Weekend Watchdog

Boogity, boogity, boogity

fishersvillemike — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 11:50:11 +0000

Darrell Waltrip’s there.
Danica Patrick’s going to be there.
It’s Boogity, boogity, boogity time.
The flag drops on the Daytona 500 on FOX Sunday at 1 p.m. Carl Edwards and Greg Biffle will lead the field to the start/finish line as Waltrip starts another year in the announcer’s booth.
The field is set Thursday afternoon with the Twin 125s on Speed network. Danica and her Nationwide Series competitors open the season Saturday at noon on ESPN.
It’s time for Jeremy Lin and friends – also known as NBA All-Star weekend. Before heading to Orlando, Lin and the Knicks face the Heat on TNT at 7 p.m. Then the Lakers visit Oklahoma City.
ESPN shows the Celebrity game at 7 p.m. Friday, then TNT goes with the Rising Stars contest with Lin at 9 p.m.
The dunk contest and other skills events take place Saturday at 8 p.m. before the stars shine Sunday at 6 p.m.
Virginia Tech visits Duke Saturday at noon on the ACC Network, followed by a split regional at 2:30 p.m. – either Maryland at Georgia Tech or N.C. State-Clemson.
CBS offers a trio of games Saturday, beginning at noon with Vanderbilt vs. Kentucky. At 2 p.m., there’s the choice of UCLA against Arizona or Villanova-Georgetown, then at 4 p.m. Missouri plays Kansas. Sunday at 2 p.m., Pittsburgh travels to Louisville before the Big Ten battle between Wisconsin and Ohio State.
ESPN’s Thursday starts in the ACC with Duke trying to avenge an earlier loss to Florida State. Louisville takes on Cincinnati at 9 p.m. Marquette goes to West Virginia Friday at 9 p.m.
Virginia hosts North Carolina Saturday at 4 p.m., followed by Mississippi State at Alabama. The GameDay crew catches Syracuse-Connecticut at 9 p.m.
Sunday at 1 p.m., Indiana takes on Minnesota.
ESPN2 starts Thursday with Alabama-Arkansas at 7 p.m., then goes to the Big Ten for Wisconsin’s game with Iowa. BYU meets Gonzaga at 11 p.m. Friday at 7 p.m., Loyola of Maryland goes to Rider and then it’s five games on Saturday. The day opens at noon with Notre Dame vs. St. John’s, followed by Texas A&M-Oklahoma State at 2 p.m. and Creighton facing Indiana State. Virginia schools then take the stage, with George Mason against VCU at 6 p.m. before Richmond battles Xavier.
Stanford battles Colorado Thursday at 11 p.m. on Comcast. Boston College visits Wake Forest Saturday at 1 p.m., then it’s off to the CAA at 4 p.m. for Drexel’s game with Old Dominion.
There’s a PAC-12 doubleheader Sunday, with California at Colorado at 5:30 p.m. before Oregon faces Oregon State.
MASN has Big South action Thursday at 7 p.m., with Coastal Carolina at Liberty. Saturday’s play starts at 4 p.m. with Texas at Texas Tech, followed by Campbell vs. Liberty at 7 p.m. The Big East gets coverage Sunday at noon when South Florida hosts Cincinnati.
UNLV hosts Air Force Saturday at 4 p.m. on NBC Sports Network.
The PGA tour has the World Match Play Championship Saturday and Sunday at 2 p.m. on NBC. We’ll see who makes it to Sunday.
The Capitals host Montreal Friday at 7 p.m. on Comcast, and visit Toronto Saturday at 7 p.m. while NBC Sports Network shows Chicago-Anaheim Sunday at 6 p.m.
In women’s basketball, MASN shows DePaul against Louisville Saturday at noon. Comcast goes to the CAA Thursday for William & Mary taking on Drexel, then Sunday Boston College plays Miami at 1 p.m. before Old Dominion goes to James Madison.
ESPN2 has the ACC regular season finale between Duke and North Carolina at 3 p.m. followed by LSU-Georgia.
NBC Sports Network has a college ice hockey doubleheader Friday. Vermont hosts Boston University at 7:30 p.m., followed by North Dakota-Denver.
ESPN shows the USA Indoor Track and Field Championships Sunday at 7:30 p.m.

Bracket buster time

fishersvillemike — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 11:49:11 +0000

George Mason and VCU have busted brackets in past years.
Murray State hopes to do it in 2012.
It’s the weekend of the annual BracketBusters, where teams from mid-major conferences battle against each other to get ready for March Madness.
VCU hosts Northern Iowa Friday at 7 p.m. on ESPN2, then Saturday play opens at noon with Wichita at Davidson on ESPN2. Akron visits Oral Roberts at 2 p.m. and it’s Nevada-Iona at 4 p.m. The night concludes at 10 p.m. when Long Beach State goes to Creighton.
St. Mary’s plays one-loss Murray State on ESPN at 6 p.m.
Among the big boys, the ACC network has two games Thursday at 9 p.m. – Duke vs. N.C. State or Boston College at Maryland. Saturday at 1 p.m., Virginia hosts Maryland while Florida State travels to N.C. State.
CBS has either UCLA-St. John’s or UNLV-New Mexico Saturday at 1 p.m. Sunday, Michigan State takes on Purdue.
Thursday on ESPN, there’s a top 20 battle in the Big Ten as Wisconsin meets Michigan State. West Virginia and Pittsburgh have their Backyard Brawl at 9 p.m.
Saturday starts in the Big East with Marquette-Connecticut at noon. Missouri faces Texas A&M at 2 p.m. before Clemson heads to North Carolina. The GameDay crew will be at Michigan for the game with Ohio State at 9 p.m.
Rutgers meets Syracuse Sunday at 1 p.m.
Virginia Tech takes on Florida State Thursday at 7 p.m. on ESPN2, followed by Vanderbilt-Mississippi and Gonzaga meeting Santa Clara. Taking a break from BracketBusters, ESPN2 shows Arkansas hosting Florida Saturday at 6 p.m.
Sunday, Big East gets coverage on ESPN2 at 7 p.m. as South Florida visits Pittsburgh.
Comcast has a Pac-12 twinbill Thursday – Arizona vs. Washington State at 9 p.m. before Arizona State faces Washington. The ACC takes the stage Saturday, as Wake Forest goes to Miami at 1 p.m. before Virginia Tech hosts Georgia Tech. Late night, it’s Arizona against Washington. It’s back to the Pac-12 Sunday at 7:30 p.m. with Oregon battling Stanford.
MASN goes to the Northeast Conference Thursday for Fairleigh-Dickenson’s game with Mt. St. Mary’s at 7 p.m.
There’s three Big East games on MASN Saturday, starting at noon with Louisville at DePaul. Seton Hall visits Cincinnati at 4 p.m. and Providence battles Georgetown at 7 p.m.
On NBC Sports network, San Diego State takes on Air Force Saturday at 4 p.m.
The new year of NASCAR starts Saturday at 8 p.m. on FOX, with the best drivers matching up in the Bud Shootout. Sunday at 1 p.m., qualifying starts for the Daytona 500. The top two will be starting up front when the Great American Race goes next Sunday.
The Celtics visit the Bulls Thursday at 8 p.m. on TNT, followed by Clippers-Blazers. ESPN’s doubleheader Friday starts at 8 p.m. with the Mavericks in Philadephia, then the Suns battle the Lakers. Sunday at 8 p.m., the Nuggets meet the Thunder.
Lin-sanity comes to ABC Sunday when Dallas visits the Knicks at 1 p.m., followed by Orlando vs. Miami.
The Wizards head west this weekend, playing at Utah Friday at 9 p.m. on Comcast-plus.
NBC has its Hockey Day in America Sunday. There’s regional coverage of three games at noon – San Jose vs. Detroit, Penguins at Sabres and St. Louis against Chicago - before Boston visits Minnesota at 3 p.m. NBC Sports Network closes the day with the Devils at Montreal at 6 p.m.
The Capitals visit Florida Friday at 7 p.m. on Comcast and Tampa Bay Saturday at 7 p.m.
CBS carries the Northern Trust Open Saturday and Sunday at 3 p.m.
Dartmouth faces Yale in college ice hockey Friday at 7 p.m. on NBC Sports network.
In Big East women’s basketball, Marquette faces Syracuse at 2 p.m. Saturday on MASN. ESPN2 has a pair of games Sunday, with Maryland against Duke at 3 p.m. and Purdue-Michigan State at 5 p.m., while Comcast shows Florida State-Miami Sunday at 3:30 p.m.
Spring sports loom on college campuses, and NBC Sports network has a lacrosse doubleheader – Denver vs. Ohio State at 2 p.m. before Navy takes on Jacksonville.

Look Hoos in contention

fishersvillemike — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 12:19:23 +0000

When I arrived in Charlottesville in the summer of 1995, the Virginia Cavaliers were coming off a finish in the NCAA Elite Eight.
The 16 seasons since the arrival of Ralph Simpson had been pretty good for the school – a pair of NIT titles, two visits to the Final Four and shares of four ACC regular season championships.
The sixteen years since haven’t been much to talk about.
The 2011-2012 Cavaliers started strong, pushing their way toward the top. They get a chance to impress Saturday when they visit North Carolina at 1 p.m. on the ACC Network.
At the halfway point of the conference season, the Tar Heels and Duke share the lead with Florida State, with Virginia close behind. After a blowout win over Wake Forest Wednesday, the Cavaliers get North Carolina and Florida State at home before the season ends.
Other parts of the ACC area will see Miami vs. Florida State.
CBS shows Syracuse against Connecticut Saturday at 1 p.m., then goes to the Big Ten Sunday at 1 p.m. for Illinois’ game with Michigan.
ESPN starts Thursday in the Big Ten as Wisconsin plays Minnesota. Colorado travels to Arizona at 9 p.m.
The Gameday crew closes Saturday at Kentucky’s game on Vanderbilt at 9 p.m. on ESPN. The day starts at noon with West Virginia-Louisville, followed by Kansas State at Texas. Maryland battles Duke at 4 p.m. before Michigan State goes against Ohio State.
Sunday, St. John’s takes on Georgetown at 1 p.m.
ESPN2′s Thursday begins in the SEC with Mississippi-Mississippi State, then Virginia Tech plays Miami at 9 p.m. Out west at 11 p.m., Gonzaga tackles St. Mary’s.
Six games fill the ESPN2 schedule on Saturday. Butler meets Cleveland State at 11 a.m., followed by Arkansas-Little Rock vs. Middle Tennessee and New Mexico State-Utah State. At 5 p.m., Wichita State goes against Creighton before Alabama-LSU. The day closes in the Atlantic 10 with Temple against Xavier at 9 p.m.
Comcast heads west Thursday, with Washington facing Oregon at 11 p.m. The CAA starts the day Saturday on Comcast, with Towson meeting James Madison before VCU takes on Old Dominion. Clemson plays Wake Forest at 4 p.m., then in primetime it’s off to Conference USA for UAB-Memphis.
MASN goes to the WAC Thursday at 9 p.m., with Louisiana Tech at Utah State. Saturday starts in the Big East as Notre Dame plays DePaul at noon. It’s CAA action at 7 p.m., with George Mason visiting UNC-Wilmington. Pittsburgh faces Seton Hall Sunday at noon.
San Diego State battles UNLV Saturday at 4 p.m. on NBC Sports network.
It’s off to Peeble Beach for the PGA tour, with CBS having coverage Saturday and Sunday at 3 p.m.
ABC’s Sunday NBA game brings together the Bulls and Celtics at 3:30 p.m.
TNT’s Thursday doubleheader features the Lakers in Boston at 8 p.m., followed by the Thunder facing the Kings. The Lakers visit New York Friday at 8 p.m. on ESPN, then the Thunder play the Jazz. There’s another ESPN doubleheader Sunday, with the Hawks and Heat at 7 p.m. before the Jazz play the Grizzlies.
The Wizards take on Miami Friday at 7 p.m. on Comcast before heading to Detroit Sunday at 6 p.m. to play the Pistons.
The Capitals face division rival Winnipeg Thursday at 7 p.m. on Comcast before playing the Rangers Sunday at 12:30 p.m. on NBC. The Flyers take on Detroit Sunday at 7:30 p.m. on NBC Sports network.
NBC Sports network has a college ice hockey twinbill Friday. Boston College travels to Vermont at 7:30 p.m., followed by Minnesota-Denver.
MASN has Big East women’s basketball between Connecticut and Georgetown Saturday at 4 p.m. Comcast shows USC vs. California Saturday at 11 p.m. Sunday at 1 p.m., Duke takes on Florida State before the PAC-12 matchup between UCLA and Stanford.
High school basketball takes the stage Friday on ESPN2, with DeMatha facing Gonzaga of D.C. at 7:30 p.m.
NBC offers the Dew Winter Tour from Utah Saturday at 2 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m.
The USA Track and Field Classic goes on ESPN2 Sunday at 12:30 p.m.

XLVI

fishersvillemike — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 12:11:49 +0000

The hype is almost over.
The menus are planned.
By the end of Sunday, one team will have won its fourth Super Bowl.
The big game – and big commercials – will be on NBC this year. The New England Patriots and New York Giants kickoff Super Bowl XLVI sometime after 6:30 p.m. – depending on the length of the performance of the Star Spangled Banner.
It’s been 10 years since Tom Brady and the Patriots splashed onto the scene, edging the Rams in the final seconds. And it’s been seven years since their last title – thanks to the Giants’ win four years ago.
NBC also has a new event Saturday at 9 p.m. – NFL Honors dishes out many of the league’s top awards.
The ACC network offers two choices Saturday at 1 p.m. – Virginia plays Florida State, while Wake Forest heads to North Carolina State.
Duke heads to Virginia Tech Thursday at 7 p.m. on ESPN, followed by UCLA-Washington. Saturday starts with Syracuse-St. John’s at noon, then Ohio State plays Wisconsin. Maryland meets North Carolina at 4 p.m. before Kentucky faces South Carolina. The Game Day crew visits Missouri for the 9 p.m. game with Kansas.
Sunday at 2 p.m., Villanova takes on Pittsburgh.
ESPN2 has a trio of games Thursday – Nebraska vs. Northwestern at 7 p.m., then South Carolina against Florida and Gonzaga-BYU. Saturday brings six games, starting at noon with Detroit battling Butler from the Super Bowl city. Temple plays Rhode Island from the Atlantic 10, followed by Middle Tennessee State-Denver. Iowa State meets Oklahoma at 6 p.m., then Mississippi plays Alabama before Indiana State battles Wichita State.
CBS also has two games Saturday at 1 p.m. – Marquette vs. Notre Dame and Vanderbilt at Florida. Sunday at 1 p.m., Michigan faces Michigan State.
James Madison visits Old Dominion Thursday at 7 p.m. on Comcast, and Arizona takes on California at 11 p.m.
Virginia Tech meets Clemson Saturday at 4:30 p.m. on Comcast, and it’s off to the PAC-12 at 11 p.m. for USC-Washington.
The Big South takes the stage on MASN Thursday, with Presbyterian visiting High Point. There’s three Big East games Saturday, starting at noon with Seton Hall at Connecticut. Rutgers visits Louisville at 4 p.m., followed by DePaul-Cincinnati at 7 p.m. The Big South gets in the action at 2 p.m. with Charleston Southern facing Coastal Carolina.
West Virginia takes on Providence Sunday at noon.
Boise State hosts New Mexico on NBC Sports Network Saturday at 4 p.m.
The PGA tour heads to Phoenix Saturday and Sunday at 3 p.m. And don’t forget to take out the trash.
The Capitals have their traditional Super Bowl afternoon game, facing Boston at 12:30 p.m. on NBC Sports Network. The day before, they are in Montreal at 2 p.m. on Comcast.
The Bulls visit New York Thursday at 8 p.m. on TNT, and the Nuggets battle the Clippers in the nightcap. ESPN’s Friday doubleheader features the Knicks at Celtics in the opener at 8 p.m., followed by Lakers-Nuggets.
Comcast shows the Wizards’ game at Toronto Friday at 7 p.m. and Saturday’s contest with the Clippers at 7 p.m.
Cornell faces RPI Friday at 7:30 p.m. in college ice hockey on NBC Sports Network.
Virginia hosts North Carolina in women’s basketball Saturday at noon on Comcast. ACC play continues Sunday at 1 p.m. with Wake Forest meeting Boston College, and at 4 p.m. Washington battles USC.
ESPN2 shows the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix Sunday at 2 p.m.

Time for stars to shine

fishersvillemike — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 12:30:18 +0000

From the ice to the tropical sun, the best players gather this weekend.
The NHL holds its All-Star game Sunday at 4 p.m. in Ottawa, just before the NFL’s Pro Bowl in Hawaii.
Due to his action last Sunday, the Capitals’ Alex Ovechkin plans to miss the festivities on NBC Sports Network. Who’s going to be playing on which team Sunday? They host a Fantasy Draft Thursday at 8 p.m., and the skills competition is Saturday at 7 p.m.
The Pro Bowl now kicks off Super Bowl week, meaning the best players of the best two teams will miss the event. Instead of canceling the trip after the big game. NBC has the coverage starting at 7 p.m.
The stars of the future play in the Senior Bowl Saturday at 4 p.m. on NFL Network.
For other stars on ice, NBC shows the U.S. Figure Skating Championships Saturday at 4 p.m. and again at 9 p.m. Only two more years until the next Winter Olympics.
The stars of tennis close out the Australian Open this weekend, with the women’s final Saturday at 3 a.m. and men’s final Sunday at 3 a.m.
The PGA tour begins the new year on CBS, with coverage of the Farmers Insurance Open Saturday and Sunday at 3 p.m.
Virginia Tech faces Maryland in ACC basketball Saturday at 2:30 p.m., after Wake Forest plays Clemson at noon. Sunday at 1 p.m., Miami takes on Boston College.
CBS has Texas vs. Baylor Saturday at 1 p.m., then Michigan battles Ohio State Sunday at 1 p.m.
ESPN brings the ACC clash between North Carolina and N.C. State Thursday at 7 p.m. Saturday starts with St. John’s at Duke at noon, followed by Kansas taking on Iowa State. Georgetown faces Pittsburgh at 4 p.m., and Washington heads to Arizona at 7 p.m.
ESPN2′s Thursday includes three games, beginning at 7 p.m. as Florida battles Mississippi. Indiana meets Wisconsin at 9 p.m., then it’s Gonzaga-Portland. Saturday, Marquette plays Villanova at noon. Three more games follow at 4 p.m., as Purdue takes on Northwestern and Auburn plays Tennessee. The night closes with Virginia traveling to N.C. State at 8 p.m.
Comcast has CAA action Thursday at 8 p.m., with William & Mary visiting James Madison. At 11 p.m., Washington State heads to Arizona. It’s a CAA doubleheader Saturday, with James Madison going to George Mason at 2 p.m. followed by William & Mary vs. Old Dominion.
MASN features the WAC Thursday at 9 p.m. as Hawaii visits Utah State. Saturday begins in the Big 12 as Oklahoma State plays Texas A&M at 4 p.m, then it’s off to the Big East for a pair of games. Cincinnati meets Rutgers at 6 p.m, followed by Louisville-Seton Hall. The night ends with Hawaii’s game in Idaho at 10 p.m.
Sunday, Notre Dame battles Connecticut at noon.
ABC starts a new season of Sunday afternoon NBA, with the Bulls meeting the Heat at 3:30 p.m.
TNT shows the Celtics facing Orlando Thursday at 8 p.m., followed by the Grizzlies at the Clippers. ESPN offers the Knicks against the Nets Friday at 8 p.m., and the Spurs’ visit to Dallas Sunday at 6:30 p.m.
The Wizards head to Houston Friday at 8 p.m. on Comcast, then visit Charlotte Saturday at 7 p.m.
ESPN’s Winter X Games fill the weekend, starting Thursday at 9 p.m. on ESPN. There’s more from Aspen Friday at 10:30 p.m., Saturday at 9 p.m. and Sunday at 2 and 9 p.m.
The Virginia Tech women host N.C. State Sunday at 1 p.m. on Comcast. At 7 p.m., CAA women take the stage with Delaware at James Madison. ESPN2 offers Penn State taking on Michigan State Sunday at 3 p.m., followed by Tennessee-Georgia.
NBC Sports Network has college ice hockey Friday at 7:30 p.m., with Harvard meeting Yale.
The CONCACAF women’s qualifying tournament will be Sunday at 8 p.m. on NBC Sports Network.

Who’s going to Super Bowl XLVI?

fishersvillemike — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 12:31:14 +0000

We know Madonna’s going to be doing the halftime show February 5.
We know there’s going to be some good commercials.
Sunday night, we’ll know which teams will meet in Indianapolis for Super Bowl XLVI.
The AFC goes first, at 3 p.m. on CBS. New England and its dominant offense face the Ravens and their tough defense – third in the NFL for the season.
The teams met two years ago in Foxborough, with the Ravens bursting out of the gate on Ray Rice’s 83-yard touchdown run on the first play from scrimmage. Tom Brady sure remembers his first home playoff loss.
On Fox at 6:30 p.m., the 49ers host the New York Giants for the NFC crown. The teams met in the playoffs several times in the 1980s, and New York’s trip to Super Bowl XXV included a victory at San Francisco in the NFC championship.
San Francisco has five Super Bowl trips on its resume, but hasn’t been to the big game since 1994. The Giants have won all four NFC championship games they’ve played.
Virginia tries to bounce back from its second loss of the season, visiting Georgia Tech Thursday at 8 p.m. on the ACC network. NBC29 has the game while CW29 has Boston College at North Carolina State. Saturday at noon, Boston College hosts Wake Forest followed by Georgia Tech facing Clemson at 2:30 p.m.
Virginia Tech tries to get an ACC win Thursday at 9 p.m. against North Carolina on ESPN, after Wake Forest plays Duke. Saturday starts in the Big Ten at noon with Purdue-Michigan, followed by a top-five battle between Baylor and Missouri. It’s ACC action at 4 p.m. with Florida State taking on Duke, then top-ranked Syracuse plays Notre Dame. The night closes at 9 p.m. with Louisville visiting Pittsburgh.
CBS has a college basketball tripleheader Saturday. Play begins at noon with Alabama at Kentucky, followed by Michigan taking on Arkansas. At 4 p.m. it’s split coverage between Kansas-Texas and Connecticut vs. Tennessee.
ESPN2 offers a Thursday doubleheader, beginning at 7 p.m. Vanderbilt plays Alabama before Penn State meets Illinois. Saturday starts at 1 p.m. with Dayton taking on Xavier. Indiana State plays Creighton at 3 p.m., followed by Iowa State-Texas Tech and Mississippi State against Vanderbilt.
There’s PAC-12 action on Comcast Thursday at 10:30 p.m. with UCLA traveling to Oregon State. Saturday starts in the Atlantic 10 with St. Bonaventure meeting Fordham at noon. It’s off to the Patriot League for Army-American at 2 p.m., then Towson plays George Mason at 4 p.m. There’s more CAA at 8 p.m. as Old Dominion battles VCU.
MASN has four games Saturday, starting and ending in the Big East. Rutgers visits Georgetown at noon, and at 9 p.m. Marquette takes on Providence. In between, Winston-Salem meets Fayetteville State at 4 p.m. and Charlotte faces George Washington in an Atlantic-1o game at 7 p.m.
Kobe and the Lakers head east this week, meeting the Heat Thursday at 8 p.m. on TNT. The nightcap matches Dallas and Utah. Friday on ESPN, the Lakers play the Magic before the Clippers host Minnesota.
The Wizards host Denver Friday on Comcast-plus and take on the Celtics Sunday at 1 p.m. on Comcast.
The Capitals host Carolina Friday at 7 p.m. on Comcast, then play the Penguins on NBC Sunday at 12:30 p.m.
The third round of the Australian Open gets coverage Thursday at 11 p.m. on ESPN2. Friday, Saturday and Sunday, ESPN2 hits the air at 9 p.m.
NBC Sports network has college ice hockey Friday, as Michigan plays Notre Dame.
Saturday at 6 p.m., the network has a new college football all-star game – the NFLPA Bowl. The NFL Network shows the East-West Shrine Game Saturday at 4 p.m.
In Big East women’s basketball, MASN shows West Virginia at Pittsburgh Saturday at 2 p.m. while Comcast offers CAA play between Delaware and Drexel Sunday at 3:30 p.m. ESPN2 has a pair of games Sunday afternoon – Iowa vs. Penn State at 3 p.m. before Louisville plays Georgetown.
Looking for some outdoor extreme sports? NBC has the Pantech Invitational from Vermont Saturday at 4:30 p.m. and Sunday at 3:30 p.m.

Best NFL weekend of the year

fishersvillemike — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 12:30:45 +0000

If you watch ESPN at all, you know Chris Berman’s going to be excited this weekend.
It’s time for the final eight NFL teams to meet. Four teams with first round byes hosting the four teams that won last weekend.
The weekend starts off Saturday at 4:30 p.m., as the Saints visit San Francisco on FOX. Both teams finished 13-3, and Drew Brees’ record-passing season will go against a tough 49er defense.
In primetime, the Patriots host Tim Tebow and the Broncos on CBS. New England seemed to end “Tebow magic” in week 15, but Tebow rallied Denver to an overtime victory last Sunday.
Sunday, the second-seeded Ravens host Houston at 1 p.m. on CBS. Baltimore has won four road playoff games the last three years, but hasn’t won a home playoff game since the run to the Super Bowl XXXV championship in 2001.
The Packers continue their defense of the Super Bowl XLV title when the Giants come calling at 4:30 p.m. on FOX. The Giants’ trek to winning Super Bowl XLII included a win at Green Bay in this round.
NBC starts its NHL game of the week package Saturday, with Chicago taking on Detroit at 12:30 p.m.
Thursday, Comcast shows the Flyers at Islanders at 7 p.m. Friday, the Capitals visit Tampa Bay on Comcast-plus at 7 p.m. and Sunday Carolina visits Washington at 5 p.m.
The Rangers visit Montreal Sunday at 7 p.m. on NBC Sports Network.
CBS has college basketball Saturday at 3:30 p.m., with Oregon going to Arizona. Sunday after the Ravens’ game, Indiana visits Ohio State.
Virginia takes its top 20 ranking to Cameron Indoor Stadium Thursday at 9 p.m., facing the sixth-ranked Blue Devils on ESPN. The opener has Wisconsin heading to Purdue.
ESPN2′s night begins at 7 p.m. with Clemson taking on Boston College. Mississippi State hosts Tennesee at 9 p.m., followed by Saint Mary’s vs. Gonzaga.
The ACC network has two games set for the weekend – N.C. State vs. Wake Forest Saturday at 1 p.m. and Georgia Tech vs. Maryland Sunday at 4 p.m.
ESPN has a Saturday afternoon doubleheader, starting at noon with Kentucky-Tennessee before the ACC contest between North Carolina and Florida State. ESPN2 shows three games Saturday as Notre Dame and Connecticut play at 11 a.m. Then it’s off to the Big 12 for Missouri-Texas and Baylor vs. Oklahoma State at 3 p.m.
Comcast has west coast basketball Thursday, with Oregon at Arizona State at 10:30 p.m. Saturday starts with CAA action between Hofstra and Old Dominion, then Virginia Tech heads to Boston College at 3 p.m. Sunday, UCLA meets USC at 9 p.m.
MASN offers a pair of games Thursday, starting at 7 p.m. in the Big South as Radford plays Liberty. Idaho takes on Louisiana Tech from the WAC at 9 p.m. There’s four Big East games on Saturday, beginning at noon with Villanova playing Cincinnati. Rutgers takes on West Virginia at 2 p.m., followed by DePaul-Louisville and Pittsburgh against Providence. Radford meets VMI at 8 p.m.
Georgetown plays St. John’s at noon Sunday.
UNLV plays San Diego State Saturday at 4 p.m. on NBC Sports network.
ESPN2 has women’s basketball Sunday afternoon. Temple plays Dayton at 2 p.m., followed by Ohio State against Michigan State. Comcast has ACC women’s basketball Sunday at 1 p.m. – Georgia Tech at Boston College.
TNT has its Thursday doubleheader, starting the Knicks at Memphis at 8 p.m. Orlando travels to Golden State for the nightcap. ESPN starts Friday with the Bulls taking on the Celtics, then the Heat battle the Nuggets. Sunday at 9 p.m., the Suns play the Spurs.
The Wizards travel to Philadelphia Friday at 7 p.m. on Comcast, and the teams meet in Washington Saturday at 7 p.m.
NBC Sports Network has college ice hockey Friday at 7:30 p.m., matching Minnesota-Duluth and Nebraska-Omaha.
The Australian Open starts its two-week run Sunday at 6:30 p.m. on ESPN2.
ESPN offers high school basketball Sunday at 4 p.m., with Tilton playing Brewster in New Hampshire.
The PBA World Championship final will be Sunday at 1 p.m. on ESPN.

Championship time

fishersvillemike — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 11:27:31 +0000

The best two teams in college football meet Monday.
The best of the college football playoff level meet Saturday afternoon.
Saturday and Sunday, the NFL starts its run to the Super Bowl.
It’s a good time to be a football fan.
New Orleans hosts two of the big games – a Saints playoff game and the BCS National Championship between LSU and Alabama. ESPN has coverage Monday at 8:30 p.m.
LSU enters the game as the top-ranked team in the nation, thanks to a 9-6 overtime win over Alabama in November. With other rivals dropping down the stretch, the Crimson Tide climbed back into the championship game rematch.
There’s a few more games before the Tigers and Tide battle. FOX has the Cotton Bowl Friday at 8 p.m., matching Kansas State and Arkansas. Saturday at 1 p.m., Pittsburgh faces SMU in the Compass Bowl on ESPN, and Sunday at 9 p.m. Northern Illinois plays Arkansas State in the GoDaddy Bowl.
The real Division I playoff concludes Saturday at 1 p.m. on ESPN2, with Sam Houston State playing North Dakota State.
It’s the wild-card weekend for the NFL. NBC has a pair of games Saturday, beginning in Houston as the Texans make their first-ever postseason trip against Cincinnati. In primetime, the Saints host Detroit at 8 p.m. in the Lions’ first playoff game since 1999.
Sunday, FOX shows the Falcons’ battle with the New York Giants at 1 p.m. CBS heads west at 4:30 p.m. as the Steelers take on Tim Tebow and the Broncos.
Before offering the NFL on Sunday, CBS shows Wisconsin at Michigan. Watch the clock.
The ACC Network shows Virginia Tech taking on Wake Forest Saturday at noon, followed by North Carolina-Boston College.
ESPN2 has Big East basketball Thursday with Pittsburgh meeting DePaul at 7 p.m. Then it’s off to the Big Ten for Michigan-Indiana. ESPN2 gets an early start Saturday, matching Tennessee and Florida at 11 a.m. Florida State and Clemson meet at 4 p.m.
Comcast starts in the CAA Thursday, with George Mason taking on Old Dominion at 7 p.m. At 11 p.m., Arizona visits UCLA. Saturday starts in the PAC-12, as Washington heads to Utah at 2 p.m. Then it’s CAA matchups between Delaware and William & Mary at 4 p.m. followed by Georgia State meeting George Mason at 7 p.m.
Sunday, Comcast features Arizona-USC at 5:30 p.m. before a CAA contest between VCU and Drexel.
MASN has Big East action Thursday, with South Florida playing Villanova at 8 p.m. Five games fill the schedule Saturday, beginning at noon with Georgetown at West Virginia. St. John’s visits Cincinnati at 2 p.m., then Marquette travels to Syracuse. It’s Seton Hall-Providence at 6 p.m., with the nightcap of Connecticut battling Rutgers at 8 p.m. Sunday at noon, DePaul takes on Villanova.
TNT’s Thursday doubleheader starts in Atlanta, with the Heat playing the Hawks at 8 p.m. Then it’s out west for the Lakers’ game with Portland. ESPN has the Bulls visiting Orlando Friday at 8 p.m., followed by the Trail Blazers at the Suns.
The Wizards host the Knicks Friday at 7 p.m. on Comcast and the Timberwolves Sunday at 1 p.m.
The Capitals are out west, facing San Jose Saturday at 10:30 p.m. on Comcast. The newly-named NBC Sports Network has Detroit vs. Chicago Sunday at 7:30 p.m.. The network, formerly Versus, shows college ice hockey Friday at 7:30 p.m., with Dartmouth taking on RPI.
CBS has a women’s college basketball doubleheader Saturday – Michigan State taking on Penn State at 2 p.m. before Notre Dame plays host to Connecticut. Comcast offers ACC women’s basketball Saturday at noon, as Georgia Tech battles Maryland.
From the high school ranks, the Under Armour All American Game will be on ESPN Thursday at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at 8 p.m., basketball hits ESPN2 with Simeon of Illinois vs. Miller Grove of Georgia.

Chilly in Philly?

fishersvillemike — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 11:26:54 +0000

For the second straight year, the NHL brings its Winter Classic to Pennsylvania.
We’ll see if it will be chilly enough in Philly.
The Flyers host the Rangers Monday at 1 p.m. on NBC in the fifth Winter Classic. The fourth Classic, last year in Pittsburgh, had to be moved to the evening due to rain. Previous Classics in Buffalo, Chicago and Boston provided enough cold and thrills to make the contest a highlight of the schedule.
The festivities include an Alumni Game Saturday at 1 p.m. on Versus.
There’s other ice hockey this weekend. Comcast shows the Flyers’ visit to Pittsburgh Thursday at 7 p.m.
The Capitals take on Buffalo at 7 p.m. before heading to Columbus Saturday at 7 p.m.
Versus shows college ice hockey between Boston University and Notre Dame Saturday at 7 p.m.
New Year’s Day is supposed to mean college football bowls games. But not when it’s on a Sunday.
College defer to the NFL, which closes out its regular season Jan. 1 and everybody plays. NBC has the NFC East showdown between the Cowboys and Giants in primetime.
The Redskins close out their season in Philadelphia at 1 p.m. on FOX, and the Falcons host the Buccaneers at 4:15 p.m. CBS in Washington shows the Jets at Dolphins at 1 p.m. and the Ravens’ attempt to clinch the AFC North in Cincinnati at 4:15 p.m.
The bowl season continues Thursday at 5:30 p.m., with Florida State battling Notre Dame in the Champs Sports Bowl on ESPN. At 9 p.m., Washington plays Baylor and Heisman Trophy winner Robert Griffin III in the Alamo Bowl.
Friday features four games, starting at noon with the Armed Forces Bowl between BYU and Tulsa. ESPN goes to the Pinstripe Bowl at 3:20 p.m. for Rutgers-Iowa State, then it’s the Music City Bowl matching Mississippi State and Wake Forest. The night closes with the Insight Bowl at 10 p.m., as Iowa faces Oklahoma.
Virginia’s game against Auburn in the Chick-Fil-A Bowl (7:30 p.m.) caps a busy Saturday on ESPN. The day begins with Texas A&M vs. Northwestern from Texas, followed by Illinois vs. 6-7 UCLA in the Fight Hunger Bowl. CBS has the Sun Bowl between Georgia Tech and Utah at 2:30 p.m., and ABC has the Liberty Bowl at 3:30 p.m. between Cincinnati and Vanderbilt.
Six games on January 2 start at noon on ESPNU, with Penn State against Houston in the Ticket City Bowl. At 1 p.m., ABC shows the Outback Bowl between Michigan State and Georgia, while ESPN has Nebraska vs. South Carolina from the Capital One Bowl. ESPN2 carries the Gator Bowl matching Ohio State and Florida.
Wisconsin takes on Oregon in the Rose Bowl at 5 p.m. on ESPN, then it’s the Fiesta Bowl between Stanford and Oklahoma State at 8:30 p.m.
TNT has its first doubleheader of the season Thursday. The Mavericks travel to Oklahoma City at 8 p.m., followed by the Knicks at Lakers.
The Wizards head to Milwaukee Friday at 8:30 p.m. on Comcast-plus. Monday, they play the Celtics at 7:30 p.m.
ESPN2 has a college basketball tripleheader Thursday, starting at 7 p.m. with Florida taking on Rutgers. Vanderbilt battles Marquette at 9 p.m., followed by BYU-St. Mary’s. Friday, Duke faces Western Michigan at 7 p.m., then it’s a Big East contest between Seton Hall and West Virginia.
Saturday, ESPN2 goes from noon to midnight with college basketball. Virginia Tech kicks it off at Oklahoma State, then Providence plays Georgetown. It’s off to the Big Ten at 4 p.m. as Illinois takes on Purdue before Ohio State faces Indiana. Gonzaga meets Xavier at 8 p.m. before the West Coast finale between Oregon and Washington.
CBS starts Saturday with Louisville facing Kentucky at noon.
There’s PAC-12 basketball Thursday on Comcast, with UCLA visiting Stanford at 11 p.m.
MASN has a Big East contest between St. John’s and Connecticut Saturday at noon, then has the Big South game matching UNC-Asheville and Winthrop. There’s more Big East on Sunday, with Rutgers at South Florida at noon. The finish of Syracuse-DePaul airs at 5:30 p.m., then Pittsburgh plays Cincinnati at 7 p.m.

Basketballs on Christmas Day

fishersvillemike — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 11:49:05 +0000

NBA fans got their Christmas presents a few weeks ago – a shortened season, but still a season.
The 2011-12 season starts Christmas Day with five games.
TNT begins the day at noon, with the Celtics visiting the Knicks.
ABC takes over at midway with a 2010 Final rematch between the Heat and Mavericks at 2:30 p.m. The Bulls play the Lakers at 5 p.m.
ESPN caps the day with a doubleheader, as the Magic travel to Oklahoma City at 8 p.m. The Clippers battle the Warriors at 10:30 p.m.
Your NFL weekend begins with the AFC South champion Texans at the 1-13 Colts on NFL Network Thursday at 8 p.m. Christmas Night, the Packers host Chicago on NBC while ESPN has its final Monday Night game with the Saints hosting the Falcons.
The rest of the NFL plays Christmas Eve afternoon. The Redskins host the Vikings at 1 p.m. on FOX and most of the country will see the Eagles travel to Dallas in the late afternoon slot. CBS in Washington offers the Browns at Ravens at 1 p.m.
Bowl week continues on ESPN Thursday with the Las Vegas Bowl, as Arizona State plays Boise State at 8 p.m. Head to Hawai’i on Christmas Eve as Nevada plays Southern Mississippi. Monday at 5 p.m. on ESPN2, Missouri plays North Carolina at the Independence Bowl.
West Virginia plays one of its future Big 12 foes – Baylor – Friday at 9 p.m. on ESPN. ESPN2 has a pair of contests Thursday – Memphis vs. Georgetown at 7 p.m. followed by Missouri-Illinois. Friday, ESPN2 offers Western Kentucky at Louisville at 7 p.m., and there’s a semifinal from the Diamond Head Classic at 11 p.m.
Christmas night, the ESPN2 has the final two games from the Diamond Head Classic – starting at 7:30 p.m.
Comcast has a twinbill featuring PAC-12 teams Thursday, with Butler-Stanford at 9 p.m. and Kansas taking on USC at 11 p.m.
MASN has a doubleheader Thursday, with Fairfield facing Connecticut at 7 p.m. and Milwaukee meeting Marquette at 9 p.m. Friday at 7 p.m., Cincinnati hosts Chicago State.
The Capitals visit New Jersey Friday at 7 p.m. on Comcast.