#TGIF Modern Moms. Wow, what a week! I don’t know about you, but the Holiday parties have already begun in my world. Office parties, white elephant parties, and neighborhood parties: it’s the perfect time to talk sports with your family, friends and co-workers. With the college and pro football seasons winding down, there are lots of topics to talk about. Read through todays #SportBits, and tuck away some information to pull out at one of your Holiday gatherings.
#SportBitsTV Weekend Watch
College Football – The College Football Bowl schedule is set. The first game is on December 19th. Until then, we have the Army v. Navy game tomorrow at 3pm ET on CBS to keep us from going through withdrawals.
NFL – It’s week 14 and the playoff picture is becoming clearer. Here are 3 games with playoff implications:
New Orleans Saints at Tampa Bay Buccaneers: – The Saints put up big fight against the undefeated Panthers last week, and would love to take the Bucs out of the wild card race with a win on Sunday. Sunday 1pm ET Fox
Buffalo Bills at Philadelphia Eagles – With its stunning win over the Patriots last weekend, the once flailing Eagles are now just one game out of first place behind the Washington Redskins in the NFC East. The Bills, at 6-6, are still in the hunt as well, so a loss by either team hurt both teams’ playoff chances. Sunday 1pm ET CBS
Minnesota Vikings at Arizona Cardinals – Arizona moved toward a first round playoff bye with a 23-14 win Thursday night over the slumping Vikings. With a loss to the Seahawks last weekend, the Vikings fell out of the top spot and into second place in the NFC North. This Viking loss opens the door for the Green Bay Packers to move into first place. The Packers will also have to face the surging Cardinals, and if they walk away with the win, they most likely win the division.
Here is a complete list of games this weekend.
College Hoops – weekend schedule
Saturday:
Arizona St. @ #5 Kentucky 3:15pm ET ESPN
#5 Utah @ Wichita St. – 3:30pm ET ESPN2
#3 North Carolina v Texas – 5:15pm ET ESPN
Florida @ #1 Michigan State 6pm ET ESPN
Oregon State v. #2 Kansas – 8:00pm ET ESPN2
UCLA @ #20 Gonzaga – 10:00pm ET ESPN2
Sunday:
LSU v Houston – 5:30pm ET ESPN2 **get a look at LSU freshman Ben Simmons who some say will be the #1 NBA draft pick next spring.
Alabama @ Clemson – 6:00pm ESPNU – These 2 teams could meet on January 11th for the national championship in football. Check out how they fare against each other on the basketball court.
NBA
Friday :
Miami @ Indiana – 7:00pm ET ESPN
LA Lakers @ San Antonio – 6:30pm ET ESPN
Saturday:
San Antonio @ Atlanta – 8:00pm ET NBATV
#SportBitsNews…#4Stories
This Saturday night in New York City, the Heisman Trophy will be given out at the Downtown Athletic Club in midtown Manhattan. The Heisman Committee narrowed down its nominees to 3 on Monday afternoon: Alabama running back Derrick Henry, Stanford sophomore running back Christian McCaffery, and Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson. Henry and McCaffrey will be looking to break a five-year streak of quarterbacks winning college football’s most prestigious award. Watch it Saturday, 8pm ET ESPN.
Former USC football coach Steve Sarkisian filed suit against the university for wrongful termination in regards to his dismissal on October 11th. Sarkisian alleges that stress from his job and pending divorce led to depression and a dependence on alcohol. In California, alcohol is recognized as a disability. USC contends Sarkisian resisted attempts to get treatment and never asked for time off to get help. The lawsuit also states USC violated Sarkisian’s contract by refusing to pay him the rest of the money owed — $12.6 million — under the terms of his deal.
Ronda Rousey will resurface in a big way after her stunning knockout loss to Holly Holms last month when she appears on the Decembers 8th cover of ESPN Magazine. Newly crowned bantamweight champion Holly Holms will have to continue to wait her turn to grace the cover, as the magazine chose Rousey, who defended the belt twice in 2015 before succumbing to a knockout kick in the face from Holms. In the article, Rousey talks about the highs and the lows of the past year and promises she’ll be back in the ring, after she heals and can “eat and apple”.
Here’s a feel good story to end this weeks #SportBits. Have you heard of the Teddy Bear Toss? I hadn’t until I saw it pop up on my Facebook feed. It’s a Christmas time promotion that takes place at many minor and junior hockey arenas through North America. Fans are asked to bring stuffed bears and throw them out on the ice after the home team scores its first goal. The bears are then collected and distributed hospitals and charities in the area, often by the players themselves. If this doesn’t put you in the Holiday spirit, nothing will. Take a look. #hohoho
That’s all for this week. Follow me on social media for daily news, scores, and highlights. Have a fun (and safe!) weekend. Get out there and chat it up at your parties. Talk some Bowl games or Teddy Bears. #SportBits..because a little information is all you need.
