My NFL playoff picks for the weekend:

Washington at Seattle: It has been 22 years since the Seahawks won a playoff game. As for the Redskins, wasn't it just a year ago folks were saying the pro game has passed Joe Gibbs? Washington has nothing to hang their heads over, but Seattle wins this one. (Bonus: Redskins coach Joe Gibbs: Three Super Bowl wins, one loss; Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren: One Super Bowl win, one loss)

New England at Denver: I hate the Broncos (I am a Raiders fan). But even with my dislike for Shanahan & company, I'll try to remain objective... The Patriots win. Okay, seriously for a moment. Jake Plummer & the Broncs are 8-0 this season at home, inlcuding a win over New England. Then look at Tom Brady & his stellar 10-0 postseason mark. This one should be fun! (Bonus: Patriots coach Bill Belichick: Three Super Bowl wins in the past four years; Broncos coach Mike Shanahan: Two Super Bowl wins)

Pittsburgh at Indianapolis: The Steelers have had two coaches in my lifetime... Chuck Knoll, now Bill Cowher. You gotta admire that. But Indy has dominated headlines this year. Can Peyton win at New England? Can the Colts go undefeated? When you talked NFL, the Colts dominated the discussion last fall. Add to it the tragic loss of coach Tony Dungy's son & Indy just might have most of America pulling for them. And don't we really want a Colts vs Pats matchup next week? I'll take Indianapolis in this one.

Carolina at Chicago: The collision of two tough defenses will happen when these teams meet. It was 20 years ago the Bears were cocky enough to do the Super Bowl Shuffle, but hey talk-the-talk if you can walk-the-walk, right? It's good this team didn't book any studio time to record a lame rap song, but I do think they can beat the Panthers.

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The hunt for head coach at New Orleans continues. Fired Packers coach Mike Sherman was interviewed Friday, fired Rams coach Mike Martz is talking to them this weekend. The New Orleans Times-Picayune confirms Fresno State's Pat Hill has been contacted, but there is no mention of Auburn's Tommy Tuberville.

Meanwhile, the scrambling has started to make sure the Superdome is ready next fall.

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John Thompson is out at South Carolina as co-defensive coordinator after taking a leave-of-absence, even missing the team's loss to Missouri in the Independence Bowl. School attorneys confirmed Thursday they were working on a buyout on the remaining two years on his contract.

That's too bad for Thompson. I really thought he had rebounded nicely after being fired too quickly as head coach at East Carolina. But that's the way college coaching goes, especially when working for Steve Spurrier. Thompson will reappear somewhere soon on the sidelines.

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CUSA today:

Houston was a top 25 team in mid-December. Now they are off to a 0-1 start in conference. The Cougars (9-4, 0-1) play at UCF (6-7. 0-1) at 7 p.m.

East Carolina (6-8, 0-1) makes their longest roadtrip of the season when they meet UTEP (8-5, 0-1) tonight at 8 p.m. Then again, UTEP will likely be the longest roadtrip of the season for CUSA teams that travel to El Paso.

UAB (11-3, 1-0) has won seven straight, the longest win streak in coach Mike Anderson's tenure with the Blazers. He'll likely get number eight tonight at Marshall (7-6, 1-0). Tipoff is at 6 p.m.

Southern Miss (7-9, 1-0) plays at Tulsa (5-9, 0-1) at 4:30 p.m.

Rice (7-7, 1-0) meets Tulane (4-9, 0-1) at 7 p.m.

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So that leaves us with no. 5 Memphis hosting SMU tonight at Fedex Forum. This will be the Mustangs second nationally ranked opponent in their last three outings. For those expectng a cakewalk, this team lost to then-no. 12 Oklahoma earlier this month, 50-47. Meanwhile, some Tigers fans were not happy with the 10-point win at ECU Wednesday. "Does Memphis take too many 3s?" has been a question asked over & over on messageboards & sportstalk radio. I remind you, the Tigers are 14-2 & fifth in the country... the wheels ain't falling off this bus.

Senior Rodney Carney has found consitency & is thrilling to watch. He needs just 34 points to move to 13th on CUSA's career scoring chart. Former Tiger Kelly Wise currently holds the slot. Rodney also needs eight more three-pointers to surpass former teammate Anthony Rice for the school record.

Tipoff is at 7 p.m. Join me at 5:30 p.m. for the Tiger Pregame Show on WMC-AM.

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How can you not like DeAngelo Williams? I read the story this morning about his workouts at the D1 Sports Training facility. Add his personality & character to his ability to carry a football & this guy is going to enjoy a nice pro football career.

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Music quote of the day:

"Take it easy, take it easy
Don't let the sound of your own wheels
Drive you crazy
Lighten up while you still can
Don't even try to understand
Just find a place to make your stand
And take it easy"

The Eagles - "Take It Easy"