Your Thanksgiving sports survival guide
There was a time sports fans would stuff themselves over the long Thanksgiving weekend, and park themselves in front of the TV to watch endless hours of football and other games until they couldn’t remember the names of the rel- atives sitting next to them on the couch.
Ah, but these days, things are so much different. Now, sports fans can stuff themselves over the long Thanksgiving, and park themselves just about anywhere – in a department store, in front of a computer, in a car dealer showroom – and watch endless hours of
football and other games until they can’t remember if they put on clean socks.
In the spirit of the season, and in hopes of helping you navigate through the endless trough of sports over the next four days, so you’ll actually find time to connect with a real person or two, here is our annual field guide to the moveable feast that is Thanksgiving Sports 2020.
Thursday
Bears at Lions, 10:30 a.m.. Fox: Generally, I try to watch some of this game for the sake of tradition and nostalgia. Generally, this matchup isn’t worth our time. Watch, but keep an eye on the turkey (the one in the oven). WATCH IT
Bills at Cowboys, 2:30 p.m., CBS: Best of the three offerings today by a mile. Too bad it usually comes right when dinner’s served. But modern technology has a solution. RECORD IT
Egg Bowl: Ole Miss at Mississippi State, 5:30 p.m., ESPN: I guess it was 2014 when this game was a worthwatch, because MSU had a pulse in the playoff race. Still, only once in the last 48 years has either team been ranked in the top 15 for this game and neither is wowing anybody this season. They are a combined 4-10 in SEC play. SKIP IT
Saints at Falcons, NBC, 6:30 p.m.: Too bad NBC can’t flex out of this one. Seemed like a compelling matchup when the schedule was set. Today, it’s a dud (and whatever happened to the Falcons anyway?). Good thing you’ve recorded Cowboys-Bills. SKIP IT
Arizona-Pepperdine basketball at Anaheim, 9 p.m., ESPN2: Arizona’s first game in the Wooden Legacy Tournament really is cruel and unusual punishment for Wildcats fans. Nobody will be awake tonight (blame the carbs, not tryptophan). You’ll have better luck staying awake for the subsequent games on Friday and Sunday. RECORD IT
Friday
Arizona State women’s basketball vs. Maine, 3 p.m., FloHoops: Something to divert your attention standing in line on Black Friday (is that even a thing anymore?) or doing research for Cyber Monday. ASU’s playing in a tournament in Florida, so you can do the same thing Saturday and Sunday. If you sign up for an account with FloHoops (I believe a fee in involved), you can … STREAM IT
Coyotes at Vegas, 4 p.m., FSAZ Plus: Last meeting was a one-sided 4-1 Coyotes victory in Glendale. Too bad the Coyotes will be moving out of the Pacific Division in 2021 – this is shaping up as a nice little desert rivalry. Early start time gives you the rest of the evening for leftover turkey, and to flip over to the Suns game. WATCH IT
Dallas at Suns, 7 p.m., FSAZ:
Hey, you’re probably off Friday anyway, so how about finding a sports bar in Phoenix to watch the Coyotes, then head to Talking Stick Resort Arena for this one. GO TO IT
Saturday
Ohio State at Michigan, 10 a.m., Fox: Ohio State’s already locked into the Big Ten championship game next week, but I suppose a case can be made that Michigan could damage the Buckeyes’ CFP case with a win. Might this game decide the fate of Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh? He’s 0-4 against the Buckeyes. WATCH IT
Palmetto Bowl: Clemson at South Carolina, 10 a.m., ESPN: Tempted to write this off as another speed bump for a largely untested Clemson team on its way to the playoffs, but then I remembered the Gamecocks’ double OT win at Georgia in October. RECORD IT
Wisconsin at Minnesota, 1:30 p.m., ABC: For the Big Ten West title and a shot to knock Ohio State out of the College Football Playoff, in theory. WATCH IT
Iron Bowl: Alabama at Auburn, 1:30 p.m., CBS: Sadly, one of the classic games of the season has lost much of his luster with Alabama losing its quarterback and Auburn sitting on three losses. SKIP IT
Texas A&M at LSU, 5 p.m., ESPN: Anyone think the Aggies have a chance to throw a scare into the Bayou Bengals? Nah, me either. But it’s a last tune-up before the SEC title game, so, while you’re tailgating in Tempe …. STREAM IT
San Jose at Coyotes, 6 p.m., FSAZ: When LSU has a big lead at halftime, switch over to this one while you’re working on that second brat at the ASU tailgate. But if you are passing on the TCup this year, head on over to Glendale. STREAM IT/GO TO IT
Territorial Cup: Arizona at Arizona State, 8 p.m., ESPN: Even the
proclaimed this the best rivalry in the country. Heck, we don’t need those folks to tell us what we already knew. Fork ‘em or Bear Down, but don’t miss out. GO TO IT
Sunday
Rams at Cardinals, 2:05 p.m., Fox: I’d like to know which genius in the NFL scheduling department didn’t let these two meet earlier than December? Must be the same “algorithm” that let the Cardinals play the 49ers twice in 18 days. How about spreading it out. Oh, by all means, have the Cardinals play ONE division game in the first eight weeks of the season. OK, rant concluded. WATCH IT
Patriots at Texans, NBC, 6:20 p.m.: Since there’s usually only one question every regular season for the Patriots – will they go undefeated? – and it’s already been answered, put Belichick and Co. on pause until January. SKIP IT