Week Ahead
THURSDAY 10/18
No. 2 South Florida at Rutgers
After rushing for at least 175 yards in Rutgers' two season-opening wins,preseason Heisman candidate Ray Rice (right) went three games without cracking100. He got back on track with 196 yards against Syracuse last Saturday. He'llhave to be the sushi-grade Rice if the 4--2 Scarlet Knights are to upset theBulls (page 42), who have allowed an average of only 2.9 yards a carry.
ESPN 7:30 p.m.
Greatest HighSchool Football Rivalries
This six-part documentary produced by NFL Films looks at the nation's bestannual football matchups. The first episode highlights the Backyard Bowl,between Oklahoma powerhouses Union and Jenks. One or the other of those schoolshas won every state Class 6A title since 1996. This year's Backyard Bowl, the40th, was a 43--42 OT thriller.
VERSUS 7 p.m.
Red Bull New Yorkat Los Angeles Galaxy
The Galaxy's unexpected playoff push (L.A. has won five straight and can clincha spot by winning its final two games) gets a boost: the return of DavidBeckham (left), who hasn't played since spraining his right knee on Aug. 29.The $50 million-a-year man had one of his few MLS highlights against New York.On Aug. 18 in a 5--4 loss he had two assists, the closest he's come to scoringfor the Galaxy.
ESPN2 11 p.m.
Major LeagueEating Chowdown: Wedges and Wings
Three months after losing his hot-dog-eating crown to Joey Chestnut (right) atConey Island, Japan's Takeru Kobayashi can dethrone his rival as thechicken-wing champ. Chestnut holds the world record, having once downed 7.5pounds of wings in 12 minutes. He took on 15 other eaters in Las Vegas—theevent was held on Oct. 9 but airs tonight—including Kobayashi, who holds worldmarks in five competive eating categories.
Spike 11 p.m.
WEDNESDAY10/24
World Series, Game 1
Baseball is betting a schedule change will draw more viewers to the FallClassic. For the first time since 1990 the Series won't start on a Saturday,meaning Games 1 and 2 and, if necessary, 6 and 7 won't compete with the NFL andcollege football. The change can't hurt: The Cardinals' 2006 win was thelowest-rated Series ever (10.1).
Fox 8 p.m.
SI PICK OF THEWEEK
TUESDAY 10/23
Rangers at Penguins
Another game, another family reunion for Pittsburgh's Jordan Staal (left). The19-year-old center from Thunder Bay, Ont., faced oldest brother Eric, anAll-Star center, in the Penguins' season-opening 4--1 loss to Carolina. Nowhe'll take on his other big brother, Marc (right), a rookie defenseman for theRangers. After scoring 42 points as a rookie last season, Jordan was promotedto the Penguins' top line, on which he plays alongside captain Sidney Crosby.This is the first of eight matches this season between the Rangers and thePenguins, the two favorites in the Atlantic Division.
VERSUS 7 p.m.
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MICHAEL J. LEBRECHT II/1DEUCE3 PHOTOGRAPHY (RICE)
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RAFAEL SUANES/WIREIMAGE.COM (JORDAN STAAL)
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BRUCE BENNETT/GETTY IMAGES (MARC STAAL)
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JOSEPH KACZMAREK/AP (CHESTNUT)
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MICHAEL JANOSZ/POLARIS (BECKHAM)