The Lineup: Thursday, August 29

Author:
Mike Bebernes
Publish date:
Aug 29, 2013

Grant Halverson/Getty Images

Johnny Manziel is one half away from joining the rest of America in sitting out the entirety of the Texas A&M vs. Rice game. Send any suggestions to SI.TheLineup@gmail.com. (Bold indicates a national broadcast. All times Eastern.)

Pregame Reads

Tom Perotta of the Wall Street Journal looks into the decline of America's once-potent tennis development system.
Dave Zirin imagines a (somewhat cynical) speech that Johnny Manziel may have given to his teammates for The Nation.
You've probably read a lot about Aaron Hernandez, but nothing as good as this piece by Paul Solotaroff for Rolling Stone.

Starter

College Football North Carolina vs. #6 North Carolina State, 6:00p.m. (ESPN)

Football is back! Our nation's complicated conversation about the NCAA and its parasitic relationship with a bunch of unpaid young men risking serious mental and bodily harm all for the ... WHOA! Did you see that hit?! WOOOOOOO FOOTBALL!

Reserves

MLB

Athletics vs. Tigers, 1:08p.m.

Angels vs. Rays, 1:10p.m.

Royals vs. Twins, 1:10p.m

Phillies vs. Mets, 1:10p.m.

Marlins vs. Nationals, 7:05p.m.

Brewers vs. Pirates, 7:05p.m.

Orioles vs. Red Sox, 7:10p.m. (MLB Network)

Indians vs. Braves, 7:10p.m.

Mariners vs. Astros, 8:10p.m.

NFL

New York Giants vs. New England Patriots, 7:30p.m. (NFL Network)

Tonight is potentially the last chance to see ole' Timmy Tebow for the foreseeable future. There will be a welcomed silence this NFL season if Tebow isn't part of the Pats' final 53-man roster. That is, until he's the starting QB for Buffalo in week 4.

Philadelphia Eagles vs. New York Jets, 7:00p.m.

Indianapolis Colts vs. Cincinnati Bengels, 7:00p.m.

Detroit Lions vs. Buffalo Bills, 7:00p.m.

Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Atlanta Falcons, 7:30p.m.

Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Carolina Panthers, 7:30p.m.

Washington Redskins vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 7:30p.m.

New Orleans Saints vs. Miami Dolphins, 7:30p.m.

Tennessee Titans vs. Minnesota Vikings, 8:00p.m.

Baltimore Ravens vs. St. Louis Rams, 8:00p.m.

Cleveland Browns vs. Chicago Bears, 8:00p.m.

Green Bay Packers vs. Kansas City Chiefs, 8:00p.m.

Houston Texans vs. Dallas Cowboys, 8:00p.m.

Arizona Cardinals vs. Denver Broncos, 9:00p.m.

San Francisco 49ers vs. San Diego Chargers, 10:00p.m. (NFL Network)

Oakland Raiders vs. Seattle Seahawks, 10:00p.m.

College Football

Liberty vs. Kent State, 6:00p.m. (ESPN3)

Presbyterian vs. Wake Forest, 6:30 (ESPN3)

Indiana State vs. Indiana, 7:00p.m. (Big Ten Network)

UNLV vs. Minnesota, 7:00p.m. (Big Ten Network)

Tulsa va. Bowling Green, 7:00p.m. (ESPNU)

Illinois State vs. Ball State, 7:00p.m. (ESPN3)

Akron vs. UCF, 7:00p.m. (ESPN3)

Southern Utah vs. South Alabama, (ESPN3)

Utah State vs. Utah, 8:00p.m. (Fox Sports 1)

Ole Miss vs. Vanderbilt, 9:15p.m. (ESPN)

Rutgers vs. Fresno State, 10:30p.m. (ESPNU)

#24 USC vs. Hawaii, 11:00p.m. (CBS Sports Network)

Lane Kiffin is definitely on the hot seat after a disappointing tenure so far at the helm of the Trojans. Everyone knows the best way to solidify your authority over a team is to waffle between two quarterbacks.

GOLF

Hotel Fitness Championship, 3:00p.m. (GOLF)

LPGA: Safeway Classic, 5:30p.m. (GOLF)

WNBA

Connecticut Sun vs. Seattle Storm, 10:00p.m.

Tennis

U.S. Open, Second Round, 1:00p.m. & 7:00p.m. (ESPN2 & ESPN3)

Rafa Nadal takes the court for his second match having already hit what could be the best shot that we'll see this Open.

Volleyball

AVP Next: Cincinnati, 8:00p.m. (CBS Sports Network)

Soccer

Tottenham Hotspur vs. Dynamo Tbilisi, 3:00p.m. (ESPN3)

High School Football

West Lyon Wildcats vs. Central Lyon/G-Lr Lions, 8:00p.m. (ESPN3)

Deep bench

Auctions America, 8:00p.m. (NBC Sports)

Ed Ewing, a business tycoon of unspeakable wealth, will be selling a collection that will be the centerpiece of this massive classic car auction. His cars range from a 1921 Model T police car to a Shelby GT owned by Troy Aikman. Buy the latter, and you get to keep Moose Johnston as a bonus.