The first season of the Sacramento Kings' 2012-13 slate has us back to normal. The Kings had some early home games last season for the first time in years. This year? They open with three on the road. Ah, sweet familiarity.

Of course, this opening road trip will make way for a November schedule filled with home games, so if Sacramento can survive the roadie ably, it could foretell of a good month.

We'll be laying out the weekly schedule every Monday so you can plan your week around the magic of Sacramento Kings basketball (and set your DVRs). Here's Week 1. All times Pacific.

Wednesday: Kings at Bulls, 5 p.m., Comcast SportsNet California. The Bulls were the best team in the East last season, but Derrick Rose is out and a few pieces that gave Chicago the best bench in the league are gone.

Friday: Kings at Timberwolves, 5 p.m., Comcast SportsNet California. The Wolves will be without Kevin Love and Ricky Rubio. Talk about fortune. (Misfortune: the Wolves traded away Wes Johnson.)

Saturday: Kings at Pacers, 4 p.m., Comcast SportsNets California. So ends the first road trip of the season: a second game of a back-to-back against one of the East's big teams. Roy Hibbert vs. DeMarcus Cousins should be a wonderful match-up.

Let's hear some predictions. In his Nostradumbass Predictions of the Week, Aykis16 had a loss to Chicago and wins over Minnesota and Indiana. I have losses to Chicago and Indiana and a win over Minnesota.