Weekend Watchdog: Hunt for Mr. October
Are you ready for some baseball? Not so fast, Red Sox and Braves.
The 2011 postseason opens Friday on TBS, with the American League playoffs. The Yankees, with the best record in the league, play Detroit at 8:37 p.m. Tampa Bay, winners of the wild card berth in the final inning on the final day of the season, head to Texas at 5 p.m.
The two National League series begin Saturday. St. Louis heads to Philadelphia at 5:30 p.m., while the Diamondbacks visit Milwaukee at 2 p.m. The second games of the American League series happen Saturday (7:30 on TNT from Texas and 8:30 p.m. from TBS in New York), then it’s off until Monday for Game 3.
Game 2 for the National League series are on Sunday – 4:30 p.m. in Milwaukee and 8 p.m. in Philadelphia – then back for Game 3 Tuesday.
October also means top
college teams stop feasting on cupcakes and battle some real competition. ABC brings Nebraska’s Big Ten debut at Wisconsin Saturday at 8 p.m., while Virginia Tech meets unbeaten Clemson on ESPN2 at 6 p.m.
The weekend begins Thursday with a Big East contest between South Florida and Pittsburgh at 8 p.m. Both have played Notre Dame, with South Florida winning on the road and Pittsburgh losing at home last Saturday. Friday at 8 p.m., it’s a battle of Utah as Utah State hosts Brigham Young.
CBS has a big Saturday of football, starting at noon with Air Force visiting Navy. The SEC afternoon slot goes to Auburn’s meeting with South Carolina, and Alabama has a prime-time battle with Florida.
ABC has three choices in the late afternoon slot, with ESPN showing a second choice among Georgia Tech-N.C. State, Michigan State at Ohio State or Baylor against Kansas State.
ESPN starts the day with an future SEC matchup – Texas A&M vs. Arkansas – at noon while ESPN2 shows Northwestern at Illinois. In primetime, Notre Dame heads to Purdue on ESPN while ESPN2 follows the Hokies with Mississippi at Fresno State.
Comcast goes from coast to coast to show four games Saturday. The day begins at noon with Texas Tech heading to Kansas, then Maryland tries to bounce back against in-state rival Towson. Washington heads to Utah in a Pac-12 contest at 7 p.m., and UCLA-Stanford will be joined in progress at 11 p.m.
Boise State plays Nevada at 2:30 p.m. on Versus.
Which Ravens’ team will show up Sunday? The home crowd hopes for a reprise of the opener on the NBC stage, with the Jets visiting at 8:15 p.m. Monday night, the Colts try for their first win of the season at Tampa Bay on ESPN.
The Redskins try to bounce back at St. Louis Sunday at 1 p.m. on FOX, while CBS has the doubleheader. Most of the country gets Pittsburgh-Houston at 1 p.m., followed by the Broncos’ visit to Green Bay.
Tony Stewart takes his points lead to Dover for the third race in NASCAR’s Chase for the Cup. ESPN has coverage Sunday at 2 p.m., after the Nationwide racers take the track Saturday at 3:30 p.m. on ESPN2.
The Indy Car racers roll into Kentucky Sunday at 2 p.m. on Versus.
The WNBA opens its championship series Sunday at 8:30 p.m., with Minnesota at Atlanta.
It’s the last weekend of the NHL preseason, and Versus shows the Flyers vs. Devils Thursday at 7 p.m.
D.C. United and Philadelphia take their battle for an MLS playoff berth to ESPN2 Thursday at 8 p.m.
Comcast offers ACC women’s soccer Thursday at 8 p.m., with Virginia visiting Duke. The Cavalier men play at Clemson Friday at 7 p.m.
For soccer across the pond, ESPN2 shows Real Madrid vs. Espanyol at 3:55 p.m.
There’s college volleyball Sunday at 2 p.m. as Michigan meets Nebraska on ESPN2.
