Weekend watchdog

For two months, ESPN has been running the commercials - please plan on watching the College Football playoffs on Dec. 31.
Today's the day.
The four teams battling for the national championship take the field today, with top-seeded Clemson against Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl at 4 p.m. on ESPN and the Cotton Bowl hosting Alabama-Michigan State at 8 p.m.
The winners advance to the title contest in Arizona Jan. 11.
Thursday begins in Atlanta, with Houston facing Florida State at noon. Eat more chikin while you watch.
New Year's Day action starts at noon, with the Outback Bowl matching Northwestern and Tennessee on ESPN2. ABC offers the Citrus Bowl between Michigan and Florida at 1 p.m.
The Fiesta Bowl brings together Notre Dame and Ohio State on ESPN 1 p.m., followed by Iowa-Stanford in the Rose Bowl and the Sugar Bowl between Oklahoma State and Mississippi at 8:30 p.m.
There's four more bowl games on ESPN Saturday. Penn State and Jacksonville battle in Jacksonville at noon, followed by the Liberty Bowl matchup of Kansas State-Arkansas. Oregon and TCU meet in the Alamo Bowl at 6:45 p.m., with West Virginia against Arizona State at 10:15 p.m.
The NFL closes its regular season Sunday, and the Packers and Vikings battle for the NFC North crown on NBC at 8:30 p.m. The loser still advances to the playoffs as a wild-card.
Fox has NFC East winners Washington at Dallas Sunday at 1 p.m., followed by Panthers-Buccaneers. The Steelers try to survive and advance against the Browns on CBS, then the Broncos battle the Chargers in hopes of claiming the AFC West.
New Year's Day means the NHL's Winter Classic, with the Bruins meeting the Canadiens from the Patriots' stadium on NBC at 1 p.m. NBC Sports network has the alumni game Thursday at 3:30 p.m.
Comcast has the Capitals against the Hurricanes Thursday at 6 p.m. and visiting Columbus Saturday at 7 p.m.
The Wizards host Orlando Friday at 7 p.m. and the Heat Sunday at 6 p.m. on Comcast.
Virginia opens ACC play Saturday at 5 p.m. against Notre Dame on ESPN2.
Top-ranked Michigan State meets Minnesota Saturday at 3 p.m. on ESPN2. It's Iowa State-Oklahoma at 7 p.m., then LSU takes on Vanderbilt before the nightcap matching Gonzaga and San Francisco.
Tennessee tangles with Auburn Saturday at 2 p.m. on CBS, followed by Baylor-Kansas.
James Madison takes on Delaware on Comcast Saturday at noon, followed by North Carolina State against Virginia Tech at 2 p.m. and Duke-Boston College at 4:30 p.m.
FoxSports1 has a Big East doubleheader Thursday, with Xavier-Villanova at noon followed by St. John's against Creighton. Washington hosts UCLA Friday at 11 p.m.
There's five Big East games on Saturday, starting at 11 a.m. with DePaul-Seton Hall. Butler battles Xavier at 1 p.m., then it's St John's against Providence at 3:30 p.m. and Marquette-Georgetown. The night closes at 10 p.m. with Creighton against Villanova.
The Pac-12 takes the stage on Sunday, with Arizona-Arizona State at 2 p.m. and Oregon playing Oregon State at 7 p.m.
Conference USA takes the court Friday on MASN, as North Texas takes on Texas-San Antonio at 7 p.m. before Rice faces UTEP. Liberty hosts UNC-Asheville on MASN Saturday at 2 p.m. while MASN2 brings UIC-Valparaiso.
Sunday offers five games from Conference USA. Marshall meets Western Kentucky at 1 p.m. on MASN, followed by Middle Tennessee against Alabama-Birmingham and North Texas tangling with UTEP at 5 p.m. MASN2 has Old Dominion clashing with Charlotte at 1 p.m.
NBC Sports network offers three games from the Atlantic 10 on Saturday. Saint Joseph's travels to Richmond at 12:30 p.m., then it's Dayton-Duquesne and St. Louis taking on Rhode Island at 4:30 p.m. There's two more Sunday, with Massachusetts against LaSalle at 5 p.m. and Fordham facing George Washington at 7 p.m.
On the women's court, Virginia hosts Miami on Comcast Sunday at 1 p.m. while CBS has the Big Ten battle between Ohio State and Maryland Saturday at noon.
FoxSports1 has Oklahoma-Baylor Sunday at 4:30 p.m.
West Ham United faces Liverpool on NBC Sports network Saturday at 7:40 a.m., followed by Manchester United against Swansea City. Sunday opens with Crystal Palace clashing with Chelsea at 8:25 a.m. before Everton meets Tottenham Hotspur.