Category: Uncategorized

There’s the real meaning of Christmas, and then the one that the NBA and its TV partners wants to believe is true — and it has nothing to do with the birth of Jesus Shuttlesworth or God Shammgod.
== ESPN, in promoting its five-game schedule for Wednesday’s holiday and focused on the simulcast with ABC for the Lakers-Clippers Part II of the 2019-20 regular season (with Mike Breen, Jeff Van Gundy and Mark Jackson, 5 p.m., Staples Center), has a “Christmasketball” campaign with singer John Legend. You’ve likely smelled it from afar, like chestnuts roasting on a gas-log fire. Don’t try to pronounce “Christmasketball.” It’s not a real word nor should it be attempted.

== As part of the newest Lakers-Clippers rivalry dynamic, there’s been some who’ve tried to blow up a Doc Rivers quote about LeBron James. We’ll give you the story here and let you decide.
== Will LeBron James need time off Wednesday to rest himself or can he rescue the team from its horrifying three-game losing streak?
== Since 2009, only five teams with a winning percentage under .406 on Christmas Day went on to make the playoffs, according to a story in Ozy.com entitled:  “Merry Christmas: We Can Already Rule Out a Third of the NBA,” says this story from Ozy.com.
== The rest of the Christmas Day NBA schedule:
= Boston vs. Toronto, 9 a.m., ESPN (Adam Amin, Richard Jefferson)
= Milwaukee vs. Philadelphia, 11:30 a.m., Channel 7 (Dave Pasch, Doris Burke)
= Houston vs. Golden State, 2 p.m., Channel 7 (Mark Jones, Hubie Brown)
= New Orleans vs. Denver, 7:30 p.m., ESPN (Ryan Ruocco, Chauncey Billups)

How the rest of the week unfolds for the Lakers (24-6, still No. 2 behind 27-4 Milwaukee in the ESPN Power Rankings)
= At Portland, Saturday at 7 p.m., Spectrum SportsNet
= Vs. Dallas, Staples Center, Sunday at 6:30 p.m., Spectrum SportsNet

How the rest of the week unfolds for the Clippers (22-10, No. 3 in the Power Rankings)
= vs. Utah, Staples Center, Saturday at 7:30 p.m., Prime Ticket

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The college football bowl season finally has its undisputed national championship Final Four pairings for Saturday:
= Peach Bowl in Atlanta: No. 1 LSU vs. No. 4 Oklahoma, 1 p.m., ESPN (Sean McDonough, Todd Blackledge)
= Fiesta Bowl in Glendale, Ariz.: No. 2 Ohio State vs. No. 3 Clemson, 5 p.m., ESPN (Chris Fowler, Kirk Herbstreit)
== We’re also able to add 8-4 USC into the Chex mix – vs. 9-3 Iowa in San Diego’s Holiday Bowl (Friday, 5 p.m., FS1, with Gus Johnson and Joel Klatt), which is actually the first match up this bowl season of College Football Playoff Top 25 teams, and it’s not on ESPN.
We’ll let you research how the Trojans and Hawkeyes are actually ranked when measured up against the rest in a process that really is supposed to just figure out the Top 4 choices.
Otherwise, here’s the rest of this tossed salad:
Monday:
= Gasparilla Bowl in Tampa, Fla.: Central Florida vs. Marshall, 11:30 a.m., ESPN
Tuesday:
= Hawaii Bowl in Honolulu: Hawaii vs. BYU, 5 p.m., ESPN
No games Wednesday
Thursday:
= Independence Bowl at Shreveport, Louisiana: Louisiana Tech vs. Miami, 1 p.m., ESPN
= Quick Lane Bowl in Detroit: Pittsburgh vs. Eastern Michigan, 5 p.m., ESPN
Friday:
= Military Bowl in Annapolis, MD: North Carolina vs. Temple, 9 a.m., ESPN
= Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium in N.Y.: Michigan State vs. Wake Forest, 12:20 p.m., ESPN
= Texas Bowl in Houston: No. 25 Oklahoma State vs. Texas A&M, 3:25 p.m., ESPN
= Cheez-It Bowl in Phoenix: Air Force vs. Washington State, 7:15 p.m., ESPN
Saturday:
= Cotton Bowl in Arlington, Tex.: No. 10 Penn State vs. No. 16 Memphis, 9 a.m., ESPN
= Camping World Bowl in Orlando, Fla.: No. 15 Notre Dame vs. Iowa State, 9 a.m., Channel 7

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Based on the painfully obvious, and our ability to break down all the scenarios that others tell us are still in play,  what we can finally summarize to the end of the NFL season with Week 17:
== The 8-7 Rams have their last game at the Coliseum, a Sunday 1:25 p.m. affair against Arizona on Channel 11. With no playoff shot to follow up last year’s run to the Super Bowl, might as well get all the tears out now. Fox sends out Chris Myers, Daryl Johnston and Laura Okmin to a game only going to 7 percent of the national market (74 percent see Washington-Dallas with Joe Buck and Troy Aikman for some reason).
== The 5-10 Chargers’ last contest in Kansas City (Sunday, 10 a.m., Channel 2) could have been something special when the schedule came out. Now … Philip Rivers’ final game? After 224 consecutive regular season starts? CBS dispatches Kevin Harlan, Rich Gannon and John Schriffen.
== How do the 7-8 Oakland-to-be-Vegas Raiders still have the gumption to get into the playoffs? Win their final game at Denver, then get wins by already No. 1 AFC seed Baltimore against Pittsburgh, playoff-bound Houston over Tennessee and Indianapolis over Jacksonville. All those games are now aligned in the afternoon CBS window. Then, the Raiders apparently also need a victory by one of the following teams: Chicago, Detroit, Kansas City (over the Chargers) or New England. ESPN’s FPI gives it all a 12.5 percent chance of happening.
== When the NFL season started, BetOnline.ag had the over/under on the Rams’ regular season win total at 10 1/2, and the Chargers at 10. And the Raiders at 6. You do the math.

Finishing Week 16:
= Green Bay at Minnesota, Monday at 5:15 p.m., ESPN
Moving into Week 17:
All games on Sunday:
= In the Fox 10 a.m. window to start the network doubleheader: Chicago at Minnesota (instead of Green Bay at Detroit, Philadelphia at N.Y. Giants, Atlanta at Tampa Bay, New Orleans at Carolina and Cleveland at Cincinnati, the later moved over from CBS)
= In the CBS 10 a.m. window (not available in L.A.): Miami at New England, N.Y. Jets at Buffalo
= In the CBS 1:25 p.m. window: Oakland at Denver (along with Pittsburgh at Baltimore, Indianapolis at Jacksonville, and Tennessee at Houston)
= The new Fox 1:25 p.m. window (not available in L.A.): Washington at Dallas, Philadelphia at N.Y. Giants.
== San Francisco at Seattle, 5:20 p.m., Channel 4 (last game of the regular season)

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Why the college basketball season seems to be making news on a weekly basis but things really don’t start to make sense until the calendar turns:
== After No. 1 Kansas’ loss to Villanova on Saturday, the rise of 13-1 Gonzaga to No. 1 in the AP Top 25 marks the sixth new team in the top spot since Michigan State was there in the preseason then lost its first game. Kentucky, Duke and Louisville have also come and gone.
According to ESPN Stats & Information, the five losses by an AP No. 1 team is the most such losses in a single season in the poll era. The single-season record for most No. 1 teams since the poll debuted in 1948-49 is seven, which happened in 1982-83.
By the way: Pepperdine starts the West Coast Conference schedule at Gonzaga on Jan. 4.
Yes, the Zags, who have defeated Top 25 teams Oregon, Arizona and Washington from the Pac-12, as well as North Carolina, with their only loss to Michigan, should be favored to win every one of its last 17 games to have 30 wins going into the WCC Tournament in March.
== The Pac-12 additions and subtractions to the current AP Top 25: 10-2 Oregon is up two spots to No. 6, 9-2 Washington is up one spot to No. 21, 10-3 Arizona is down eight spots to No. 24, and 10-2 Colorado is in the No. 27 spot if that one really existed.
== The last non-conference games for 10-2 USC and 7-5 UCLA happen this week as the Pac 12 launches in Washington for both of them on Jan. 2. The Trojans’ matchup with coach Andy Enfield’s former program (currently 3-11, 0-6 on the road) seems kind of cool. The Bruins’ ability to allow the Titans of Fullerton (3-10, 1-5 on the road) into their arena would seem to be a safe bet as well.
== For those intent on paying attention to rivalry games, the women’s side has 8-3 USC facing No. 10 and 11-0 UCLA at Pauley Pavilion on Sunday (1 p.m. Pac 12 Network). Four Pac-12 teams are in the women’s Top 10, with Oregon and Stanford having the No. 1 spots at some point.

How the week plays out for USC (10-2, 5-1 at home)
= vs. Florida Gulf Coast, Galen Center, Sunday at 7 p.m., Pac 12 Network
How the week plays out for UCLA (7-5, 6-1 at home)
= vs. Cal State Fullerton, Pauley Pavilion, Saturday at 2 p.m., Pac 12 Network (with Bill Walton)

How the week plays out for Long Beach State (4-9, 0-5 on the road)
= At Seattle, Monday at 3 p.m.
= At Florida, Saturday at 9 a.m., SEC Network
How the week plays out for Cal State Northridge (3-10, 1-7 on the road)
= At Boise State, Saturday at 3 p.m., Mountain West Network

How the week plays out for Pepperdine (7-6)
= At San Jose State, Saturday at 6 p.m.
How the week plays out for Loyola Marymount (6-7)
= Vs. Morgan State, Gersten Pavilion, Saturday at 7 p.m.

Games of national interest this week include:
Wednesday:
= Diamond Head Classic in Honolulu, games at 12:30 p.m., ESPNU; 3:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m., ESPN2
Saturday:
= Louisville at Kentucky, 12:45 p.m., Channel 2
Sunday:
= West Virginia vs. Ohio State in Cleveland, Sunday at 9 a.m., FS1
= Kansas at Stanford, noon, Channel 7
= Harvard at Cal, 3 p.m., Pac-12 Network (with Bill Walton)

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What we agree is the NHL in Southern California just pushing through to 2020:
== The current Stanley Cup champions are in town. With the best record in the Western Conference. Ready for a Blues Christmas-time visit?
How this week shapes up for the Kings (15-19-4, tied for last in the Western Conference, but not quite last in the latest ESPN Power Rankings)
= Vs. St. Louis, Staples Center, Monday at 7 p.m., Fox Sports West
= At San Jose, Friday at 7 p.m., Fox Sports West
= At Vancouver, Saturday at 7 p.m., Fox Sports West
How the week shapes up for the Ducks (15-18-4, tied for last in the Western Conference)
= Vs. Vegas, Honda Center in Anaheim, Friday at 7 p.m., Prime Ticket
= Vs. Philadelphia, Honda Center in Anaheim, Sunday at 5:30 p.m., Prime Ticket

What we still believe we know about the NBA heading into the start of the launch of the beginning of the ramp-up to the season marketed as “We Finally Get This Started”:
== TNT can’t hardly wait to air a Thursday doubleheader – Lakers (24-3) at Milwaukee (24-3, without a loss since Nov. 8) at 5 p.m. with Kevin Harland and Reggie Miller, followed by Houston at Clippers at 7:30 p.m. with Marv Albert and Chris Webber  – mostly because there is no more NFL to contend with, and it’s a national exclusive.
== As Lakers coach Frank Vogel worries about “stagnation” and LeBron James is just faking things between trips to Akron, the Lakers continue a string of playing eight of nine on the road. Why would a team that’s won 14 straight road games worry at this point?
== The Clippers, 13-1 at home, finally come back after their six-game road trip ends with the bitterness of the NBA scheduling to accommodate back-to-back TV times. And they’ve been playing lately without Lou Williams (sore calf) and Patrick Beverley (concussion).

* How the week unfolds for the Lakers (ranked No. 2 behind Milwaukee in the Week 9 ESPN power rankings):
= At Indiana, Tuesday at 4 p.m., Spectrum SportsNet
= At Milwaukee, Thursday at 5 p.m. TNT
= Vs. Denver, Staples Center, Sunday at 6:30 p.m., Spectrum SportsNet
* How the week unfolds for the Clippers (20-8, No. 3 in the NBA Power Rankings, up from No. 4)
= Vs. Phoenix, Staples Center, Tuesday at 7:30 p.m., Prime Ticket
= Vs. Houston, Staples Center, Thursday at 7:30 p.m., TNT
= At San Antonio, Saturday at 5:30 p.m., Prime Ticket
= At Oklahoma City, Sunday at 4 p.m., Prime Ticket

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What we think we can explain about the importance of NFL Week 16:
== The official start of Winter – Is It a Proper Noun worthy of Capitalization? Others seem to have no problem capitalizing on it – doesn’t officially happen until 8:19 p.m. Saturday, making it the shortest day of the year.
Right about at that moment, the Rams’ season could be shortened to meaningless during their game at San Francisco (in Santa Clara, Saturday at 5:15 p.m., Channel 2 and NFL Network).
After the latest misery in Dallas, no matter how you call it in the air, the 8-6 Rams are in need of a win here against the NFC West leaders, and then another in the Week 17 finale at home against Arizona to finish up a respectable 10-6 (a record the Cowboys would love to have). The Rams then need to bank on U.S. Bank Stadium tenants Minnesota, with a 10-4 mark to date and undefeated at home, to lose a game they’re hosting Green Bay on the eve of Christmas Eve, then follow that with a botched finale against visiting Chicago, to also skid to 10-6, but lose the second NFC wildcard spot to the Rams, who would have the tiebreaker because a better record against NFC opponents.
== The 5-9 Chargers, no use to the Rams in their playoff puzzle as they gave a game away to Minnesota in Week 15, play what they assume will be their last game at the Dignity Sports Health Center in Carson against Oakland (Sunday, 1:05 p.m., Channel 2). Go ahead and trash the place when you’re done. You have no dignity to worry about at this juncture.
Finishing Week 15:
= Indianapolis at New Orleans, Monday at 5:15 p.m., ESPN
Moving into Week 16:
Saturday:
= Houston at Tampa Bay, 10 a.m., NFL Network
= Buffalo at New England, 1:30 p.m., NFL Network
Sunday:
= In the Fox 10 a.m. window to start the network doubleheader: N.Y. Giants at Washington (instead of Jacksonville at Atlanta, New Orleans at Tennessee or Carolina at Indianapolis).
= In the CBS 10 a.m. window (none available in L.A.): Baltimore at Cleveland, Cincinnati at Miami, Pittsburgh at N.Y. Jets
= Also in the CBS 1:05 p.m. window (not in L.A.): Detroit at Denver
= Also in the Fox 1:25 p.m. window: Dallas at Philadelphia (instead of Arizona at Seattle)
= Kansas City at Chicago, 5:20 p.m., Channel 4
Monday, Dec. 23:
= Green Bay at Minnesota, 5:15 p.m., ESPN

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An educated guess at the college basketball season to date if we dare call Bill Walton to comment:
== Only San Diego State (10-0) and Auburn (9-0) have survived as unbeatens among those Top 25 teams to this point, after No. 1 Louisville, No. 3 Ohio State and No. 4 Maryland dropped one. SDSU remains at No. 20 in the latest AP polls (up from No. 25). Auburn is flat at No. 9.
== 11-1 Gonzaga has shot up to No. 2 at the latest glamor team behind new No. 1 Kansas (9-1) after knocking off Arizona. Louisville (10-1) somehow drops to No. 3 after its first loss.
== The only Pac 12 teams in the current Top 25: No. 8 Oregon (8-2, up two spots), No. 16 Arizona (10-2, down from No. 15), and No. 22 Washington (7-2, up four spots). Colorado (8-2, losing two of their last three), fell out of the No. 24 spot. Continue reading “12.16.19: Five things for the week ahead based on unscientific evidence of guaranteed importance” →

What we suspect is happening as the Christmas Day “real” opening day for the NBA season nears, and TV networks are wondering why ratings aren’t lined up with last season as Anthony Davis has his first 50-point game for the Lakers:
== The Lakers and Clippers will be banished from Staples Center in late January because of the annual Grammy Awards. But this time of year, they’re also asked to leave behind their home court because of the “Disney On Ice” annual show – eight performances from Thursday to Sunday.
== Kawhi Leonard’s first return to Toronto after leading the Raptors to the NBA title happens Wednesday. His only season in Toronto was plenty: A career-best 26.6 points a game, 7.3 rebounds and 3.3 assists a game, plus a Finals MVP award. And they’ll finally give him his championship ring. Against the Raptors at Staples Center earlier this year, during a 99-88 Clippers win, he had 12 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists despite shooting just 2-for-11 from the field and adding nine turnovers. It has been Leonard’s least-productive game of the season according to some statistically analytics.
== LeBron James’ (fill in a large number) return to Miami since leading the Heat to the 2012 and ’13 NBA title happens Sunday.

How the week unfolds for the Clippers (17-7, 10-2 in their last 12, 13-1 at home but 4-6 on the road that includes a recent 28-point loss in Milwaukee – whichkeeps the Bucks No. 1 in the latest ESPN Power Rankings):
= At Indiana, Monday at 4 p.m., Prime Ticket
= At Toronto, Wednesday at 4 p.m. Prime Ticket, ESPN
= At Minnesota, Friday at 5 p.m., Prime Ticket
= At Chicago, Saturday at 5 p.m., Prime Ticket

How the week unfolds for the Lakers (21-3, a league-best 11-1 on the road – including 11 in a row after losing the opener as the visiting team against the Clippers — and 14-1 in their last 15 games, still No. 2 in the Power Rankings):
= At Orlando, Wednesday at 4 p.m., Spectrum SportsNet
= At Miami, Friday at 5 p.m., Spectrum SportsNet, ESPN
= At Atlanta, Sunday at 3 p.m., Spectrum SportsNet

How this week unfolds for Bronny James and Sierra Canyon of Chatsworth (7-0, ranked No. 3 nationally in the MaxPreps Xcellent 25):
= Vs. St. Vincent-St. Mary of Akron, Ohio, at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio, Saturday at 5:30 p.m., ESPN3 streaming online

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What is becoming apparent heading into NFL Week 15:
== The 5-8 Chargers’ game against 9-4 Minnesota (Sunday, 1:05 p.m., Channel 2) was originally a Sunday night game that NBC decided to push back on and flexed it out. CBS has to take it, because it couldn’t pawn it off on Fox. Yes, the Chargers can help the Rams, and the city of L.A., with a victory here.
== The 8-5 Rams’ game at 6-7 and NFC East-leading Dallas (Sunday, 1:25 p.m., Channel 11) could have been flexed into that NBC Sunday night game, but it wasn’t. Fox wanted to keep it and draw upon all the drama left in these two nationally-prominent franchises.
Finishing Week 14:
= N.Y. Giants at Philadelphia, Monday at 5:15 p.m., ESPN
Moving into Week 15:
Thursday:
= N.Y. Jets at Baltimore, 5:20 p.m., Channel 11, NFL Network, Amazon Prime
Sunday:
= In the Fox 10 a.m. window to start the network doubleheader: Chicago at Green Bay (picked over Tampa Bay at Detroit, Philadelphia at Washington and Seattle at Carolina)
= In the CBS 10 a.m. window (none available in L.A.): New England at Cincinnati, Houston at Tennessee, Denver at Kansas City, Miami at N.Y. Giants
= Also in the CBS 1:05 p.m. window (not in L.A.): Cleveland at Arizona
= Also in the Fox 1:25 p.m. window (not in L.A.): Atlanta at San Francisco
= Buffalo at Pittsburgh, Sunday at 5:20 p.m., Channel 4
Monday, Dec. 16:
= Indianapolis at New Orleans, 5:15 p.m., ESPN Continue reading “12.09.19: Five things for the week ahead based on unscientific evidence of guaranteed importance” →

What’s left to sort out in the wake of College Football Week 15:

== There are two rankings released by the College Football Playoff committee this week – one on Tuesday (4 p.m., ESPN) to reflect the Week 14 results and then, after Saturday’s schedule of conference championships, the finale on Sunday morning (9 a.m., ESPN) that will determine not only the four semifinal teams to play at the Peach Bowl in Atlanta and Fiesta Bowl in Glendale, Ariz., on Dec. 28, but also fill out the rest of the bowl schedule.
== Are four teams enough for a playoff? The playoff, if you haven’t been paying attention, has been happening the last few weeks. Alabama was eliminated, as was Oregon and a few otthers.
If you believe computer “playoff predictors” sponsored by an insurance company, the Final Four will line up with Ohio State, Clemson, LSU and Georgia. No, wait. That can’t happen because Georgia plays LSU in the SEC title game. So then it’ll be … What if Georgia beats LSU? Then both are in?
This ESPN predictor grid gives Utah a 9 percent chance of making the playoff, regardless of what happens, a distance behind Oklahoma (37 percent). The Sooners have played a stronger schedule and more impressive wins, the experts are now convinced.
Throw in the FiveThirtyEight.com model, and it’s most likely to have Oklahoma as the No. 4 team, because it’s most likely that Georgia falls to LSU, and Oklahoma also has to end its season with a win over Baylor.
== ESPN’s College GameDay will be at Atlanta for the SEC title game. Because Fox will be in Indiana for the Big Ten title game?
== If we are to consider the validity of the latest ESPN bowl projection, where we need 78 of the 79 bowl-eligible teams to fill out the 39 games … we should expect to see USC travel to San Antonio for the Alamo Bowl on Dec. 31, with the Oregon-Utah conference winner at the Rose Bowl, and the loser likely in the Cotton Bowl. Or the slim chance of Utah in the final four. Or Utah falling to the Alamo Bowl and USC going to the Holiday Bowl against … Michigan …
Unless there’s a way the Trojans can lobby for a trip to the Tony The Tigers Sun Bowl … Continue reading “12.02.19: Five things for the week ahead based on unscientific evidence of guaranteed importance” →

 

What we think we know, and perhaps could know better, veering into one of the final skids of College Football Week 14:

== USC, No. 23 in the latest CFP poll, is done with the regular season, 8-4 overall, 7-2 in the Pac-12, and needs No. 7 Utah (10-1, 7-1) to lose its final conference game to Colorado (5-6, 3-5) on Saturday to not only claim the Pac-12 South title, but also extend things into the Dec. 6 Pac-12 title game against No. 6 (but likely to drop a few critical spots) Oregon (9-2, 7-1).
== UCLA (4-7, 4-4) has extinguished any shot now at a bowl bid so it can use its final Pac-12 game against 6-5/3-5 Cal (Saturday, Rose Bowl, 7:30 p.m., FS1) to see if it can clean up nicely and impress its north campus partner
== When the College Football Playoff voters release the third of their six polls (Tuesday, ESPN, 4 p.m.) it should pretty much mirror a Top 5 that has held steady in the AP and coaches’ poll – No. 1 LSU (10-0), No. 2 Ohio State (10-0) and No. 3 Clemson (11-0), then No. 4 Georgia (9-1) and No. 5 Alabama (9-1) as the SEC placeholders to see how the Pac-12 sorts itself out. And Oklahoma (10-1) lurking.
ESPN/ABC wants to stay on this Pac-12 narrative, having carried last Saturday’s Oregon loss at Arizona State in national prime time, and now taking Utah’s finale against Colorado in network prime time as well.
== ESPN’s College GameDay will be at the University of Minnesota (6 a.m., ESPN). According to those who keep track of such things, that leaves only Cal, Maryland, Syracuse, Wake Forest, Rutgers, Kansas, Virginia, Illinois and Duke as schools in the Power Five conference who have not been picked as a GameDay site.
== If we are to consider the validity of the latest ESPN bowl projection, USC is still in play for the Dec. 31 Alamo Bowl, but may also slip to the Dec. 27 Holiday Bowl.

Also this week in the Pac 12:
= Washington State at Washington, Friday at 1 p.m., Channel 11
= Colorado at Utah, Saturday at 4:30 p.m., Channel 7
= Arizona at Arizona State, Saturday at 7 p.m., ESPN
= Oregon State at Oregon, Saturday at 1 p.m., Pac-12 Network
= Notre Dame at Stanford, Saturday at 1 p.m., Channel 11

Also this week of national interest:
Thanksgiving Day Thursday:
= Mississippi at Mississippi State, 4:30 p.m., ESPN
Friday:
= Virginia Tech at Virginia, 9 a.m., Channel 7
= Iowa at Nebraska, 11:30 a.m., Big Ten Network
= Missouri at Arkansas, 11:30 a.m., Channel 2
= Cincinnati at Memphis, 12:30 p.m., Channel 7
= Boise State at Colorado State, 12:30 p.m., CBSSN
= West Virginia at TCU, 1:15 p.m., ESPN
= South Florida at Central Florida, 5 p.m., ESPN
Saturday:
= Ohio State at Michigan, 9 a.m., Channel 11
= Clemson at South Carolina, 9 a.m., ESPN
= Georgia at Georgia Tech, 9 a.m., Channel 7
= Alabama at Auburn, 12:30 p.m., Channel 2
= Wisconsin at Minnesota, 12:30 p.m., Channel 7
= Texas A&M at LSU, 4 p.m., ESPN
= Florida State at Florida, 4:30 p.m., SEC Network
= BYU at San Diego State, 6 p.m., CBSSN
= Fresno State at San Jose State, 7:30 p.m., ESPN2
= Army at Hawaii, 9 p.m., CBSSN
= Tulane at SMU, 1 p.m., ESPNU
= Oklahoma at Oklahoma State, 5 p.m., Channel 11
= Baylor at Kansas, 12:30 p.m., ESPN

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What we still don’t know yet heading into NFL Week 13:

== Week 12 isn’t over. Not until the 7-4 Rams connect with 8-2 Baltimore, winners of six in a row and 4-1 on the road, in this Monday night game at the Coliseum – 5:15 p.m., ESPN. It comes with all the baggage of ESPN programming leading into it.
== The Rams then turn around and go to Arizona (Sunday, 1:05 p.m., Channel 11) and will line up head-to-head with the 4-7 Chargers, who are in Denver (Sunday, 1:25 p.m., Channel 2) and haven’t played since the Week 11 Monday night loss to Kansas City.

Going into Week 13:
Thanksgiving Day Thursday:
= Chicago at Detroit, 9:30 a.m., Channel 11
= Buffalo at Dallas, 1:30 p.m., Channel 2
= New Orleans at Atlanta, 5:20 p.m., Channel 4
Sunday:
= In the Fox 10 a.m. window: Philadelphia at Miami, Green Bay at N.Y. Giants, Tampa Bay at Jacksonville, San Francisco at Baltimore
= In the CBS 10 a.m. window: N.Y. at Cincinnati, Tennessee at Indianapolis, Cleveland at Pittsburgh, Washington at Carolina
= In the CBS 1:25 p.m. window (not available in L.A.): Oakland at Kansas City
= New England at Houston, 5:20 p.m., Channel 4
Monday, Dec. 2:
= Minnesota at Seattle, 5:15 p.m., ESPN

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What we haven’t quite figured out in the first month of the NBA season with December looming:

== Will LeBron James ever shoot a free throw in a game again? Someone named Jenna was half the reason why he didn’t take any in their last win.
== Just wondering if any of the players that the Lakers sent to New Orleans in the Anthony Davis trade are still active? The Lakers’ trip to New Orleans (Wednesday, 6:30 p.m., ESPN) could still have some interest.
== For those interested in a Sunday NBA doubleheader, the Lakers this time have the early game (1 p.m., vs. Dallas) while the Clippers come in at the end (7:30 p.m. vs. Washington).
== Dallas and Luka Doncic had a 41-point, six-rebound, 10-assist game against Houston the other night, and that was his third-most impressive game of the week. Dallas faces the Clippers and Lakers this week:

How the week unfolds for the Lakers (14-2 for the first time since 2008, No. 1 in the ESPN Power Rankings):
=  At San Antonio, Monday at 5:30 p.m., Spectrum SportsNet
= At New Orleans, Wednesday at 6:30 p.m., Spectrum SportsNet, ESPN
= Vs. Washington, Staples Center, Friday at 7:30 p.m., Spectrum SportsNet
= Vs. Dallas, Staples Center, Sunday at 1 p.m., Spectrum SportsNet
Spectrum SportsNet

How the week unfolds for the Clippers (12-5, 2 ½ back of the Lakers in the Pacific Division, No. 3 in the ESPN Power Rankings):
= At Dallas, Tuesday at 5:30 p.m., Prime Ticket
= At Memphis, Wednesday at 5 p.m., Prime Ticket
= At San Antonio, Friday at 5:30 p.m., Prime Ticket
= Vs. Washington, Staples Center, Sunday at 7:30 p.m., Prime Ticket

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What we thought we knew heading into the third week of the college basketball season:
== UCLA and USC decided to blot their perfect start last week by taking losses to Hofstra and Temple respectfully, then taking five-hour plane rides to their next games that involve a high-profile holiday tournament.
== Bill Walton is in Lahaina starting off with Kansas-Chaminade (6 p.m.) and UCLA-BYU (8 p.m.) with Dave Pasch (with Dan Schulman and Jay Bilas on the others). His schedule for the season is here.
== Keeping in mind the Bruins might end up playing local host Chaminade in the Maui Invitational, maybe it’s wise to read up on a new book, “The Greatest Upset Never Seen: Virginia, Chaminade and the Game That Changed College Basketball,” by Jack Danielwicz (University of Nebraska Press). That’s a reference to the Dec. 23, 1982 game when No. 1 Virginia and Ralph Sampson fell to NAIA school Chaminade as they were playing a stop-over game in Hawaii coming back from Tokyo.
== For the first time in four weeks, someone has kept the AP poll No. 1 spot – Duke – after it was given to and relinquished by Michigan State and Kentucky. What does it mean? “I don’t think there’s a dominant team this year,” said Kansas coach Bill Self.
The Pac 12’s representation: No. 11 Oregon (5-0), No. 14 Arizona (6-0), No. 21 Colorado (4-0), No. 23 Washington (5-1). None others in the “others receiving votes” (where Liberty got six votes).

How the week plays out for USC (5-1):
At the ESPN Orlando Invitational:
= Vs. Fairfield, Thursday at 1 p.m., ESPNU
= Vs. Davidson or Marquette, Friday at 1 p.m. or 4 p.m., either ESPN2, ESPNU or ESPNEWS
= Vs. TBA (Maryland, Temple, Texas A&M or Harvard), Sunday at TBA (final scheduled for 10 a.m. on ESPN; tipoffs also scheduled at 7:30 a.m. on ESPNU, 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.)
More info: espnevents.com/orlando-invitational

How the week plays out for UCLA (4-1):
At the Maui Invitational in Lahaina:
= Vs. BYU, Monday at 8:30 p.m., ESPN2
= Vs. Kansas or Chaminade, Tuesday  at 7:30 p.m. on ESPN or 2 p.m. on ESPN2 or ESPNU
= Vs. TBA (Georgia, Dayton, Virginia Tech or Michigan State), Wednesday at TBA (final game at 2 p.m. on ESPN, other tip off times: 11:30 a.m., ESPN/ESPN2; 6 p.m., ESPNU; 8:30 p.m., ESPN2)
More info: mauiinvitational.com
= Vs. San Jose State, at Pauley Pavilion, Sunday at 5 p.m., Pac-12 Network

How the week plays out for Cal State Northridge (0-6):
= At the Legends Classic in Green Bay, Wisc: At Green Bay, Monday at 5 p.m.
= Vs. Fresno State, at the Matadome, Saturday at 3 p.m.

How the week plays out for Long Beach State (2-3):
At the Wooden Legacy Tournament in Anaheim Convention Center:
= Vs. Providence, Thursday at 11 a.m., ESPNU
= Vs. Wake Forest or College of Charleston, Friday at  11 a.m. or 1:30  p.m.
= Vs. TBA (Arizona, Pepperdine, UCF or Penn), Sunday (title game: 6 p.m., ESPN, other tip offs at 10:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 3 p.m.)
More info: espnevents.com/wooden-legacy

How the week plays out for Pepperdine (3-3):
At the Wooden Legacy Tournament at Anaheim Convention Center:
= Vs. Arizona, Thursday at 8 p.m., ESPN2
= Vs. Central Florida or Penn, Friday at 6 p.m. or 8:30 p.m.
= Vs. TBA (Long Beach State, Providence, Wake Forest or Charleston), Sunday (title game: 6 p.m., Sunday, ESPN, other tip offs at 10:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 3 p.m.)
More info: espnevents.com/wooden-legacy

How the week plays out for Loyola Marymount (2-3):
= Vs. Southern Utah, at Gersten Pavilion, Sunday at 1 p.m.

Games of national interest this week include:
Monday:
Maui Invitational:
Georgia vs. Dayton, 11:30 a.m., ESPN2
Virginia Tech vs. Michigan State, 2 p.m., ESPN2
Kansas vs. Chaminade, 6 p.m., ESPNU
Hall of Fame Classic in Kansas City:
Stanford vs. Oklahoma, 6:30 p.m., ESPN2
Tuesday:
Stephen F. Austin at Duke, 6 p.m., ACC Network
Alabama vs. North Carolina at the Bahamas, 11:30 a.m.
Gonzaga vs. Southern Miss at the Bahamas, 4 p.m., ESPNU
Oregon vs. Seton Hall at the Bahamas, 6:30 p.m., ESPN2
Friday:
Winthrop at Duke, 4 p.m., ACC Network
UAB at Kentucky, 4 p.m., SEC Network
UC Davis at Utah, 6 p.m., Pac-12 Network
Utah State at Saint Mary’s, 8:30 p.m., ESPNU

********************

Round II of the Mater Dei-St. John Bosco battle of the Catholic high school powers — the CIF-Southern Section Division I championship. It’s12-0 Mater Dei vs. 11-1 St. John Bosco at Cerritos College, Saturday at 7:30 p.m., Prime Ticket — a rematch of Mater Dei’s 38-24 Trinity League win on Oct. 25. Mater Dei has defeated St. John Bosco in the 2018 and 2017 division final, when both teams were ranked No. 1 and No. 2 in the country by MaxPreps.com. Their rankings have held that way to this game as well.
Could they meet again in the state championship? It doesn’t work that way.
Also: Division 2 final: Sierra Canyon at Chaminade, Friday at 8:30 p.m., Prime Ticket (delayed from 7:30 p.m. kickoff); Division 3 final: Corona del Mar vs. Grace Brethren at Newport Harbor High, Friday at 7:30 p.m., Fox Sports West
Also: CIF-L.A. City Section Open Division Championship: 7-4 Birmingham vs. 7-4 Banning, at El Camino College, Friday at 7 p.m.

** What we don’t pretend to have figured out a quarter of the way into the NHL season:
== The N.Y. Islanders (16-3-2) have a franchise-record 17 game point streak, coming off an overtime loss in San Jose last Saturday, but still trail Washington and Boston for the most points in the Eastern Conference.
== The Toronto Maple Leafs, 11-10-4 by week’s end, have already fired head coach Mike Babcock, one of seven head coaches in NHL history with at least 700 victories.
How this week shapes up for the Kings (9-13-1, last in the Western Conference)
= Vs. San Jose, Staples Center, Monday at 7:30 p.m., Fox Sports West
= Vs. N.Y. Islanders, Staples Center, Wednesday at 7:30 p.m., Fox Sports West
= At San Jose, Friday at 1 p.m., Fox Sports West
= Vs. Winnipeg, Staples Center, Saturday at 7 p.m., Fox Sports West
How this week shapes up for the Ducks (10-11-3, third from the bottom in the Western Conference)
= Vs. N.Y. Islanders, Honda Center, Monday at 7 p.m., Prime Ticket
= At Arizona, Wednesday at 6:30 p.m., Channel 13
= Vs. Winnipeg, Honda Center, Friday at 1 p.m., Prime Ticket

** NCAA women’s soccer playoffs: National quarterfinals/Elite Eight — USC (17-4-1) at North Carolina (22-1-1),  Friday at 3 p.m., ACC Network; UCLA (17-4-1) at defending NCAA champion Florida State (18-5), Friday at 11 a.m. UCLA defeated Florida State 2-1 in the second week of the season at UCLA. If both USC and UCLA win, they advance to the national semifinals of the College Cup at Avaya Stadium in in San Jose on Dec. 6 (on opposite ends of the bracket). The final is Dec. 8. More info: www.ncaa.com

** Women’s volleyball: UCLA at USC, Galen Center, Friday at 7 p.m., Pac-12 Network