Happy New Year from SB Nation Chicago! There's a full schedule of bowl games for New Year's Day, some traditional, some not, information on the rescheduled NHL Winter Classic, and the Bulls in action tonight.
↵↵11 a.m., ESPNU: College football, TicketCity Bowl, Northwestern vs. Texas Tech at Dallas. Just as with the Wrigleyville Classic, the Northwestern Wildcats are relegated to ESPNU. Some people, even with digital cable or satellite, can't get this channel in Chicago. Why they couldn't have figured out a way to get local broadcast rights to an over-the-air channel in the local markets for these teams is beyond me.
↵↵12 noon, ABC-7: College football, Outback Bowl, Florida vs. Penn State at Tampa. Doesn't it seem like half these bowl games either involve a team from Florida, are in Florida, or both?
↵↵12 noon, ESPN: College football, Capital One Bowl, Alabama vs. Michigan State at Orlando.
↵↵12:30 p.m., ESPN2: College football, Progressive Gator Bowl, Mississippi State vs. Michigan at Jacksonville. Just in case you're not confused enough, two teams from Michigan, playing in different cities in Florida, at almost the same time.
↵↵2:30 p.m., ESPNU: College basketball, Notre Dame at Syracuse. If you want to take a break from football for a while.
↵↵4 p.m., ESPN: College football, Rose Bowl Game Presented By VIZIO: Wisconsin vs. TCU at Pasadena. Even the Granddaddy of them All succumbs to the title sponsorship.
↵↵6 p.m., CSN Chicago: NBA, Bulls vs. Cavaliers at the United Center. Again, another basketball break, this one for the pros.
↵↵7 p.m., NBC-5: NHL Winter Classic, Capitals vs. Penguins at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh. The game is being rescheduled from a noon CST start until 7 p.m. due to rain expected in the Pittsburgh area during the day; league officials didn't want to start, then have to stop. Playing under the lights outdoors should be pretty cool for players and fans, too.
↵↵7:30 p.m., Comcast 100: AHL, Wolves at Moose. The Wolves continue their New Year's series in Winnipeg.
↵↵7:30 p.m., ESPN: College football, Tostitos Fiesta Bowl: Connecticut vs. Oklahoma at Glendale, Arizona. Rumor has it they've had trouble selling tickets to this game because the UConn fans aren't traveling well. At the same time, Oklahoma has lost five of its last seven bowl games.