The Weeks Ahead

What to watch and watch for

SATURDAY 12/24

Colts at Seahawks
The Colts (13-1) don't have time to sulk after their first loss: They must beat the NFC's best to keep the league's best record. Seattle (12-2) has won 10 straight and is led by the league's leading touchdown-scorer (24), Shaun Alexander (right). CBS 4 p.m.

SUNDAY 12/25

SI PICK OF THE WEEK
Lakers at Heat
It's looking a lot like Christmas in the NBA. Kevin Garnett is playing Santa with the new Xbox. Dance teams are wearing fur-trimmed spandex. And Kobe and Shaq are about to get frosty with one another again. For the second straight year Bryant vs. O'Neal is the league's main Christmas event, but Pat Riley's return to the Heat sideline creates a new subplot. The Armani'd One (left) and Phil Jackson (right) have 13 titles between them and have been butting heads since the late '80s, when Riley was in L.A. and the Zen Master was in Chicago. Let the psychological wars begin. ABC 3 p.m.

TUESDAY 12/27

No. 8 Gonzaga at No. 4 Memphis
Adam Morrison (below), the nation's leading--and most-mustachioed--scorer invades Memphis, where the Tigers have beaten opponents by an average of 21.8 points this season. ESPN2 7 p.m.

Insight Bowl: Rutgers vs. Arizona State
Rutgers hasn't been to a bowl in 27 years, but the Scarlet Knights faced the Sun Devils in the 1978 Garden State Bowl. Rutgers will rely on tailback Ray Rice, its first 1,000-yard rusher since 1994. ESPN 8:30 p.m.

WEDNESDAY 12/28

MPC Computers Bowl: Boston College vs. Boise State
Whatever happens, a streak will bite the dust in Boise. Boston College has won an NCAA record five consecutive bowl games. Boise State has won 31 straight on their trademark blue field at Bronco Stadium, the site of this game. ESPN 4:30 p.m.

THURSDAY 12/29

Great Lakes Invitational: No. 7 Colorado College vs. No. 6 Michigan
He's the fourth Hobey Baker winner to return to school the year after being honored--and Marty Sertich doesn't have to look far to see his competition for another award. The Colorado College senior is seventh in the country with 28 points, but linemate Brett Stirling leads with 34 points. Check Listings 8 p.m.

WEDNESDAY 1/4

Rose Bowl: Texas vs. USC
Barring a tie, we'll have a controversy-free national champ this year. The country's only 12-0 teams meet, and the scoreboard operator better be rested: The Trojans and Longhorns both average more than 50 points per game. Texas has the better defense--it's ranked fourth in the nation in points allowed per game--but the USC offense will feature two Heisman winners, an NCAA first. ABC 8 p.m.

THURSDAY 1/5

Mercedes Championship
Hawaii in January? Sounds pretty good--except to Tiger Woods, who will skip the PGA season's kickoff event. "I haven't had an off-season," Woods said. "And I need one." Eldrick's absence could help Stuart Appleby (left) score the first Mercedes threepeat since 1957. ESPN 7 p.m.

 

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DAVID BERGMAN (RILEY)

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CRAIG LASSIG/EPA (JACKSON)

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ROBERT BECK (APPLEBY)

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JOHN W. MCDONOUGH (MORRISON)

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PETER READ MILLER (ALEXANDER)