Weekend Watchdog: Chilly in Philly?
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. Read more
Weekend Watchdog: Basketballs on Christmas Day
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. Read more
Weekend Watchdog: First of 35
Saturday starts the college bowl season. Over the next 24 days, there will be 35 bowl games from New Mexico to New Orleans.
Only six days are quiet – and one is January 1. It’s a Sunday, so the NFL takes the field and bowls wait until January 2.
ESPN has the first three bowls of the season – starting at 2 p.m. with Temple facing Wyoming in the New Mexico Bowl. It’s off to the blue turf as Ohio plays Utah State at the Idaho Potato Bowl, then the day concludes with the New Orleans Bowl – San Diego State vs. Louisiana-Lafayette.
It’s a long way and a lot of games until LSU-Alabama Jan. 9. Read more
Weekend Watchdog: If necessary
We’ve entered the “if necessary” phase of the NBA and NHL championships.
The NBA Finals go to Game 5 Thursday on ABC at 9 p.m. The Mavericks tied the series at two games apiece, so there will be a Game 6 Sunday at 8 p.m. Game 7, if necessary, will be Tuesday at 9 p.m.
After losing a pair of close games, Boston made Games 5 and 6 necessary with a big wins at home. NBC has the final games of the NHL season, starting Friday at 8 p.m. with Game 5 back in Vancouver. The teams return to Boston for Game 6 on Monday, and Game 7 is Wednesday, if necessary. Read more
Weekend Watchdog: Horsepower
You like your horsepower with four legs or four wheels? Saturday is for you.
In the afternoon, you have the running of the Kentucky Derby on NBC, starting at 4 p.m. Lots of horses start but only one leaves Kentucky with a chance to win this year’s Triple Crown.
In the night, FOX shows the NASCAR race from Darlington.
That ought to rev your engine for Mother’s Day.The horsepower in Kentucky gets featured on Versus in the days leading up to the big event. The fillies have their race – the Kentucky Oaks – Friday at 5 p.m.
Before the flag drops for the Southern 500, the Nationwide racers will go Friday at 7:30 p.m. on ESPN2.
The second round of the NBA playoffs continues this weekend with doubleheaders each day. Friday, ESPN shows Game 3 of the Bulls’ series with Atlanta at 7 p.m., followed by the Lakers-Mavericks.
Saturday, ESPN has Game 3 of the Thunder-Grizzlies series from Memphis at 5 p.m., then ABC offers the Heat at Celtics at 8 p.m. Sunday’s it’s back to Dallas for the Lakers-Mavericks at 3:30 p.m. on ABC. Game 4 of the Bulls vs. Hawks will be at 8 p.m. on TNT.
The NHL continues its second round, starting Thursday at 8:30 p.m. with Game 4 of Vancouver-Nashville on Versus. Friday, the Sharks take on Detroit at 7 p.m., followed by the finish of the Flyers’ game with Boston.
The Capitals were supposed to be playing Game 5 Saturday. Instead, they’re off to the golf course after another disappointing playoff run. Later Saturday, the Predators head to Vancouver for Game 5 on Versus at 8 p.m.
Sunday, NBC has Game 5 from Philadelphia (if necessary) at 3 p.m. and Game 5 from San Jose will be on Versus at 8 p.m. – if the Red Wings win Game 4.
The Orioles make a rare national TV appearance this weekend, hosting Tampa Bay at 1:10 p.m. on FOX. Other parts of the nation get the Twins at Red Sox and Reds-Cubs. The Orioles-Rays games on Friday and Sunday are on MASN after a Thursday afternoon special in Kansas City.
ESPN’s Sunday game features the Braves at Phillies. TBS shows the Yankees at Texas Sunday at 2:05 p.m.
The Nationals play at Philadelphia Thursday on MASN, then head to Florida for the weekend.
The PGA tour hits Charlotte this weekend, with the Wells Fargo championship on CBS Saturday and Sunday at 3 p.m.
Comcast has C-USA college baseball this weekend, with Rice facing Houston at 7:30 p.m. Friday, 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at 2 p.m.. From the SEC, LSU visits Alabama at 7:30 p.m.
The NCAA crowns its men’s volleyball champion this weekend. Thursday, Southern California faces UC-Santa Barbara at 7 p.m. on ESPN2, followed by the Big Ten battle between Ohio State and Penn State. The winners go for the title Saturday at 7 p.m.
ESPN2 offers the MLS Saturday night, with New York at Los Angeles at 11 p.m.
SEC softball gets the coverage Saturday at noon on ESPN, with Florida meeting Tennessee. Sunday at 1 p.m., it’s off to the Big 12 for Texas taking on Missouri.
Weekend Watchdog: Horsepower
You like your horsepower with four legs or four wheels? Saturday is for you.
In the afternoon, you have the running of the Kentucky Derby on NBC, starting at 4 p.m. Lots of horses start but only one leaves Kentucky with a chance to win this year’s Triple Crown.
In the night, FOX shows the NASCAR race from Darlington.
That ought to rev your engine for Mother’s Day.The horsepower in Kentucky gets featured on Versus in the days leading up to the big event. The fillies have their race – the Kentucky Oaks – Friday at 5 p.m. Read more
Weekend Watchdog: Hokies in primetime
Cassell Coliseum and its fans get to shine this weekend.
ESPN’s GameDay crew pays a visit to Cassell Coliseum Saturday, as the Hokies host Duke at 9 p.m.
The festivities begin in the morning with the two-hour preview show, and then get you ready for the game at 8 p.m.
The question remains – are the Hokies ready for primetime? They lost both matchups to Virginia, and fourth place in the ACC doesn’t guarantee anything – even with the field now 68 teams.
But they won at Wake Forest Tuesday, giving needed momemtum to face the top-ranked Blue Devils.
ESPN’s Saturday begins at noon when Missouri heads to Kansas State, followed by St John’s at Villanova. It’s back to the Big 12 at 4 p.m. when Kansas plays Oklahoma, then Mississippi State takes on Tennessee.
ESPN2 has Wichita State at Missouri State at 1 p.m., followed by Memphis-UTEP. It’s off to the Big West at 8 p.m. when UC Santa Barbara battles Long Beach State.
Thursday there’s Big East on the menu as ESPN2 shows Marquette-Connecticut at 7 p.m. and ESPN offers West Virginia at Pittsburgh at 9 p.m. The night begins on ESPN at 7 p.m. with Georgia facing Florida, while ESPN2 heads west as the night goes on – Penn State at Northwestern at 9 p.m. followed by Gonzaga-St. Mary’s.
Friday, Judgment Week begins on ESPN2 at 7 p.m. when Siena meets Fairfield in the MAAC.
Sunday, ESPN shows Purdue-Michigan State at 1 p.m. while ESPN2 goes with Xavier at Dayton.
The ACC network splits its coverage of games Saturday at 2 p.m. NBC29 and northern areas will feature Georgia Tech at N.C. State, while CW29 shows Miami at Florida State.
CBS has a full weekend of college basketball as the NCAA tournament nears. There’s three games Saturday, starting at noon when Syracuse visits Georgetown. BYU heads to San Diego State at 2 p.m., followed by Florida taking on Kentucky.
Sunday at 2 p.m. it’s back to the Big East when Louisville meets Pittsburgh. The Big Ten battle between Indiana and Ohio State caps off the weekend.
Comcast starts Thursday in the CAA with Northeastern taking on George Mason at 7 p.m. Then it’s off to the west coast as UCLA hosts Arizona State at 11 p.m. Saturday, Boston College meets Virginia at noon, followed by Temple at George Washington and William &Mary-Old Dominion.
The Sunday ACC game of the week features Maryland traveling to North Carolina at 7:30 p.m. Comcast heads west at 10:30 p.m. for Washington State-Washington.
MASN offers a pair of games Thursday – Mt. St. Mary’s at Robert Morris at 7 p.m. and a WAC battle between Nevada and Idaho at 10:30 p.m. Saturday, there’s three games from across the nation. At 2 p.m., there’s the Big East matchup between South Florida and DePaul, followed by Texas at Colorado.
The Big South takes the stage at 7 p.m. with VMI meeting Winthrop.
Sunday West Virginia visits Rutgers at noon, followed by St. Peter’s at Rider. It’s back to the Big East at 4 p.m. when Providence heads to Marquette.
As the weather warms and time for the Masters quickly approaches, the PGA tour brings together its 64 best golfers for the World Match Play Championship this weekend.
In most tournaments, the players get four rounds to notch the best score. This week, it’s beat your opponent each day or head off for next week’s venue. Sorry, Tiger Woods, but you won’t be exciting the crowds this Sunday.
Golf Channel has coverage during the week, and NBC picks up the action Saturday and Sunday at 2 p.m. both days.
Fresh off his upset win at the Daytona 500, Trevor Bayne and the NASCAR gang head to Phoenix this Sunday. Coverage begins at 3 p.m.
The Nationwide drivers hit the track Saturday at 5:30 p.m. on ESPN2.
TNT’s Thursday NBA doubleheader starts at 8 p.m. when Miami heads to Chicago. In the nightcap, the Celtics face the Nuggets. ESPN has the Magic hosting Oklahoma City Friday, and the Nuggets meet the TrailBlazers in the nightcap.
ABC only offers one game this weekend, with the Lakers heading to Oklahoma City at 2:30 p.m. Sunday.
With Carmelo Anthony now on the squad, the Knicks host Miami Sunday at 8 p.m. on ESPN. The Hawks play Portland at 10:30 p.m.
The Wizards visit Miami Friday at 7 p.m. on Comcast, and host Dallas Saturday on Comcast-plus.
For the hopeful stars of the future, Versus shows the D-League game between Bakersfield and Idaho Saturday at 11 p.m.
Comcast offers three women’s basketball games Sunday, starting at 1 p.m. when Virginia Tech hosts Virginia in the regular season finale. It’s off to the CAA at 3 p.m. when Delaware visits Old Dominion, then back to the ACC for North Carolina-Duke.
MASN goes to the Big East for women’s basketball Saturday at noon, with South Florida at Villanova.
ESPN2 shows Baylor taking on Oklahoma Sunday at 5 p.m.It’s a New York weekend for the Capitals, with the Rangers in town Friday on Comcast plus and a trip to play the Islanders Saturday on Comcast.
