Weekend watchdog

It's halfway through the NASCAR playoff run - time for the final night race of the year.
With Jimmie Johnson lurking in third place, the Sprint Cup racers will hit the track at Charlotte Saturday at 7:30 p.m. on ABC. Johnson's win at Kansas brought him within four points of leader Carl Edwards, keeping alive his shot at a sixth straight championship.
The Nationwide racers will hit the track Friday at 7:30 p.m. on ESPN2.
It's off to Las Vegas for the Indy Car racers, who end their season Sunday at 3 p.m. on ABC.
We will have our World Series teams in place by Monday at the latest. Friday, the Brewers and Cardinals battle in Game 5 from St. Louis. Game 6 will be Sunday in Milwaukee and Game 7, if necessary, Monday.
The American League series travels back to Texas Saturday for Game 6. FOX has coverage at 8 p.m., and then Game 7 if the Tigers post the victory.
A week after unbeaten teams took the NFL spotlight, struggling teams play in primetime this week. The 1-4 Vikings visit Chicago Sunday night on NBC, while the winless Dolphins battle the Jets on ESPN Monday night.
The Redskins come off their bye to face the Eagles at home on FOX at 1 p.m., followed by the Cowboys visit to New England. CBS in Washington shows the Ravens' game with the Texans at 4 p.m.
The college football weekend starts Thursday at 9 p.m. when Southern Cal takes on California on ESPN. Friday, it's more West Coast action with Hawaii meeting San Jose State.
Saturday, CBS offers top-ranked LSU at Tennessee at 3:30 p.m., while ABC shows either Oklahoma State at Texas or Ohio State-Illinois (ESPN has the game that's not over the air in your area).
The ACC network goes with Miami at North Carolina at 12:30 p.m.
ESPN starts the day in Michigan, with the Wolverines battling the Spartans at noon. ESPN2 also has the Big Ten at noon, as Indiana visits Wisconsin. ESPN2 has Alabama facing Mississippi at 6 p.m. followed by Oklahoma-Kansas. ESPN offers Florida at Auburn at 7 p.m. before heading west for Arizona State meeting Oregon.
FX has Baylor vs. Texas A&M - on the field, not in the court room - Saturday at noon.
Comcast starts the day in the CAA, with New Hampshire taking on William & Mary at noon. Then it's off to Conference USA, when South Florida plays SMU at 3:30 p.m.
MASN has a Big East doubleheader Saturday, starting with Louisville at Cincinnati at noon. South Florida visits Connecticut at 3:30 p.m.
Versus starts its day in the Ivy League at 3:30 p.m. - Pennsylvania at Columbia - before showing Stanford at Washington State at 7:30 p.m.
The Capitals host Ottawa Saturday at 7 p.m.
As the MLS season winds down, ESPN2 shows Real Salt Lake at Colorado Friday at 10:30 p.m. Sunday, Chivas USA meets Los Angeles at 9 p.m. on ESPN.