Minnesota Sports Briefs: Gophers begin bowl prep. this week

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(Minneapolis, MN) -- The University of Minnesota football team will be back on the practice field today for the first time since their regular season ended two weeks ago.

The Golden Gophers are allowed 15 practice sessions between now and their bowl game in Houston on December 28th. Minnesota takes on Texas Tech in the Meineke Car Care Bowl at Reliant Stadium. This will be the first bowl appearance for the Minnesota program since 2009.

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NFC North rivals square off for the second time in three weeks as the Chicago Bears battle the Minnesota Vikings at the Metrodome. The Bears are coming off an overtime loss to Seattle and have dropped three-of-four to fall to 8-4. Chicago will be without linebacker Brian Urlacher, who is expected to miss at least three games with a strained hamstring. The Vikings have lost four-of-five to fall back to .500 at 6-6. The Vikes will be without star receiver Percy Harvin for the rest of the year. He is likely to have ankle surgery. Minnesota lost 28-10 at Chicago in Week 14.

Sunday's game between the Vikings and Bears will be the 104th meeting between the two clubs. Minnesota holds the all-time series lead with 52 wins, 49 losses, and a pair of ties. The Bears, however, have won the last six games in the series, dating back to 2009. The Vikings are 31-21 in the series as the home team. The Bears beat the Vikes 28-10 in Chicago two weeks ago.

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The Minnesota Timberwolves kick off a brief two-game homestand tonight against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Target Center. Minnesota will then be off until hosting Denver next Wednesday. The T'wolves sit at 8-9 on the season. The Cavs are just 4-15. Tip time tonight is 7 p.m.

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Minnesota Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve agreed to a multi-year contract extension. The team did not release details of the new pact. Reeve led the WNBA franchise to its first-ever league championship in 2011, while taking Minnesota to the league finals a year ago.

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Five-time defending national champion Concordia-St. Paul advanced to the NCAA Division II Volleyball Final Four with a 3-1 win over Wingate University last night. The Golden Bears are now 31-4 on the season and will take on BYU-Hawaii this afternoon in Pensacola, Florida. Match-time is set for 5 p.m. with the winner advancing to tomorrow's national championship game.

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