Use ESPN The Magazine to prepare for the weekend

Various pieces of content will help you understand what's at stake these next few days.

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As soon as George Karl sliced up the bird, he opened a copy of ESPN The Magazine and devoured the Broussard feature on Brandon Jennings. You will too. Just read this post.

Don't, uh, tell anyone—but we're gonna take a few days off here. We'll be back Monday. We're closing up a new issue this weekend (we've already released this, which will be in it), so we'll debut that next week. In the meantime, why don't you use some of this trusted ESPN The Magazine content below to prepare for the next few days in the sports world?

Thanksgiving football. Nice. Most of the games, though, are jokes. The Titans (read this, this and this) should roll the Lions (worth reading), then the Cowboys will paste the Seahawks (we were so wrong) and in all likelihood, the Cardinals (not ours, but read it) will take down the reeling Eagles, unless Donovan McNabb can add to this list. Predictions can go horribly awry, though.

(If you need some help cooking the meal, we have this entire series called Jock Chef showcasing videos of athletes cooking various things. Ya might learn something, plus the recipe cards are printable.)

Texas vs. Texas A&M on Friday may end up like this, and honestly, if Bob Stoops understands the notion of style points, Saturday's "Bedlam" game against Oklahoma State may end up the same way. (We can't resist.) The Civil War game will be good—Oregon is better than ya think—and it could help your social life. (It would definitely make these kids less confused.) Two interesting coaching elements on Saturday: can Bobby Bowden regain a smidge of his luster (we know, we know: he could end up in a BCS bowl) by beating Urban Meyer and is Charlie Weis going to get fired if USC absolutely routs Notre Dame?

Assuming that Bowden thing is irrelevant, take a deep breath, because you're one week away from Alabama vs. Florida. Read this! (And this.) And assuming Stoops wins his fifth of six in Stillwater, get ready for Missouri vs. Oklahoma, so read this and this, then watch this to see how Sooners get hyped.

Sunday NFL? Here ya go. Steelers vs. Patriots should be interesting, so we recommend this via "Big" Ben Roethlisberger. At night, you got Vikings vs. Bears, so read and watch this.

Sorry that to this point, we've only addressed football. We're lame like that sometimes. You more a college hoops person? Here ya are. Things aren't rolling hardcore yet, so that link should be good. NBA? Truth. How about this little Brandon Jennings package? Oh, you only read columnists when waiting for the dinner to be prepped? Here's the latest Bill Simmons and Stephen A. Smith.

As for other things you should be thankful for as the long weekend unfolds…

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