Weekend watchdog

Can Jimmie Johnson win another NASCAR championship?
Or will Denny Hamlin or Kevin Harvick hoist Sprint Cup sometime Sunday?
The NASCAR season is down to a three-way shootout for the title. When the green flag drops Sunday at Homestead, ESPN viewers will be watching the closest contest of the "Race for the Cup" era. One that may not be decided until the white or checkered flags drop.
Johnson has won the last four championships, and enters Sunday only 15 points behind Hamlin. Hamlin finished 12th at Phoenix to watch his lead dwindle, and basically needs to finish ahead of Johnson to win the championship. But we really won't know for sure until the race is over.
The Nationwide racers close out their season Saturday at 4 p.m. on ESPN2.
Also ending this weekend is the MLS season. FC Dallas will compete with Colorado for the 2010 MLS Cup, starting at 8:30 p.m. on ESPN. Neither team has won an MLS championship, although Colorado lost to D.C. United in the second league title game in 1997.
College football still has a few more weeks left, but some traditional rivals close out their season this weekend. Versus has the Ivy League battle between Harvard and Yale Saturday at noon. If you can't park the car at Harvard yard, sit in front of the TV for the game.
The weekend starts on Friday, when ESPN2 goes back to the blue turf as Boise State hosts Fresno State.
Notre Dame meets Army at new Yankee Stadium Saturday at 7 p.m. on NBC. The Fighting Irish kept their season alive by whipping Utah last Saturday, and a win makes them bowl eligible.
CBS offers Mississippi's visit to LSU Saturday afternoon, while ABC offers the Big Ten battle between Ohio State and Iowa.
In primetime, ACC country will likely watch Florida State's game with Maryland. Other parts of the country will get either USC-Oregon State or a top 20 contest between Nebraska and Texas A&M.
Virginia Tech can wrap up a spot in the ACC championship game when the Hokies visit Miami Saturday afternoon on ESPN.
At noon, Wisconsin and weary Bucky Badger travel to Michigan on ESPN while Pittsburgh takes on South Florida on ESPN2. In primetime, Arkansas visits Mississippi State on ESPN and Oklahoma heads to Baylor on ESPN2.
Arch-rivals clash in the ACC as North Carolina State faces North Carolina in the game of the week.
Comcast has a Saturday doubleheader, starting with Oklahoma State at Kansas at noon. They then head to the Pac-10 for Stanford's big game with California. MASN's doubleheader begins with West Virginia at Louisville at noon, then offers Stony Brook against Liberty from the Big South.
The big game of the NFL weekend is on CBS, when the Patriots and Colts meet in their traditional November battle. The early afternoon games have the Ravens visiting Carolina on CBS, while the Redskins travel to Tennessee on FOX.
In primetime Sunday, the Giants visit the Eagles on NBC. Monday night, it's an AFC West contest between the Chargers and Broncos - usually the top two teams in the division, but this year they are at the bottom.
ESPN's Friday NBA doubleheader begins with the Thunder heading to Boston, then the Bulls face the Mavericks. The Wizards play the Grizzlies Friday on Comcast-plus, then head to Detroit to face the Pistons Sunday at 6 p.m.
College basketball continues its opening schedule this weekend. Sunday, Virginia Tech is on the road at UNC-Greensboro on Comcast.
ESPN2 has a Coaches vs. Cancer doubleheader Friday starting at 5 p.m., then Sunday ESPN2 shows two games from the Puerto Rico Tip-off begin at 5:30 p.m.
MASN features the Charleston Classic Friday, with games at noon and 8:30 p.m.
The Capitals visit Atlanta Friday on Comcast, then host the Flyers Saturday.