, NFC South ESPN.com blogger: Giants, 28-24 

“Most people think Bill Belichick is the best coach in the world. I think Tom Coughlin's at least as good and a victory against Belichick will open the way for Coughlin to get the recognition he deserves.”

Paul Kuharsky, AFC South ESPN.com blogger: Giants, 27-23 

“Hardly rocket science, but I envision the New York pass rush and the New England pass defense being the biggest factors in the game. Still, with Bill Belichick and Tom Brady cast as ‘underdogs’, the Patriots are scary.” 

Mike Sando, NFC West ESPN.com blogger: Patriots, 27-23

“I'll stick with my preseason prediction/guess, so New England, it is. But all the pressure is on the Patriots, same as four years ago.”

Bill Williamson, AFC West ESPN.com blogger: Patriots, 27-17 

“Eli Manning won't grab another Super Bowl ring on Tom Brady's watch. Brady adds to his legacy as one of the best Super Bowl performers of all time with a masterful performance against a strong defense.”

Jeffri Chadiha, ESPN.com National NFL writer: Giants, 28-24

“New York has enough defense to control Tom Brady and Co. New England can't say the same when it comes to stopping the Giants' balanced offense.”

Ashley Fox, ESPN.com National NFL writer: Giants, 27-24 

“The Giants are on a Packers-esque roll and the Patriots haven't lit the playoffs on fire. Manning will torch the New England secondary to get his second ring in big brother's house.”

Greg Garber, ESPN.com senior writer: Giants, 16-13 

“Revenge is swee -- oh, wait. Giants' defense is marginally better than the Patriots'.” 

Mike Reiss, ESPNBoston.com Patriots writer -- Patriots 30-20

This reminds me of the Nov. 13 game at the Jets, a contest in which many predicted trouble for the Patriots but the team came through. I think they do it again. While there is respect for the Giants’ pass rush, it’s not like opponents have been completely shut down by the unit. I expect some points from a faster-paced attack and quarterback Tom Brady to play better and limit mistakes. On the opposite side, the improved defense limits the run and forces Eli Manning into some long-yardage situations and that’s when the Patriots can dial up some pressure. Promises to be a good one.

Ohm Youngmisuk, ESPNNY.com Giants writer: Giants, 31-27

“Eli Manning is a better quarterback than he was in SB XLII. He also has more dangerous receivers. The Patriots won't be able to stop Hakeem Nicks, Victor Cruz or Mario Manningham -- someone will be open -- and they don't want to give Manning the ball for a last-minute drive again. Much of the attention has been on the Giants pass rush but the secondary and linebackers will come up big like it did against Green Bay.”

Rich Cimini, ESPNNY.com NFL writer: Giants, 31-27 

“The Giants are more balanced on both sides of the ball. Eli Manning should pick apart the Patriots' patchwork secondary, but don't be surprised if the running game -- Ahmad Bradshaw and Brandon Jacobs -- emerges as the story.”

*** To view more ESPN expert picks, visit ESPN.com by clicking here.

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To tweet this release: http://es.pn/wAH0dW

ESPN networks (ESPN2, ESPN3 and ESPN Deportes) will air 20 live soccer matches beginning Saturday, Feb. 4 through Wednesday, Feb. 8, including Barclays Premier League, Spain’s La Liga, German Bundesliga and Dutch Eredivisie.  ESPN3 will also deliver 13 exclusive live matches including Italian Serie A, Coppa Italia, Copa Del Rey, German Cup and French League Cup.

Schedule:

**All matches and times subject to change.

-- 30 --

Chris Berman and Countdown Analysts Live at Pan Am Plaza in Downtown Indianapolis;

Monday Night Football’s Tirico, Gruden and Jaworski at Lucas Oil Stadium;

Special Guests Adam Sandler and Andy Samberg, and IndyCar driver Graham Rahal

ESPN’s special four-hour Super Bowl XLVI edition of Sunday NFL Countdown featuring host Chris Berman and analysts Cris Carter, Mike Ditka, Tom Jackson, Keyshawn Johnson, Chris Mortensen and Adam Schefter will preview the New England Patriots-New York Giants Super Bowl matchup beginning at 10 a.m. ET from Pan Am Plaza in downtown Indianapolis, Ind.  The show will also include Monday Night Football’s Mike Tirico, Jon Gruden, and Ron Jaworski from a set at Lucas Oil Stadium.  Additionally, Super Bowl-winning ESPN analysts Tedy Bruschi, Trent Dilfer, Bill Parcells, Antonio Pierce, Jerry Rice and Steve Young, and Merril Hoge, will contribute from an adjoining set at Pan Am Plaza with host Suzy Kolber. Reporters Rachel Nichols (covering the Giants) and Ed Werder (Patriots) will provide updates throughout the program from the team hotels.  In all, ESPN’s roster of Countdown analysts has a combined 16 Super Bowl rings in 25 appearances in the NFL’s biggest game.

Special Guests:

Countdown will feature celebrity guest appearances at the Pan Am Plaza, including:

11:45 a.m. – Adam Sandler and Andy Samberg, stars of the upcoming movie That’s My Boy will be on-set (Jets head coach Rex Ryan made a cameo appearance in the movie);

1:55 p.m. – IZOD IndyCar driver Graham Rahal will drive through downtown Indianapolis to deliver the Super Bowl XLVI picks to the set.

Planned Countdown features, in order of timing by quarter-hour (all times subject to change):

Bill Parcells on the Super Bowl coaches (10:30 a.m.)

Two-time Super Bowl-winning coach Bill Parcells will offer his unique insight on this year’s Super Bowl coaches – Bill Belichick (Patriots) and Tom Coughlin (Giants) – both of whom he mentored and had on his former Giants staff.

Quarterback Eli Manning’s Elusiveness (11 a.m.)

Though quarterback Eli Manning has managed to trip, stumble and spin his way into making spectacular plays for his team this season, elusive is not the first word that comes to mind when describing the Giants signal-caller.  While his inside-the-pocket play may not be pretty, Manning's unique ability to escape pressure has played a huge part in the Giants success this season. Nichols reports on the elusive side of Eli.

Chris and LaKeasha Draft (11:30 a.m.)

LaKeasha Draft, the 38 year-old wife of former NFL linebacker Chris Draft, lost her life to lung cancer one month after they were married last December.  Reporter Jeremy Schaap tells the story of courage and true love shared by a dying wife and her loving husband, who played 12 years in the NFL.

Peyton Manning Conversation (12 p.m.)

In the first television interview this week after considerable recent speculation about his future, Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning talks to NFL Live host Trey Wingo. He discusses his health, his future, and his younger brother Eli’s Super Bowl appearance this weekend in Indianapolis.

Introduced as a Team (12 p.m.)

Flashy, individual player introductions of high-profile players such as Michael Irvin, Deion Sanders, and Ray Lewis had been part of the Super Bowl pre-game spectacle until Super Bowl XXXVI in 2001 when the New England Patriots demanded to be introduced as a team.  Bruschi, a member of that first Patriots’ Super Bowl-winning team, reports how a united group of players changed a Super Bowl tradition.

Bill Belichick Conversation (12:15 p.m.)

In Bill Belichick’s 12 seasons as head coach, the Patriots have won three Super Bowls, gone undefeated in the regular season, and have set a number of offensive records.  Countdown’s Keyshawn Johnson sits for a one-on-one interview where Belichick discusses his legacy as a five-time Super Bowl winner, quarterback Tom Brady, and New England’s 31^st-ranked defense.

Tim Tebow Conversation (12:30 p.m.)

Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow became the season’s biggest story on the strength of an 8-5 record, turning the team’s 1-4 start into a playoff berth and Wild Card win at home over the favored Steelers.  Tebow sits for an extensive conversation with ESPN’s Hannah Storm where he addresses the season, his performance and popularity.

“All In” (1 p.m.)

After 14 games the Giants were sitting at 7-7 and staring at the possibility of yet another late-season collapse.  Then, a speech delivered by a local high school teacher during a chapel service on Friday night before their game against the Jets, changed the course of the season.  In that speech, the speaker told them that in order to be committed to something you have to be “All In.”  The last two words have become the team’s battle cry as the Giants have now won five straight games on their way to the Super Bowl, reports Rick Reilly.

Mayne Event – Motherly Love (1:15 p.m.)

Like most NFL players, Giants defensive end Dave Tollefson gets pumped up for battle by receiving a pregame speech.  Unlike most NFL players, that speech comes in the form of an obscenity laced phone call from his mother.  In a special Super Bowl edition of “Mayne Event,” Kenny Mayne goes behind the scenes to capture Tollefson's unique ritual and examines the impact it has had on the player’s Super Bowl preparations in Indy.

Wide Receiver Demo (1:15 p.m.)

ESPN’s trio of former NFL receivers – Carter, Johnson and Hall of Famer Rice – discuss the pass catchers who will have the biggest impact on Sunday’s game in a demo field segment.

Tedy Bruschi and Antonio Pierce On-Set (1:30 p.m.)

The day their former teams renew their Super Bowl rivalry, ESPN analysts Bruschi and Pierce – former linebackers for the Patriots and Giants, respectively -- discuss this year’s matchup and the experience of playing in Super Bowl XLII when New York upset previously unbeaten New England.

Tom Brady Super Bowl Soundtracks (1:30 p.m.)

Patriots quarterback Tom Brady will lead his team to its fifth Super Bowl Sunday.  In “Soundtracks,” Countdown features some of the best in-game audio of Brady from his past four Super Bowls.

Super Bowl Edition of C’mon Man (1:30 p.m.)

The Countdown crew offers a special edition of its popular weekly Monday Night Countdown segment C’Mon Man.

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ESPN’s multimedia coverage of Super Bowl XLVI continues Friday, Feb. 3, from Pan Am Plaza (201 South Capitol Avenue) in downtown Indianapolis.  All shows are available for free public viewing.

Among the notable guests scheduled to appear on ESPN programs tomorrow include Green Bay Packers linebacker Clay Matthews, actor Adam Sandler, Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank, Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton, and player agent Tom Condon.

Scheduled highlights (all times ET):

6 a.m. - Mike and Mike in the Morning (ESPN Radio/ESPN2)
Hosts: Mike Greenberg and Mike Golic
Guests: Carolina Panthers rookie quarterback Cam Newton (6:45 a.m.), ESPN analyst Merril Hoge (7 a.m.), 2011 Heisman Trophy winner and 2012 NFL Draft prospect Robert Griffin III (7:45 a.m.), former Miami Dolphins linebacker Jason Taylor (8 a.m.), Green Bay Packers linebacker Clay Matthews (8:15 a.m.), ESPN analyst Steve Young (8:30 a.m.), Minnesota Vikings quarterback Christian Ponder (8:45 a.m.), former Washington Redskins head coach Joe Gibbs (9 a.m.), Dallas Cowboys tight end Jason Witten (9:15 a.m.), and actor Adam Sandler with rapper Vanilla Ice (9:30 a.m.).

10 a.m. - The Herd (ESPN Radio/ESPNEWS)
Host: Colin Cowherd
Guests: Former NFL running back Warrick Dunn (10:30 a.m.), former NFL player Chris Doleman (10:45 a.m.), Minnesota Vikings quarterback Christian Ponder (11:15 a.m.), Green Bay Packers tight end Jermichael Finley (11:30 a.m.), Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton (11:45 a.m.), former NFL player Bill Romanowski (12 p.m.), and Falcons Owner Arthur Blank (12:45 p.m.).

1 p.m. - Scott Van Pelt Show (ESPN Radio/ESPNEWS through 3 p.m. ET)  
Hosts: Scott Van Pelt and Ryen Russillo
Guests: Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton and/or Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver AJ Green (time TBD), Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Reggie Wayne (1:15 p.m.), Tennessee Titans quarterback Matt Hasselbeck (1:45 p.m.), ESPN analyst Trent Dilfer (2 p.m.), Green Bay packers wide receiver Greg Jennings (3:15 p.m.), and NY Jets wide receiver Plaxico Burress (time TBD).

1 p.m. - NFL Semenal (ESPN Deportes)  
Host: Ciro Procuna.  Analysts: Raul Allegre and Alvaro Martin

3 p.m. - SportsCenter Special: The Champions (ESPN) 
Host: Mike Tirico.  Analysts: Tedy Bruschi, Trent Dilfer, Mike Ditka, Jon Gruden, Keyshawn Johnson, Jerry Rice, Mark Schlereth, Steve Young
Guest: Green Bay Packers linebacker Clay Matthews (3:45 p.m.)

4 p.m. - NFL Live (ESPN)
Host: Trey Wingo.  Analysts: Merril Hoge and Ron Jaworski

5 p.m. - SportsNation (ESPN2)
Hosts: Michelle Beadle and Cowherd. Guest analyst Herm Edwards
Throughout the week (M-F, 5-6 p.m.), SportsNation features two acts – the Blue Monkey Sideshow carnival act for SN’s ‘Halftime Show’ and Indy’s own “The Twin Cats” (official house band).
Guests:  Former NFL running back Brian Westbrook, San Diego Chargers linebacker Takeo Spikes, and rapper and actor Ice Cube (5 p.m.)

6 p.m. - SportsCenter (ESPN)
Host: Steve Levy. Analysts:  Jerry Rice and Steve Young 

6 p.m. - NFL 32 (ESPN2)
Hosts:  Suzy Kolber and Chris Mortensen.  Analysts: Trent Dilfer and Tom Jackson
Guest: NFL agent Tom Condon (6 p.m.) – Agent for quarterbacks Drew Brees, Eli Manning and Peyton Manning

8 p.m. - SportsCenter (ESPN Deportes)
Host: Ciro Procuna. Analysts: Raul Allegre and Alvaro Martin                      

Note: Commentator and guest schedules subject to change

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Photo Gallery

Collaboration Includes on-site Activations, Content Integration

Joining as the official optics partner of espnW, Oakley and espnW will launch an innovative new content collaboration focused on serving the female fan and celebrating female athletes. Oakley works directly with hundreds of female athletes worldwide, many of who will be competing this summer in the London Games. The activation with espnW will focus on their successes and challenges on and off the field, as well as highlight their desire for both fashion and function in eyewear.

Oakley and espnW will team up for quarterly social media partnerships and photo galleries, plus content captured at Oakley athlete events. Oakley will provide on-site promotion at a number of sports events, beginning with a photography collaboration featuring recent Winter X Games 2012 highlights from Aspen, Colo.

Oakley will also include an espnW presence as part of the company’s athlete hospitality at the 2012 Summer Games in London and will integrate espnW into their activations at the Ironman World Championship race in Kona, as well as at other global sports events this year.

Additional content collaboration will include Oakley sponsored photo galleries on espnW.com, as well as a four-part web series with Oakley’s star female athletes, including World Cup Alpine Skiing Champion and gold medalist Lindsay Vonn, American track and field athlete Lolo Jones, silver medalist snowboarder Gretchen Bleiler and “Triathlon’s Three Emma’s,” (Snowsill, Moffat, Jackson).

“Oakley’s partnership with espnW is a perfect match for the Oakley brand and our focus in bringing performance and style to the active, sports-minded woman,” said Liesl Holtz, Oakley Global Women’s Sports Marketing Manager. “Through our professional female athletes and event activations we look forward to celebrating the athlete in all of us.”

Added espnW vice president Laura Gentile, “Oakley understands and appreciates the unique needs of the female athlete. By sharing the strength of our respective resources, we can create something unique for female fans and athletes.”

espnW is also supported by founding partners Nike, Gatorade and Proctor & Gamble.

About Oakley, Inc.
Established in 1975 and headquartered in Southern California, Oakley is one of the leading sports brands in the world. The holder of more than 600 patents, Oakley is continually seeking problems, solving them with inventions and wrapping those inventions in art. This philosophy has made Oakley one of the most iconic and inimitable brands on the market, with innovations that world-class athletes around the globe depend on to compete at the highest level possible. Oakley is famed for its insuperable lens technologies such as High Definition Optics® (HDO®) which is incorporated into all Oakley sun and prescription eyewear, and all premium Oakley goggles. Oakley has extended its leadership position as the world’s leading sports eyewear brand into accessories collections. Laser focused on the consumer, Oakley has both men’s and women’s product lines that target Sports Performance, Active and Lifestyle consumers. Oakley is a subsidiary of Luxottica Group. Additional information is available at oakley.com. Follow Oakley on Twitter and Facebook.

About espnW
espnW’s mission is to connect female fans with the sports they love and follow. espnW.com provides an engaging environment where women are an integral part of the sports conversation, share their perspective on men’s and women’s sports and find the motivation and support for their athletic goals and interests. Founded in July 2010, espnW, [espnw.com], is an emerging business that consists primarily of a digital product suite including pc web, mobile web and social media. Founding partners include Nike, Gatorade and P&G (Venus and Secret). espnW is also supported by a strong social media presence on Twitter and Facebook. The Women’s Sports Foundation is the charity of choice of espnW.

To Tweet this Release: http://es.pn/ynFfOe

Suing the NFL
Outside the Lines (Sunday, 9 a.m. ET, ESPN)

For years, the NFL’s concussion committee seemed to downplay and even dismiss the long-term risks of concussions. Now, lawsuits have been filed accusing the league of negligence on behalf of as many as 500 players, including Hall of Famer Tony Dorsett, former Bears quarterback Jim McMahon, and former running back Jamal Lewis. The NFL now acknowledges that concussions can lead to long-term problems, but the league has promised to rigorously defend the allegations of fraud. Bob Holtzman speaks with Lewis and former Packer Dorsey Levens about the impact these lawsuits may have on the league.

“Tobacco companies for years downplayed or tried to shoot down any research that showed a causal link between smoking and cancer.  And very similarly with the NFL, it essentially spent most of its time trying to downplay the independent research out there that showed the causal link between head injuries in football and long-term cognitive issues.” -- Mike McGlamry, Atlanta attorney who has filed multiple lawsuits against the NFL on behalf of former players

“The NFL has long made player safety a priority and continues to do so. Any allegation that the NFL intentionally sought to mislead players has no merit. It stands in contrast to the league's actions to better protect players and advance the science and medical understanding of the management and treatment of concussions.” – NFL statement, to Outside the Lines

“I think the league would be bankrupt because I think any player who has played in the National Football League -- whether he played for 15 or 16 years or whether he played for a year -- is going to be standing in line waiting to sue.” -- Harry Carson, Giants Hall of Fame linebacker, on what will happen if the NFL loses in court

Giants: Going “All-In”
NFL Countdown (Sunday 10 a.m., ESPN)

Two words saved the Giants season: “All In.” During their chapel service prior to the Week 16 game vs. the Jets, local school teacher Gian-Paul Gonzalez from Union City, N.J., delivered a message to the team emphasizing how true commitment to a goal requires one to be “all in.”  After the sermon, Gonzalez distributed poker chips to each player, symbols of their total devotion to that principle. Rick Reilly reports on the two words that changed the Giants season.

“Those two words kind of put it into focus, ‘All In.’ And ever since then, everybody, all 53 guys, 46 on game day, they’re all in. And we try to win every Sunday, every single snap, every little battle is all in.” – Dave Tollefson, Giants defensive end

“That’s our motto, that’s what we live by. That's what we go by here. We feel like at this moment we won't be denied in any circumstances, so we’re cashing in our poker chips.” – Antrel Rolle, Giants safety

Patriots: All for One
NFL Countdown (Sunday 10 a.m., ESPN)

Flashy, individual player introductions from superstars like Michael Irvin and Ray Lewis were a staple of the Super Bowl. The New England Patriots changed all of that when they demanded to be introduced as a team at Super Bowl XXXVI against the St. Louis Rams. Since then, all Super Bowl teams are introduced as a group. Analyst Tedy Bruschi, a member of that Patriots team, explains.

“The fact that we were so unified, you know, coming out of that tunnel, I think, can be intimidating to any opponent. And, I think it might have played itself out a little bit in that game.” -- Damien Woody, former Patriots offensive lineman and current ESPN NFL analyst

“I said, ’Well, look, when the curtains open the whole team is going to run out there. You can introduce whomever you want to introduce.’” -- Bill Belichick, on discussing introducing his entire team with officials at Super Bowl XXXVI

Chris Draft: Battling Fate with Love
NFL Countdown (Sunday 10 a.m., ESPN)

While playing linebacker for the Carolina Panthers in 2006, Chris Draft met the love of his life, Keasha Rutledge. More than four years after they began dating, doctors diagnosed Rutledge with Stage 4 lung cancer. Despite her fate, Draft married Keasha in November 2011. One month later, she lost her fight with the disease. Jeremy Schaap reports on this story of courage, devotion, and love.

Remembering Negro League Players During Black History Month
ESPN Deportes SportsCenter (Sunday, 11 p.m.)

For the last 36 years, February has been designated “Black History Month” in the United States. This month ESPN remembers those who played America’s Pastime in the Negro Leagues during segregation. Forced out of organized baseball not because of their lack of talent but because of the color of their skin, these players, some of the greatest of all time, persevered through the 1920s, 30s and 40s. They often played under horrible conditions and racial tensions, simply for the love of the game, many falling into obscurity once their time on the field was done. ESPN Deportes examines the story of one man's effort to make sure their mark on the game is never forgotten.

Twelve Things to Know about Tom Brady
ESPN.com

Here is one item from what ESPN.com’s Liz Merrill says, “are 12 things that perhaps you didn't know about Tom Brady, from some of the people who know him best:”

“Brady apparently is a generous guy. He gave each of his teammates, starters and scrubs, a pair of Ugg slippers (Brady endorses the product). For Christmas, he splurged for watches for his offensive linemen. Connolly says the big boys actually look quite stylish in the Uggs, which are known for their furry comfort.”

"We're probably the best-dressed offensive linemen in the NFL thanks to Tom Brady." – Dan Connolly, Patriots center