Over the air, out of luck

New Year's Day used to be the big day for college football on the TV networks - three or recently four games on the same time in the early afternoon.
In 2011, if you don't have cable, you won't have a full bowl menu to choose from. There's just one game - Florida vs. Penn State in the Outback Bowl on ABC at 1 p.m. And that's only because there's no room on ESPN or ESPN2 in the time slot.
The Granddaddy of them All - the Rose Bowl - will be on ESPN at 5 p.m. Your memories of Curt Gowdy calling the game on NBC while your family got together to watch - long gone. Of course, TCU's purple in one end zone doesn't go with tradition. Although Wisconsin and its run game would fit right into the Woody Hayes era.
ESPN starts its bowl day with the Capital One Bowl between Alabama at Michigan State, while ESPN2 has the Gator Bowl goes with Mississippi State against Michigan at 1:30 p.m. in the nightcap, it's the Fiesta Bowl between Connecticut and Oklahoma.
CBS retains the Sun Bowl from El Paso, bringing together Miami and Notre Dame, Friday at 2:30 p.m. ESPN has three other games that day - South Florida tackling Clemson in the Car Care Bowl at noon, followed by Georgia-Central Florida at the Liberty Bowl and South Carolina meeting Florida State in the Peach Bowl.
Thursday, there's four games on ESPN. Army battles SMU in the Armed Forces Bowl at noon, then new Yankee Stadium hosts the first Pinstripe Bowl with Kansas State meeting Syracuse. You head south for North Carolina facing Tennessee in the Music City Bowl, with the finale matching Nebraska and Washington in the Holiday Bowl.
The NHL has added something to the New Year's Day menu - the Winter Classic. This year, Pittsburgh gets the hosting duties, with the Steelers' Heinz Field getting a rink for the Penguins to face the Capitals.
Venues were the stars the past two years - Wrigley Field and Fenway Park - but this year it's Sid the Kid vs. the Great Eight.
The final weekend of the NFL season means doubleheaders on both CBS and FOX, except the markets of teams playing at home. CBS in Washington shows the Ravens facing the Bengals at 1 p.m., with Baltimore fans rooting for Cleveland to pull the big upset of Pittsburgh.
On FOX, the Saints and Bucs battle at 1 p.m. before the Redskins finish their lousy season against the Giants. The Redskins know they will be packing up their gear after the contest, while the Giants have a slim postseason chance - needing the Bears to beat Green Bay.
NBC brings the classic NFC West showdown - 7-8 St. Louis vs. 6-9 Seattle for the playoff berth. And the hosting duties next weekend before getting quickly booted from the postseason.
College basketball begins to gear up for the conference schedule as the new year starts. Comcast offers Iowa State's visit to Virginia Thursday at 8 p.m. Sunday, Comcast has four games on the schedule, starting Gonzaga-Wake Forest at 1 p.m. Virginia hosts LSU at 5:30 p.m., followed by Miami-Duke. When that game ends, you head west for the conclusion of Arizona's game at Oregon State.
ESPN2 has the Philadelphia battle between Temple and Villanova Thursday at 7 p.m. Friday, Northwestern battles Purdue at noon, followed by College of Charleston-Tennessee and Florida-Xavier. The night tripleheader begins at 6 p.m. with Ohio State's visit to Indiana, then it's Seton Hall vs. Cincinnati and Oklahoma facing Gonzaga as we ring in the new year.
Saturday, West Virginia and Marquette have an early tip - 11 a.m. on ESPN2.
CBS brings the big contest between Louisville and Kentucky Friday at noon.
MASN offers Big East basketball Saturday as St. John's visits Providence. Sunday, there's UNC-Charlotte tangling with Georgia Tech at 7 p.m.
In women's basketball, Stanford tries to end Connecticut's lengthy winning streak Thursday at 9 p.m. on ESPN2.
TNT offers its Thursday doubleheader, with the Knicks in Orlando at 7 p.m. followed by San Antonio-Dallas. The Wizards close out 2010 on Comcast with a 3 p.m. game at Indiana, then host the Hornets Saturday at 7 p.m.

Sports under the tree

After spending time with a tree with Christmas balls, the NBA hopes you'll watch their players on the court Christmas afternoon.
Five NBA games tip off Christmas Day, with the two biggest on ABC. The Celtics head south to face Orlando at 2:30 p.m., then at 5 p.m. LeBron, D-Wade and the crew take the Heat against the Kobe and the Lakers.
The day starts at noon on ESPN with the Bulls visiting Chicago at noon. At 8 p.m., Denver takes on Oklahoma City followed by Portland-Golden State.
Before the big day, TNT has its usual Thursday doubleheader - the Spurs meet the Magic at 8 p.m. before the Heat and Suns meet in Phoenix. The Wizards head to San Antonio Sunday at 7 p.m. on Comcast.
NFL network has its final games this week, with Dallas visiting Arizona Saturday at 7:30 p.m. The weekend begins with Carolina traveling to Pittsburgh Thursday at 8. Once the Steelers ice the Panthers, rink-building begins for the NHL's Winter Classic New Year's Day.
The NFL moved Vikings-Eagles to the Sunday night NBC slot, and the NFC South battle between the Saints and Falcons has coverage on ESPN Monday.
Sunday afternoon, the Ravens visit Cleveland on CBS. FOX has the doubleheader, with the Redskins taking on Jacksonville in the early game and the Giants-Packers earning the 4:15 p.m. spotlight.
College bowl season continues Thursday in San Diego, as Navy faces San Diego State in the Poinsettia Bowl at 8 p.m. on ESPN. Tulsa spends Christmas Eve in Hawaii, meeting the Rainbow Warriors at 8 p.m., while Sunday at 8:30 p.m. Florida International takes on Troy in the Little Caesar's Bowl.
College basketball has a few contests over the Christmas weekend. ESPN2 shows Georgetown-Memphis Thursday at 8 p.m., followed by a game from the Diamondhead Classic. Friday starting at 7 p.m., there's two games from the Cancun Governor's Cup.
Christmas Night, there's two more games from the Diamondhead Classic at 7 p.m.
MASN has St. Francis of Pa. taking on Cincinnati Thursday at 7 p.m.
The Capitals host Pittsburgh Thursday on Comcast, then visit Carolina Sunday on Comcast-plus.

Bowling with Beef O'Brady

It's college bowl season. Thirty-five bowls spread over 24 days, starting Saturday with a tripleheader on ESPN. But don't wear yourself out watching too much early bowl football. You've got to pace yourself to make it to the national championship game Jan. 10.
The first bowl champion will be crowned at the New Mexico Bowl, with BYU facing UTEP at 2 p.m. Then it's Northern Illinois vs. Fresno State in the Humanitarian Bowl, and Troy faces Ohio in the R&L Carriers Bowl from New Orleans.
Tuesday is the famous Beef O'Brady Bowl, with Southern Mississippi going against Louisville.
ESPN is your home for almost every bowl game - CBS is down to the Sun Bowl and FOX keeps the Cotton Bowl - ESPN produces the Capital One Bowl on ABC New Year's Day.
The former I-AA has its semfinals, with Villanova meeting Eastern Washington Friday at 8 p.m. on ESPN2 with the other semifinal Saturday on ESPNU. The Division II final matches Delta State and Minnesota-Duluth Saturday at 11 a.m. on ESPN2.
On Sunday, FOX has only one NFL game and some good choices - the NFC East battle between the Giants and Eagles, and a potential Super Bowl preview as the Saints and Ravens meet in Baltimore. Sorry Fishersville fans, but you'll get the Redskins and Cowboys fighting for last place in their division.
The CBS doubleheader will be Jacksonville meeting Indianapolis with the AFC South title basically on the line, followed by the slumping Jets at the Steelers.
The NFL weekend begins Thursday when the 49ers and Chargers meet on NFL Network. The Packers visit the Patriots on NBC Sunday night, and the traveling Vikings play the Bears on ESPN Monday night. Might be a bit chilly for Viking fans outdoors.
TNT starts the NBA weekend Thursday with Atlanta facing the Celtics, followed by the Spurs taking on the Nuggets. Friday, ESPN has the Heat meeting the Knicks at 7 p.m., then the Suns visit the Mavericks in the nightcap.
The Wizards visit New Jersey on Thursday on Comcast, then host LeBron and the Heat Saturday.
The college basketball schedule is limited with the exams finishing and holidays looming. Virginia gets back into action Friday, hosting Oregon on Comcast at 8 p.m. Saturday, Comcast hangs out in Florida for Miami vs. Central Florida at 1 p.m. and Florida-Kansas State at 3:30 p.m.
ESPN has USC-Kansas Saturday at noon, while ESPN2 offers Arkansas-Texas A&M at 2 p.m. followed by Gonzaga vs. Baylor and Alabama-Oklahoma State.
MASN offers four games from the Big East Saturday, starting with Loyola at Georgetown at noon. Cleveland State visits West Virginia at 2 p.m., then Gardner-Webb plays Louisville. The day concludes at 7 p.m. with Maryland Eastern Shore against Pittsburgh.
Women's hoops takes center stage Sunday at 7 p.m. when Stanford visits Tennessee.
ESPN even goes with high school basketball this week, with a pair of games Thursday starting at 7 p.m.
The Capitals are on the road this weekend, visiting Boston Saturday on Comcast-plus and Ottawa Sunday on Comcast.
The NCAA women's volleyball champion will be crowned this weekend. Thursday on ESPN2, Texas meets Penn State at 7 p.m., followed by California-USC. The final will be Saturday at 8:30 p.m. on ESPN2.

Changing of college seasons

With college football basically down to the bowl season, college basketball begins to step into the spotlight.
Saturday, CBS has a two-sport doubleheader. Saint Louis visits national champion Duke at noon at Cameron Indoor Stadium, then the coverage heads to Philly for the annual Army-Navy game. While it's the biggest game of the season for both, they still have bowl season to look forward to.
The Football Championship Series (old I-AA) playoffs provides the rest of the football this weekend. The quarterfinals start Friday at 8 p.m. on ESPN2 with a battle between CAA schools - New Hampshire at Delaware. Villanova visits Appalachian State Saturday at noon on ESPN, and MASN features Georgia Southern-Wofford at 2 p.m. North Dakota State visits Eastern Washington following the conclusion of that contest.
Off the field, ESPN has the college football awards season, capped by the awarding of the Heisman Trophy Saturday at 8 p.m. Plenty of other awards will be given Thursday at 7 p.m.
ESPN continues it's early-season hardcourt action Thursday - Georgetown-Temple at 9 p.m., while ESPN2 has the doubleheader starting at 7 p.m. with Kansas State-Florida. Butler battles Xavier at 9 p.m.
The SEC takes center court Saturday on ESPN, with Tennessee against Pittsburgh at 3:15 p.m. followed by Kentucky-Indiana. ESPN2 begins the day with Auburn-Rutgers at 12:30 p.m., followed by Wisconsin-Marquette. Then it's a matchup in the Big 12/Pac-10 challenge - Washington vs. Texas A&M - followed by a team moving from one conference to the other - Colorado - meeting Kansas.
Gonzaga plays Notre Dame at 8:30 p.m.
MASN offers George Mason at Liberty Saturday at 7 p.m., then Sunday at 2 p.m. Wake Forest takes on UNC-Wilmington. Comcast shows Dayton's game at Old Dominion Saturday at 4 p.m., then Sunday Virginia Tech hosts Penn State at 1 p.m. and Maryland battles Boston College at 4 p.m.
The NFL weekend begins the Indianapolis visiting Tennessee Thursday on NFL Network. The other primetime games come from Texas - Eagles at Cowboys on NBC Sunday night, then the Ravens take on the Texans on ESPN Monday night.
The Redskins host Tampa Bay Sunday afternoon on FOX, while CBS has the doubleheader. The Washington CBS channel doesn't have a game at 1 p.m. - while most of Virginia sees Cincinnati-Pittsburgh - and in the nightcap New England visits Chicago.
TNT has the NBA doubleheader Thursday,with the Celtics visiting Philadelphia at 8 p.m. followed by the Magic's trip to Portland. ESPN starts Friday with the Lakers heading to Chicago at 8 p.m., then it's the Heat at Golden State.
The Wizards take on the Knicks Friday on Comcast.
The Capitals host Florida Thursday on both Comcast and Versus, then take on the Avalanche Saturday and visit the Rangers Sunday on Comcast.
NBC will feature the Shark Shootout Saturday at 4 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m.
The NCAA crowns its men's soccer champion this weekend. The second semifinal - Akron against Michigan - is Friday at 11 p.m. on ESPN2, with the final Sunday at 4 p.m.

Conference title time

We know when the BCS bowls will be.
We basically know who's going to be in the BCS bowls.
But it won't be until Sunday night that we officially know who's going where, and who's playing for the national championship January 10.
ESPN's BCS selection show Sunday at 8:15 p.m. - and the bowl selection show at 9 p.m. - caps off the final big weekend of college football.
Top-ranked Oregon knows it's in the BCS, and plays Oregon State in the Civil War Saturday at 3:30 p.m. on ABC.
Over on CBS, No. 2 Auburn faces South Carolina in the Southeastern Conference final at 4 p.m.
Virginia Tech goes for it's 11th straight victory and a BCS berth against Florida State at 7:45 p.m. on ESPN. Keep the clicker busy, as the Big 12 title game matches Oklahoma and Big Ten-bound Nebraska on ABC at 8 p.m. while Connecticut can clinch the Big East crown when it plays South Florida on ESPN2.
West Virginia can stay alive in the Big East with a win in its noon contest against Rutgers on ABC.
The battle between Arizona State and Arizona kicks off the weekend Thursday at 8 p.m. on ESPN. Friday, ESPN2 has a doubleheader - the MAC championship between Northern Illinois and Miami at 7 p.m., followed by Illinois visiting Fresno State.
Saturday at noon, ESPN2 shows the C-USA title game between SMU and Central Florida, while Pittsburgh meets Cincinnati on ESPN.
Versus offers the Apple Cup between Washington and Washington State Saturday at 7 p.m. Comcast brings together L.A. rivals - USC vs. UCLA - Saturday at 10:30 p.m.
In the world of college football playoffs, MASN shows a pair of games from FCS (the old I-AA) - Wofford at Jacksonville State at noon, followed by Villanova taking on Stephen F. Austin.
Going against the BCS selection show is one of the top NFL games of the season - Steelers at Ravens on NBC Sunday night football. The AFC North title and likely a top-seed will be on the line when the rivals meet in Baltimore.
The NFL weekend begins Thursday night when the faltering Texans visit Michael Vick and the Eagles. Monday night, ESPN has the AFC East grudge match between the Jets and Patriots.
On Sunday afternoon, the Redskins visit New York at 1 p.m. on FOX. So CBS in Washington decided to show the Raiders' game with San Diego in the 4 p.m. slot, against the Cowboys' visit to Indy.
LeBron James returns home to Cleveland Thursday, bringing the struggling Heat to town on TNT. The Suns visit Golden State in the nightcap.
Friday on ESPN, the Bulls visit Boston at 8 p.m., then the Mavericks play the Jazz.
The Wizards host Portland Friday on Comcast, then begin a west coast swing at Phoenix Sunday at 8 p.m.
In college basketball, the ACC hits conference play early when Virginia visits Virginia Tech Sunday at 6 p.m. on Comcast.
ESPN has two games from the Big 12/Pac-10 Hardcourt Series - Arizona State faces Baylor at 7 p.m., followed by UCLA-Kansas. Saturday, there's an afternoon doubleheader on ESPN - Butler-Duke at 3:15 p.m., then Illinois meeting Gonzaga - while ESPN2 offers Alabama-Purdue and N.C. State-Syracuse starting at 3:30 p.m.
Comcast's basketball weekend tips off Thursday at 11 p.m. when Missouri heads to Oregon. Friday, the Big 12-Pac10 challenge continues as Kansas State takes on Washington State at 11 p.m. There's two more games Saturday afternoon -California heads east to face Iowa State, then Texas Tech battles Washington - and Sunday at 11 p.m. it's Texas at Southern Cal.
Comcast goes to the CAA Saturday at noon when VCU plays William & Mary.
MASN has a Big South doubleheader Thursday - Gardner Webb vs. High Point at 7 p.m., followed by Presbyterian's visit to Liberty. Friday, Connecticut hosts UMBC at 7 p.m.
CAA basketball gets the coverage Saturday at 7:30 p.m. when UNC-Wilmington goes to George Mason. The weekend closes with a pair of games from the BB&T Classic - George Washington vs. Navy at 5 p.m., followed by Maryland-Temple.
Comcast offers women's basketball Sunday at 2 p.m., when Tennessee visits rival Old Dominion, while ESPN2 has Purdue-Notre Dame at the same time.
The Capitals visit Dallas Thursday on Comcast, then return home Saturday to face Atlanta.
The NCAA Women's College Cup semifinal will be on ESPN2 Friday at 5 p.m., with Notre Dame taking on Ohio State. The final will be Sunday at noon.