If all you want for Christmas is to see a consistently dominant basketball team play at the Toyota Center, itยs time to retire the Rockets red and come watch some of the college gameยs best battle at the H-Town Holiday Shootout doubleheader. Game one pits the Texas Longhorns against the Michigan State Spartans ย even in December, itยs safe to forgo the pencil and grab a ballpoint when adding these teams to your list of squads destined for March Madness. Expect what will effectively be a home crowd to drive the Horns as they try to avenge last Decemberยs close road loss to MSU. Up next will be the LSU Tigers vs. the Texas A&M Aggies, a second course that will generate a bit less national interest (only the first game will be broadcast on CBS) but offers the Tigers and their five returning starters their first real challenge of the season. (By the way, that isnยt a typo in the price.) Game one starts at 1 p.m. 1510 Polk. For information, call 866-446-8849 or visit www.houstontoyotacenter.com. $20 to $750.
Sat., Dec. 20, 1 p.m., 2008
This article appears in Dec 18-24, 2008.