Screen Shots: December 19th-25th, 2024

Welcome to Screen Shots! This is where I tell you what sporting events you should watch on TV every week! Make sure you subscribe so it comes straight to your inbox! Have your own suggestions? Shoot me an email at [email protected]!

No new episode this week, but I hope to be back soon! Luckily, I am still able to write so let’s get into it!

Thursday, December 19th, 2024

• College Volleyball Final Four: #1 Louisville Cardinals @ #1 Pittsburgh Panthers at 6:30 pm (ET) on ESPN

Two Final Four games between 1-seeds who are conference opponents starting with this one. The Panthers have won the previous 2 matches this season, but Louisville will have the homecourt advantage here. Can star Olivia Babcock lead Pittsburgh to their 1st championship game appearance ever? Or will Cardinals star and Louisville native Anna DeBeer keep her Disney ending alive by helping her team pull off the rare upset by a 1-seed?

• College Volleyball Final Four: #1 Penn State Nittany Lions @ #1 Nebraska Cornhuskers at 9:00 pm (ET) on ESPN

After losing in the national title game last season, Harper Murray vowed that the Cornhuskers would win the next 3 championships. Public reception to this proclamation ended with Murray in a psych ward. However, she and her team have managed to bounce back and find themselves 2 wins away from her being 1/3rd right. First, they must take down a Nittany Lions team that would be the talk of the college volleyball world if not for Pittsburgh’s amazing season. They come in with the confidence of already having defeated this Nebraska team to end the regular season behind a strong performance from Caroline Jurevicius. Her dad, former NFL WR Joe, made one of the most absurd catches I’ve ever seen.

Friday, December 20th, 2024

• College Football Playoff:  #10 Indiana Hoosiers @ #7 Notre Dame Fighting Irish at 8:00 pm (ET) on ABC

As regional as college football is, it’s weird that this is just the second matchup since 1958 for these Hoosier State programs. Does Indiana deserve to be here? Is the Fighting Irish football program just Catholic propaganda? Tune in to find out! Winner gets Georgia in the Sugar Bowl.

• Women’s College Basketball: Creighton Bluejays @ #1 UCLA Bruins at 11:00 pm (ET) on FS1

Outside of their dominant performance to end South Carolina’s 43-game winning streak, the Bruins haven’t really tested themselves early in the season. The Blue Jays, led by Lauren Jensen and Morgan Maly, could end up being the 2nd best team they play in their non-conference schedule. Creighton’s ability to knock down 3s could make this matchup closer than many expect, especially if UCLA star Lauren Betts is still sidelined with an injury.

Saturday, December 21st, 2024

• College Football Playoff: #11 SMU Mustangs @ #6 Penn State Nittany Lions at 12:00 pm (ET) on TNT

It’s taken 37 years for SMU’s football program to bounce back after being the first and only recipient of the NCAA’s “death penalty” as a result of paying players. The scandal was so big that the NCAA director of enforcement fainted at the press conference after announcing the organization’s findings and SMU’s punishment. How much money was involved? $61,000. That’s just under $170,000 in today’s dollars if my quick Google search is to be trusted.

• College Football Playoff: #12 Clemson Tigers @ #5 Texas Longhorns at 4:00 pm (ET) on TNT

I firmly believe that Arch Manning gives the Longhorns the best chance to win the national championship. Could Clemson’s defense help Sark finally pull the trigger?

• NFL: Pittsburgh Steelers @ Baltimore Ravens at 4:30 pm (ET) on Fox

A Saturday NFL game featuring 2 teams who hate each other battling for the AFC North crown. Remember when Mike Tomlin did this? RIP Jacoby Jones.

• College Football Playoff: #9 Tennessee Volunteers @ #8 Ohio State Buckeyes at 8:00 pm (ET) on ABC

The Vols should show up wearing Michigan uniforms just to see what happens.

• Women’s College Basketball: #7 USC Trojans @ #4 UConn Huskies at 8:00 pm (ET) on Fox

If you are college footballed-out, perhaps I can interest you in a matchup between 2 of the biggest stars in college basketball! JuJu Watkins and Paige Bueckers faced off in last year’s Elite Eight with the Huskies winning that one. Both teams have also added talented new faces as they gear up for potential national title runs.

Sunday, December 22nd, 2024

• Men’s College Basketball: College of Charleston Cougars vs. Oregon State Beavers at 3:00 pm (ET) on ESPN2

From the program that brought you the “Shaq of the TAAC,” say hello to the “Nikola of the CAA!” Okay, so it doesn’t rhyme at all, but Cougars star Ante Brzovic has enough similarities to Jokic that I had to try. I watched him hit this ridiculous game-winner in double OT against Florida Atlantic.

Monday, December 23rd, 2024

• College Football Myrtle Beach Bowl: Coastal Carolina Chanticleers @ UTSA Road Runners at 11:00 am (ET) on ESPN

I mean it’s college football on a Monday morning.

Tuesday, December 24th, 2024

• Christmas Movie of the Week: National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989)

An in-depth look into the holiday traditions of white Americans.

Wednesday, December 25th, 2024

Merry Christmas!

• NFL: Kansas City Chiefs @ Pittsburgh Steelers at 1:00 pm (ET) on Netflix

The NFL is coming for the NBA’s Christmas Day reign! Based on what you know about them, doesn’t it feel like Patrick Mahomes and Russell Wilson accidentally switched wives? Anyway, hopefully, Netflix has gotten its sports streaming issues sorted out.

• NBA: Minnesota Timberwolves @ Dallas Mavericks at 2:30 pm (ET) on ABC

A rematch of last season’s Western Conference Finals. Luka versus Ant is always fun! Including that playoff matchup, 4 of their past 6 meetings have been decided by 6 points or less.

• NFL: Baltimore Ravens @ Houston Texans at 4:30 pm (ET) on Netflix

If we’re going with 2 Steelers games this week, we might as well check out the Ravens twice too. The Texans are dominating a weak AFC South, but they’ve split their last 8 games after getting off to a 5-1 start. If momentum is real, it’s time to start building some as they gear up for the playoffs.

• NBA: Los Angeles Lakers @ Golden State Warriors at 8:00 pm (ET) on ABC

We’re nearing the end of these iconic Steph-LeBron matchups. When I was growing up, you got 2 Christmas Day games a year and I was too young to understand that greatness didn’t last forever. As much as LeBron has done to try to disprove that, I am now old enough and wise enough to recognize that Father Time is right on his tail. I wish I could go back and watch the legends of my day again, but this will do.

• NBA: Denver Nuggets @ Phoenix Suns at 10:30 pm (ET) on ABC

Remember when these teams played each other during the 2023 NBA Playoffs and Suns owner Mat Ishbia flopped when Nikola Jokic tried to get the ball from him? I’ve made it a point to root against the Suns ever since.

As always, I appreciate you reading! Hope you have a wonderful holiday!