As we go into a holiday weekend, our local teams are getting a break -- no Chicago pro sports action until the Bulls face the Knicks on Christmas morning. Tonight, there are a couple of Big Ten basketball games, a pretty one-sided NFL matchup and the Poinsettia Bowl -- although as of Wednesday night Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, where the game is to be played, was under several inches of floodwater, as was one of the parking lots. Maybe it's a good thing that one of the teams is Navy.
↵↵5 p.m., Big Ten Network: College basketball, Bryant at Michigan. Anita Bryant? Bryant Gumbel? No, the Wolverines are facing the Bryant Bulldogs, who represent Bryant University. Nope, never heard of 'em either. They hail from Smithfield, Rhode Island and are currently 1-9. Seriously, Michigan -- pick on someone your own size.
↵↵6 p.m., CSN Chicago: NHL, Penguins at Capitals. If you love hockey.
↵↵7 p.m., NFL Network: Panthers at Steelers. Who picked this matchup? The Steelers ought to win by 30.
↵↵7 p.m., ESPN: College football, Poinsettia Bowl: Navy vs. San Diego State at San Diego.
↵↵7 p.m., Big Ten Network: College basketball, Oakland at No. 2 Ohio State. The Oakland Raiders? The Oakland Athletics? No, the Oakland Golden Grizzlies, who represent Oakland University. They're located in Rochester, Michigan, and have already lost to three other Big Ten teams (Purdue, Illinois and Michigan State). Seriously, Ohio State -- pick on someone your own size.
↵↵7 p.m., TNT: NBA, Spurs at Magic.
↵↵9:30 p.m., TNT: NBA, Heat at Suns. In the spirit of the season, the Deep Dish won't bash LeBron James, just this once. (But we're still rooting for the Suns tonight.)