Welcome to The Weekend Watch, this weekend is jam-packed with games from all sports. The first major of the tennis season is in full swing down under. The PGA Tour is in La Quinta, California. The NHL has a Sunday afternoon game. Five big college basketball games on Saturday. NBA is back on primetime Saturday night. Finally, two teams will clinch their tickets to the Superbowl with the AFC/NFC Championships.
Tennis
Australian Open
When: Saturday and Sunday
Time: 9:00 PM (Saturday and Sunday)
How to Watch: ESPN2 or WatchESPN
The first major of the tennis season is upon us. The Australian Open’s third round will be complete this weekend. On the first day of play, two Americans were upset 8 Jack Sock and 16 John Isner. On the women’s side, the Americans didn’t fair any different. 5 Venus Williams, 10 Coco Vandeweghe, and 13 Sloane Stephens were all upset in the first round.
Golf
The CareerBuilder Challenge
When: Saturday and Sunday
Time: 3:00- 7:00 pm (Saturday and Sunday)
How to Watch: Golf Channel or Golf Channel App
Last week saw a thrilling ending to the Sony Open, Patton Kizzire outlasted James Hahn in a six-0hole playoff. Spread over three courses, the normal-Friday cut will move to Saturday. Phil Mickelson is making his season debut. Other notable players, Bubba Watson, Jon Rahm, Patrick Reed, and Kevin Kisner look to start the California swing with a win.
NHL
Philadelphia Flyers @ Washington Capitals
When: Sunday
Time: 12:30 PM
How to Watch: NBC or NBCSports App
The Flyers travel to Washington to take on Capitals. In this game between Metro division teams. The Capitals lead the division with 59 points and the Flyers are seventh with 48 points. The Flyers are three points back of the Rangers and Penguins in the wild standings. This would be a big win for the Flyers who will be playing their fifth game of the week. The Caps will be the rested team with only playing three games this week.
NCAAM
7 Wichita St @ Houston
When: Saturday
Time: 12:00 PM
How to Watch: ESPNU or WatchESPN
Both teams are coming off of shocking upsets. On Wednesday night, Wichita St suffered it’s first AAC loss to SMU and Houston fell to Tulane on the road. Wichita has having a successful start to its first year in the AAC. With a 5-1 record, they are a half a game back of Cincinnati. Houston is sitting tied for third in the conference at 4-2. Wichita St was able to beat Houston at home 81-63. Which team will be able to rebound after a mid-week loss?
Texas @ 6 West Virginia
When: Saturday
Time: 2:00 PM
How to Watch: CBS
Texas travels to West Virginia for a Big XII matchup. Last weekend, West Virginia was sitting undefeated in conference with a 4-0 record but they are coming off back to back losses to Texas Tech and Kansas. Texas is coming off an upset win over Texas Tech on Wednesday night. Since starting conference play, Texas has lost one and won one. They have been inconsistent in conference play. This is a big game for Texas and could be a resume builder. West Virginia is looking to get back on track.
11 Xavier @ 19 Seton Hall
When: Saturday
Time: 2:30 PM
How to Watch: Fox or FoxSports GO App
Seton Hall is coming off a bad 80-63 loss to Creighton but Xavier is coming off an 88-82 win over St. John’s. Both teams have two conference losses and trying to keep pace with #1 Villanova. This is the first meeting of these two teams. Whoever can come away with a victory, they will be able to keep pace with Villanova.
Notre Dame @ 20 Clemson
When: Saturday
Time: 4:00 PM
How to Watch: ESPN or WatchESPN
Notre Dame is coming off three straight losses since starting conference play 3-0. Clemson, who has surprised some people is sitting at 4-2 in conference play. Clemson lost a road game to North Carolina on Tuesday 87-79. Surprisingly, Notre Dame has struggled over the last week and a half. They are coming off a double-overtime loss to Louisville 82-78. Both teams will be looking to get back on track Saturday.
Florida @ 18 Kentucky
When: Saturday
Time: 8:15 PM
How to Watch: ESPN or WatchESPN
SEC-leading Florida travels to Lexington to take on #18 Kentucky. Since an early season struggle, Florida has won 7 of their last 8 and sit atop the SEC with a 5-1 record. Kentucky is coming off a shocking upset to South Carolina on Wednesday 76-68. Kentucky is a game back at 4-2. This is a game between the two most talented teams in the conference.
NBA
Oklahoma City Thunder @ Cleveland Cavaliers
When: Saturday
Time: 3:30 PM
How to Watch: ABC or WatchESPN
Russell Westbrook and the Oklahoma City Thunder travel to Cleveland to take on the struggling Cavs. The Thunder are coming in on a three-game winning streak. The Cavs play the Magic on Thursday but have lost four in a row. It seems like Lebron can’t do everything and he is human. It will be interesting to see if the Cavs can get back on track against the surging Thunder.
Golden State Warriors @ Houston Rockets
When: Saturday
Time: 8:30 PM
How to Watch: ABC or WatchESPN
The top two seeds in the Western Conference face off in the first ABC Saturday night game of the season. The Rockets are four and a half games back of the number one Warriors. This will conclude a gruelling week for the Rockets who have faced the Clippers and Timberwolves already. These teams have split their first two meeting
NFL
Jacksonville Jaguars @ New England Patriots
When: Sunday
Time: 3:05 PM
How to Watch: CBS or Yahoo Sports App
Well, no one saw this game coming. The Jags travel to Foxboro to taking on the Patriots. This will be the Patriots seven consecutive AFC Championship game where for the Jags this will be only their third appearance all time. Tom Brady has more SuperBowl wins (5) than Blake Bortles has postseason starts (2). It will be interesting to see if the Jags can continue this surprising season or will the Pats making it again to the SuperBowl.
Minnesota Vikings @ Philadelphia Eagles
When: Sunday
Time: 6:40 PM
How to Watch: FOX, FOXSports GO App, or Yahoo Sports App
The battle of the backups will take place in Philadelphia for the right to represent the NFC in the SuperBowl. Another scenario no one saw coming, the Vikings being quarterbacked by Case Keenum and the Eagles being quarterbacked by Nick Foles. Both teams are coming off dramatic wins in the divisional round. Which team will be able to not have a let down and move on to the SuperBowl.
All games are Eastern
Hopefully, everyone is able to sit down this weekend and catch as many games as possible. If you are looking forward to any other ones leave a comment or make a prediction for this weekends events.
