Weekend watchdog

2015 starts a new tradition - two bowl games where the winners advance to a National Championship contest.
And continues a recent tradition - outdoor ice hockey.
ESPN has the Rose Bowl and Sugar Bowl, matching the four teams selected to appear in the first National Championship playoff. Second-seed Oregon plays defending national champion Florida State at 4:30 p.m., with top-ranked Alabama against Ohio State from New Orleans at 8:30 p.m.
The winners meet 11 days later at Cowboys Stadium to battle for the title.
Elsewhere in the bowl season, ESPN2 has Auburn-Wisconsin Thursday at noon. Baylor meets Michigan State at 12:30 p.m. in the Cotton Bowl on ESPN, and ABC carries the Citrus Bowl between Missouri and Michigan.
Friday brings four bowl games on ESPN, starting at noon with Houston-Pittsburgh. Iowa tangles with Tennessee in Jacksonsville at 3:20 p.m., followed by Kansas State playing UCLA at the Alamo Bowl and Washington facing Oklahoma State in the Cactus Bowl.
East Carolina battles Florida Saturday at noon in Birmingham, while you can fire up your browser to see Toledo and Arkansas State Sunday at 9 p.m.
Washington gets to host outdoor ice hockey this New Year's Day, with the Capitals meeting the Blackhawks at 1 p.m. on NBC. The Capitals won their first New Year's contest at rainy Pittsburgh four years ago while Chicago lost the second Classic at Wrigley Field in 2009.
The Capitals head back indoors Sunday, playing Florida at 3 p.m. on Comcast. The Blackhawks take on Dallas on NBC Sports network Sunday at 8 p.m.
The NFL postseason starts Saturday, with ESPN getting a contest Saturday at 4:30 p.m. between the Cardinals and NFC South champion Carolina. NBC gets the battle between the Ravens and Steelers at 8:15 p.m.
Sunday, the Bengals visit Indianapolis at 1 p.m. and the Cowboys take on the Lions at 4:30 p.m. on Fox.
Among the high school stars, NBC shows the Army All-American Bowl Saturday at 1 p.m.
The Wizards visit Oklahoma City Friday at 8 p.m. on Comcast and San Antonio Saturday at 8:30 p.m.
CBS brings college hoops action Saturday at 2 p.m., with Connecticut against Florida. UNLV meets Kansas Sunday at 4:30 p.m.
Third-ranked Virginia faces Miami Saturday at 5:30 p.m. on ESPN2, after Ohio State-Illinois at 3:30 p.m. The day starts at 11 a.m. with SMU against Cincinnati, and it's Big Ten play between Penn State and Rutgers at 7:30 p.m. Gonzaga visits Portland at 9:30 p.m.
Virginia Tech hosts Syracuse Saturday at noon on Comcast, followed by College of Charleston against William & Mary and Boston College taking on Duke at 4 p.m.
UCLA meets Colorado on FoxSports1 Friday at 10 p.m. Big East play heats up Saturday, with Villanova-Seton Hall at noon and Xavier against DePaul at 2 p.m. before Creighton goes to Georgetown at 4:30 p.m. Arizona meets Arizona State Sunday at 7 p.m.
North Carolina State meets Pittsburgh on the ACC network Saturday at noon.
NBC Sports network offers three games Saturday, as Duquesne duels with Dayton at 1 p.m. Rhode Island faces St. Louis at 3 p.m. followed by Richmond-Davidson.
Fairfield faces Siena on MASN Friday at 7 p.m. There's an Atlantic 10 contest between St. Bonaventure and Massachusetts Saturday at 2 p.m. and Liberty hosts Presbyterian at 7 p.m. C-USA takes the stage Sunday, with Old-Dominion-Charlotte at 1 p.m. followed by UTEP against Rice.
MASN2 has UTEP against North Texas Friday at 8 p.m. Marquette meets Providence Saturday at 2 p.m., followed by West Virginia-TCU and Xavier battling DePaul. Texas-San Antonio tangles with North Texas Sunday at 3 p.m.
On the women's hardcourt, Maryland meets Nebraska in a Big Ten contest on CBS Saturday at 4 p.m.
Oklahoma State visits Baylor Saturday at noon on MASN2, and TCU takes on Texas Tech Sunday at 5 p.m.
Comcast offers Notre Dame and Syracuse Sunday at 1 p.m. while George Mason meets St. Louis Sunday at 2 p.m. on NBC Sports network.
Georgetown plays Marquette on FoxSports1 Friday at 7:30 p.m., and West Virginia heads to Oklahoma Sunday at 4:30 p.m.
NBC Sports network starts 2015 with Premier League play. Stoke City plays Manchester United at 7:45 a.m., and Tottenham Hotspur clashes with Chelsea at 12:30 p.m.
In the FA Cup, Tranmere Rovers clash with Swansea City on FoxSports1 Saturday at 10 a.m. There's three games Sunday, starting at 8 a.m. with Crystal Palace against Dover Athletic. Manchester United meets Yeovil Town before Hull City-Arsenal at 1:30 p.m.
On the college ice, Union meets Boston University Saturday at 7 p.m. on NBC Sports network.