Friday, January 9, 2015

Weekend watchdog

ESPN's Chris Berman always lauds this NFL weekend - the top four teams of the season hosting playoff games.
This year, the NFL has company.
After the four big playoff games over the weekend, Oregon and Ohio State will meet Monday at Cowboys Stadium for the first National Championship playoff finale. ESPN has coverage at 8:30 p.m.
The Ducks rolled over Florida State with a big third-quarter rally at the Rose Bowl New Year's Day while Ohio State knocked top-ranked Alabama out of the field at the Sugar Bowl.
Around midnight, the winner will hoist this National Championship trophy for the first time.
The playoff series crowns its champion Saturday at 1 p.m., as North Dakota State faces Illinois State on ESPN2. The Bison will be seeking their fourth straight crown.
NBC Sports network has the Medal of Honor all-star bowl game Saturday at 2:30 p.m.
The NFL weekend begins on NBC Saturday at 4:30 p.m. as top-seeded New England hosts Baltimore. The sixth-seeded Ravens ousted Pittsburgh last weekend, and have won two of three playoff games against the Patriots in recent years.
Defending champion Seattle takes on Carolina Saturday at 8:15 p.m. on Fox. The teams met earlier in the season, with the Seahawks taking a 13-9 decision during the Panther's seven-game winless string.
Prepare for plenty of "Ice Bowl" talk as the Packers face Cowboys Sunday at 1 p.m. on Fox. It's the first postseason meeting between the teams at Lambeau Field since then, and the Packers have won all eight of their home games this season.
Peyton Manning's new team meets his former squad on CBS at 4:30 p.m., with the Broncos hosting the Colts. Indianapolis advanced last Sunday by beating the Bengals, and Manning looks to add a Denver Super Bowl championship to the one he won with the Colts eight years ago.
The Wizards battle the Bulls Friday at 8 p.m. on Comcast and ESPN, and the Cavaliers travel to Golden State in ESPN's nightcap. The Wizards visit Atlanta Sunday at 3 p.m.
On the college hardcourt, CBS has Kentucky's visit to Texas A&M Saturday at 1 p.m., and Duke takes on N.C. State Sunday at 1:30 p.m.
Ohio State travels to Indiana Saturday at noon on ESPN, followed by Louisville against North Carolina.
Cincinnati clashes with Connecticut Saturday at 11 a.m. on ESPN2. Baylor takes on TCU at 4 p.m., followed by Virginia-Notre Dame and Iowa State meeting West Virginia at 8 p.m.
The ACC network offers Georgia Tech-Wake Forest Saturday at noon.
Comcast has three contests Saturday, starting at noon with Clemson-Pittsburgh. Northeastern travels to Towson in the CAA at 2 p.m., followed by Boston College against Miami.
FoxSports1 brings Big East action Saturday, starting at noon with Georgetown-Providence before Seton Hall takes on Creighton at 2:15 p.m. It's off to the Pac-12 Sunday evening, with California taking on UCLA at 7:30 p.m. before Arizona heads to Oregon State at 10 p.m.
Southern Mississippi visits Texas-San Antonio Thursday at 8 p.m. on MASN. Rhode Island faces Duquesne Saturday at 1 p.m. and Coastal Carolina clashes with Liberty at 7 p.m.
On the women's hardcourt, top-ranked South Carolina plays Kentucky at 1 p.m. on ESPN2 and Maryland meets Minnesota at 3 p.m.
Duke duels with Florida State on Comcast Sunday at 1 p.m. Fordam faces St. Bonaventure on NBC Sports network Sunday at 4 p.m.
Butler plays St. John's on FoxSports1 Friday at 8 p.m. and Georgetown battles Villanova Sunday at 5 p.m.
Texas takes on Iowa State Saturday at noon on MASN2. Alabama-Birmingham plays Florida International Sunday at noon, followed by Kansas-Kansas State.
Oak Hill Academy takes on Hamilton of Tennessee Saturday at 4 p.m. on ESPN.
The Capitals host the Red Wings Saturday at 7 p.m. on Comcast.
NBC Sports network offers the Wild's trip to Chicago Sunday at 8 p.m
On the college ice, Dartmouth takes on New Hampshire on NBC Sports network Friday at 7:30 p.m. Western Michigan faces Notre Dame Saturday at 6 p.m., followed by Harvard-Yale at 8:15 p.m.
Warmup with some PGA golf from Hawaii, as NBC shows the Tournament of Champions Sunday at 2:30 p.m.
Crystal Palace meets Tottenham Hotspur on NBC Saturday at 12:30 p.m. Sunderland takes on Liverpool at 7:45 a.m. on NBC Sports network, with Chelsea-Newcastle United at 10 a.m. Arsenal takes on Stoke City Sunday at 8:30 a.m. and Manchester United meets Southampton at 11 a.m.

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