What I'll Be Watching Today - SATURDAY!!! | Thoughts From the End of the Bar

Not much better than Saturdays this time of year for me, with college football all day and night, soccer all day and night, college basketball on a few stations, and just a day away from the NFL tomorrow.

So let's get to it!

10 a.m., FSC: Newcastle at Chelsea. Newcastle have never won at Chelsea in the history of the Premier League (which goes back about 17 years now). The Magpies have gotten a few draws, but no one is expecting such a result today - what with Chelsea rampaging through the non Big 4 teams to the tune of 3-0, 4-0, and 5-0, but they have struggled with the Manchester United and Liverpool of the world. Newcastle can enter with a care-free attitude, certainly, but they also need points. Newcastle must hold out early and not fall behind in the opening minutes. If they do, Chelsea will hang 4 or 5 on them. I'm hoping Newcastle at least makes it a game. Lest I have to sit through College Gameday all day (at least before Corso makes his mascot pick on Tech-Oklahoma).

Noon, ACC Regional: Clemson at Virginia. The Cavaliers were in the math department this week trying to figure out all the equations that could occur that would leave UVA in the ACC Championship Game after Georgia Tech ran over Miami Thursday night for almost 500 yards. But the Cavs' overtime loss to Miami a few weeks back really hurts their chances. Clemson, meanwhile, is, well, Clemson. Always thought to be a factor before the season in football and basketball, they always fall on their face and fail to get it done. Already having fired their coach, the Tigers season has fallen apart so much their helmet logo ought to be Lucy pulling the ball away from Charlie Brown right before he tries to kick it, because that's what Clemson does - miss the ball and fall on their ****. Virginia must win, then perhaps hope for some forfeits elsewhere to still win their division.

(This, of course, is a product of the fact that no one in the ACC is any good at all this season).

12:30 p.m., FSC: Manchester United at Aston Villa. This is a game on paper that should go United's way, and they can't afford any more slip ups if they are going to stick with Chelsea and Liverpool in the title race. Aston Villa most of the time reminds me of this decade's Toronto Blue Jays - always thought to be good, and almost right there, but never breaking through. But the Villains showed a new dimension with their 2-0 win at Arsenal and have to be taken seriously today. United also enters the game with out Dimitar Berbatov, who will miss a couple weeks after suffering an injury during the international break mid-week.

(No, I'm not going to watch Michigan-Ohio State at noon on ABC, unless Michigan is up late.)

3 p.m., CSN: Washington at Washington State. I might just sit down and watch the Apple Cup between Washington State (1-10) and Washington (0-10). I mean, both teams are so freakin' bad, the game might actually be entertaining. And maybe they'll be some bad weather or something.

(Yeah, whatever, I'm taking a nap.)

8 p.m., ABC: Texas Tech at Oklahoma. There's no way I'm missing this. I don't have a dog in the Big 12, but I hope the Red Raiders run the table. They're fun to watch, play better defensively than many people think, and their coach is a mad genius. I think part of me would really like to see the contrast of titles in the BCS "title" game between Texas Tech and Alabama. Tonight, it's like the old Eric Cantona cage soccer commercials ... FIRST TO 100 WINS!!!

10:30, CSN: Capitals at San Jose. Ugh. I don't have a good feeling about this game, but I'm going to be tuning in (joined in progress after TT-OK). Hopefully the Caps can get either Federov or Semin back in the lineup, but Green sounds like he's going to miss a week. Don't know what they do at goalie, but it might not matter against the Sharks, who are the league's best team. I expect a rebound after Thursday's poor effort at Los Angeles, but I don't expect a win. If Washington gets a point (especially after Carolina won last night, 5-2, over Phoenix), I'll take it and be happy. Look for the recap here in the postgame.

Phew. Busy day. I better go eat breakfast. Enjoy the day.