NFL games highlight today’s television sports landscape, plus the Blackhawks in action tonight. There’s also some Top 25 college basketball. Oh, and almost three hours’ worth of talking about college football bowl games (if you can stand it).
↵12 noon, Fox-32: NFL, Bears at Lions. This game appears to be a mismatch. The Bears are five or six point favorites. But “on any given Sunday”… Nah. The Bears will win.
↵2 p.m., Comcast 100: AHL, Wolves at Marlies. The Marlies call Toronto home.
↵3 p.m., CSN Chicago: Bears Postgame Live
↵3 p.m., CBS-2: NFL, Raiders at Chargers. If the Chargers win, both teams will be 6-6… and both would still have a shot at winning the AFC West.
↵3:15 p.m., Fox-32: NFL, Cowboys at Colts. This is a peculiar selection for Fox’s primary late game; sure, the teams are popular, but the Cowboys are pretty much out of playoff consideration. The game between the Falcons and Buccaneers, arguably much more important, is relegated to most of the Southeast (and, oddly, parts of Minnesota and North Dakota).
↵6 p.m., WGN (Chicago only): NHL, Blackhawks vs. Flames at the United Center.
↵7 p.m., NBC-5: NFL, Steelers at Ravens. The winner takes over first place in the AFC North.
↵7:30 p.m., Big Ten Network: Bowl Selection Special. This one runs only an hour, and will be repeated at 8:30. A different show than the one below, it will focus (obviously) on where Big Ten teams are going bowling.
↵8 p.m., ESPN: Bowl Selection Special. Two hours’ worth of something that could be done in ten minutes. Could be almost as bad as the LeBron James show.
↵9:30 p.m., CSN Chicago: College basketball, No. 20 Texas at USC.