Weekend watchdog

There's four berths in the new college football playoff.
And three teams in the SEC West in the top four this week, vying for a playoff spot.
The real college playoffs begin Saturday, when No. 4 Mississippi seeks to bounce back from its' first loss as No. 3 Auburn comes to town. Kickoff is 7 p.m. on ESPN.
Top-ranked Mississippi State takes on Arkansas on ESPN2 at 7:15 p.m. Alabama, ranked sixth in the first poll that will determine the January 1 semifinal matchups, has the weekend off before a big contest with LSU next week.
The top four contenders already have big plans for Thanksgiving weekend. Mississippi and Mississippi State will tangle in the Egg Bowl while Auburn-Alabama try to top last year's Iron Bowl.
The college weekend continues Friday as Tulane takes on Cincinnati at 8 p.m.
The Service Academies star in CBS's triple-header Saturday. Army hosts Air Force at 11:30 a.m., and Navy faces Notre Dame at FedEx Field at 8 p.m. In between, Florida and Georgia battle at 3:30 p.m. in Jacksonville.
ABC brings the Big 12 battle between TCU and West Virginia or Purdue-Nebraska at 3:30 p.m., with the game not seen over-the-air in your area on ESPN2. In primetime, it's Oklahoma State-Kansas State or Illinois facing Ohio State.
Fifth-ranked Oregon faces Stanford on Fox at 7:30 p.m.
Virginia Tech tries to bounce back at home, facing Boston College at 12:30 p.m. on the ACC network. Other areas will see North Carolina-Miami.
ESPN starts its day at noon with Wisconsin visits Rutgers. Arizona travels to UCLA at 10:30 p.m.
Maryland makes its first Big Ten trip to Penn State at noon on ESPN2 and the night ends at 10:45 p.m. with Wyoming-Fresno State.
Oklahoma State battles Iowa State at noon on FoxSports1, then Kansas visits Baylor at 4 p.m. Action continues from the Big 12 at 7:30 p.m. when Texas takes on Texas Tech, then it's off to the west coast at 11 p.m. for Utah against Arizona State.
Comcast starts its day at noon with Villanova against Richmond, then North Carolina State visits Syracuse at 3:30 p.m.
NBC gets to show the AFC North battle between the Ravens and Steelers Sunday at 8:20 p.m., and the Colts meet the New York Giants on ESPN Monday at 8:20 p.m.
The Redskins head to Minnesota Sunday at 1 p.m. on Fox, while CBS shows Chargers against Dolphins at 1 p.m. and the Broncos-Patriots at 4:25 p.m.
It's the first week of the NBA regular season - 82 games until the real action of the playoffs in April.  ESPN has LeBron James and the Cavaliers' trip to Chicago Friday at 8 p.m. and Clippers-Lakers in the nightcap.
The Wizards have their home opener Saturday at 7 p.m. against the Bucks on Comcast.
NASCAR heads to Texas this weekend. The flag drops on the Sprint Cup race Sunday at 3 p.m. on ESPN, while the Nationwide racers hit the track Saturday at 3:30 p.m.
The Formula One racers will also be in Texas, with the race Sunday at 3 p.m. on NBC. There's qualifying Saturday at 1 p.m. and NBC Sports network has the practice Friday at 3 p.m.
For another kind of horsepower, NBC has the Breeders' Cup Saturday at 8 p.m.
The Capitals host the Coyotes Sunday at 7 p.m. on Comcast. The Islanders visit San Jose on NBC Sports network Saturday at 10:30 p.m.
Notre Dame takes on Vermont Friday at 8 p.m. on NBC Sports network.
The MLS playoffs continues Sunday at 9 a.m. as Seattle hosts Dallas in the Western Conference semifinals.
Liverpool faces Newcastle United at 8:45 a.m. on NBC Sports network, followed by Chelsea-Queens Park Rangers. Sunday's action starts with Manchester City battling Manchester United at 8:30 a.m., then Aston Villa takes on Tottenham Hotspur.
On the college pitch, Clemson hosts North Carolina State Friday at 7 p.m. on Comcast.
Miami meets North Carolina State in women's volleyball Sunday at 1 p.m. on Comcast.
ESPN2 shows the New York City marathon Sunday at 9 a.m.