T-Minus 2 Hours

Playoff baseball returns to the Southside for the first time in 5 years. I am pumped, big time.

The key to the series for the White Sox will be quality outings from their starters. If they can scratch out 2 or 3 runs off of the Boston staff (which is not exactly the '95 Braves) and get the games into their bullpen with a multi-run lead, they have a solid chance of taking 3 of 5 and notching a postseason series win for the first time since 1917.

Notre Dame begins the two-week simmer of anticipation as the matchup with Southern Cal approaches. Charlie Weis has basically locked himself into the video room at the Gug.

In other ND news, CW and staff hooked a REAL big fish on Monday with the commitment of the nation's top defensive back, Pittsburgh-area corner Darrin Walls. That brings the Irish total to 19 verbals in early October, with a few other big names like Matt Carufel, Konrad Reuland & Jason Kates still out there.

Check back for in-game blogs on the Battle of the Sox, beginning at 3 PM CT.