Weekend Watchdog: Race day in America

Get yourself strapped in for 1100 miles of racing Sunday.

The Indianapolis 500 gets your day at the track started at 11 a.m. on ABC. After 500 miles, a drink of milk and a kiss of the bricks (thanks for the idea, NASCAR guys), then it’s off to the longest race of the NASCAR schedule. The flag drops on the Coca-Cola 600 in the early evening, with coverage starting at 5:30 p.m. on FOX. Read more

Weekend Watchdog: Bracket Buster Time

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. Read more

Weekend Watchdog: Look ‘Hoos in contention

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 16 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. Read more

Weekend Watchdog: XLVI

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. Read more

Weekend Watchdog: Time for stars to shine

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. Read more

Weekend Watchdog: Who’s going to Super Bowl XLVI?

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. Read more

Weekend Watchdog: Best NFL weekend of the year

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. Read more