THIS YOU GOTTA SEE
THE WEEK AHEAD in sports . . . with steve greenberg
SUN 29 Bears at Vikings (noon, Fox-32)
The Vikes are locked into the No. 6 seed in the NFC. The Bears are locked into the Barcalounger seed. That makes this game roughly as meaningful to both teams as a Friday fish fry on a — you guessed it — Sunday. Still, we can’t be expected to live-tweet our complaints about Matt Nagy and Mitch Trubisky if we don’t watch, can we?
49ers at Seahawks (7:20 p.m., Ch. 5)
The winner takes the NFC West title, which, for Jimmy Garoppolo and the 49ers, would mean a No. 1 seed in the playoffs. The loser tumbles into the No. 5 seed and a road assignment in Philadelphia or Dallas. “Sunday Night Football,” we salute you.
MON 30 Redbox Bowl: Illinois vs. California (3 p.m., Fox-32)
Lovie Smith claims the 6-6 Illini have caught up to the powers that be in the Big Ten West. We don’t know about all that, but beating the run-of-the-mill Golden Bears would at least introduce Illini Nation to the concept of a winning team for the first time since 2011.
Bucks at Bulls (7 p.m., NBCSCH)
Sure, the Bucks are the best team in the NBA thus far, but wake us when ESPN is making a 10-part documentary series about them.
Seton Hall at DePaul (7:30 p.m., FS1)
The Blue Demons are 12-1. Are we crazy for buying into the potential of Charlie Moore, Paul Reed and company to shake things up in the Big East after a long slog of last-place finishes?
wed 1 Citrus Bowl: Alabama vs. Michigan (noon, Ch. 7)
Big Ten pride is on the line, but it might not be all that wise to bet on Big Ten pride. Can we get a show of hands from those who think the biggame-averse Wolverines can handle the mighty Crimson Tide? Hello? Anybody?
Outback Bowl: Auburn vs. Minnesota (noon, ESPN)
P.J. Fleck’s Golden Gophers gave it a heck of a run all season, nearly winning the Big Ten West. The reward for that is a massive test against a Tigers squad teeming with NFL talent. Better row that boat like your very lives depend on it, Gophs.
sat 4 NFL playoffs begin
There’s wild-card action at 3:30 p.m. and 7 p.m., teams (and networks) TBD. Just to be clear, “TBD” stands for “the Bears disappeared.”
Celtics at Bulls (7 p.m., NBCSCH)
The Celtics are one of the league’s stingiest defensive teams, they don’t turn the ball over and they’re the only team with three players — Kemba Walker, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown — averaging in the 20s in scoring. Other than that, what do they have that the Bulls don’t? ✶
Rose Bowl: Oregon vs. Wisconsin (4 p.m., ESPN)
This is another matchup that doesn’t shape up all that favorably for the Big Ten. The Badgers have struggled over the years against the sort of speed the Ducks bring to the table. Line up those mountainous farm boys, blast away and hope for the best.
thu 2 Illinois at Michigan State (7 p.m., FS1)
The Illini have the length and athleticism to challenge big-boy MSU, but can they knock down enough jump shots to get over the hump? Coach Brad Underwood’s three-man-weave offense is a waste of time if it’s merely a prelude to a brick.
Blackhawks at Canucks (9 p.m., NBCSCH)
Dylan Strome
Patrick Kane and piled up three points each the last time these teams met, a 5-2 Hawks victory at the United Center. If we may be so bold: Do that again, fellas.