Earlier this week, I took a look at the sports schedule for Saturday and asked my wife, “Please don’t volunteer me for anything on Saturday. It’s a huge day in sports.”

I live in California, so things start early for me. Those of you on the East Coast or in the Midwest have a few hours in the morning to get the husband/boyfriend duties out of the way. Here’s your Big Saturday itinerary:

12 PM ET / 9 AM PT: #13 UConn @ #12 Georgetown (ESPN)
Sure, Georgetown’s loss at Marquette on Wednesday takes a little sting out of this matchup, but a home date with UConn should get the Hoyas plenty focused. Georgetown has a balanced attack (three players averaging 14+ ppg) while UConn is The Jerome Dyson-Stanley Robinson Show. (Side note: The Huskies still haven’t won a game away from home this season.)

1:30 PM ET / 10:30 AM PT: #4 Purdue @ #20 Wisconsin
The Boilermakers face a tough test on the road against the Badgers’ stingy defense. Sadly, this one isn’t on national TV. Bummer.

2 PM ET / 11 AM PT: #5 Duke @ #17 Georgia Tech (ESPN)
Another top 5 team faces a tough road test. This time, it’s The Team That Everyone Loves To Hate who visits a good Georgia Tech squad in Atlanta. The Yellow Jackets’ feshman big man Derrick Favors (currently projected to be the #2 pick in the draft) will battle the Dookies inside.

4:30 PM ET / 1:30 PM PT: Jets @ Bengals (NBC)
The Jets come in surprisingly confident (considering they have a rookie QB who has thrown 20 interceptions this season) after thrashing an uninspired Cincy team in Week 17. Look for the Bengals to play well and take advantage of Mark Sanchez’s inexperience. The Jets have a great defense, so this should be a low scoring affair.

7 PM ET / 4 PM PT: Hawks @ Magic (Fox Sports South)
I know, it’s the NBA regular season, but if the Jets/Bengals game gets out of control, this Atlanta/Orlando matchup features two of the top four teams in the East.

8 PM ET / 5 PM PT: Eagles @ Cowboys (NBC)
All eyes will be on Dallas tomorrow night as the Cowboys try not to suffer another late season meltdown. The Eagles looked terrible in Week 17 — could they possibly play that bad back-to-back? We’ll see. The Cowboys are one of the hottest teams in football right now, but game smells like it will be a close one.

There you go — East Coasters can go to bed while those of us living on the West Coast can take our ladies to a late movie. Good times.

Photo from fOTOGLIF

It’s a big day for college football, as four BCS-caliber teams face significant tests against good competition:

12 PM: #20 Oklahoma @ #5 Texas – ABC (picks, preview)
3:30 PM: #25 Notre Dame @ #6 USC – NBC (preview)
6 PM: #4 Virginia Tech @ #19 Georgia Tech – ESPN2 (picks, preview)
7:45 PM: #22 South Carolina @ #2 Alabama – ESPN (picks, preview)

All times ET.

Here’s what’s on tap on TV the next few days:

NFL
Mon, 8:30 PM: Jets @ Dolphins – ESPN

CFB
Thurs, 7:30 P M: #8 Cincinnati @ #21 South Florida – ESPN

MLB
Mon, 6:07 PM: Phillies @ Rockies – TBS (Philly leads, 2-1)
Tues, 8:07 PM: Rockies @ Phillies – TBS

NHL
Mon, 8 PM: Flames @ Blackhawks – Versus
Tues, 7 PM: Red Wings @ Sabres – Versus
Wed, 8:30 PM: Oilers @ Blackhawks – TSN

What’s on TV this weekend?

MLB
Fri, 6:07 PM: Twins @ Yankees – TBS (NYY lead, 1-0)
Fri, 9:37 PM: Red Sox @ Angels – TBS (LAA lead, 1-0)
Sat, 6:07 PM: Dodgers @ Cardinals – TBS (LAD lead, 2-0)
Sat, 9:37 PM: Phillies @ Rockies – TBS (series tied, 1-1)
Sun, 12:07 PM: Angels @ Red Sox – TBS
Sun, 3:37 PM: Dodgers @ Cardinals – TBS
Sun, 7:07 PM: Yankees @ Twins – TBS
Sun, 10:07 PM: Phillies @ Rockies – TBS

NFL
Sun, 1 PM: Bengals @ Ravens – CBS
Sun, 4:05 PM: Falcons @ 49ers – FOX
Sun, 4:15 PM: Patriots @ Broncos – CBS
Sun, 8:20 PM: Colts @ Titans – NBC
Mon, 8:30 PM: Jets @ Dolphins – ESPN

CFB
Sat, 3:30 PM: #3 Alabama @ #20 LSU – CBS
Sat, 3:30 PM: Wisconsin @ #9 Ohio St. – ABC
Sat, 8 PM: #1 Florida @ #4 LSU – CBS

NHL
Sat, 10 PM: Canadiens @ Oilers – CBC

NBA
Tues, 7 PM: Pistons @ Cavs (NBATV)
Tues, 10 PM: Jazz @ Trail Blazers
Wed, 8:30 PM: Heat @ Mavs
Wed, 10 PM: Rockets @ Suns
Thurs, 10:30 PM: Jazz @ Nuggets (TNT)

NHL
Tues, 7:30 PM: Blackhawsk @ Canadiens (Versus)
Wed, 7:30 PM: Flyers @ Maple Leafs (TSN)
Thurs, 7 PM: Rangers @ Hurricanes

College Hoops (NIT)
Tues, 7 PM: Baylor vs. San Diego State (ESPN2)
Tues, 9 PM: Notre Dame vs. Penn State (ESPN2)

It’s going to be a great week of college basketball action as a number of bubble teams will need wins to keep their NCAA tourney hopes alive. On Monday, Notre Dame will be desperate for a win against visiting Villanova. On Tuesday, Maryland help their postseason chances with a win over Wake Forest. On Wednesday, Virginia Tech can probably seal a bid with a win over visiting North Carolina. And on Thursday, Providence could really use a win at Villanova.

College Hoops
Mon, 7 PM: #16 Villanova @ Notre Dame (ESPN)
Tues, 8 PM: #24 Florida State @ #7 Duke (ESPN360)
Tues, 9 PM: #10 Wake Forest @ Maryland
Wed, 7 PM: #2 North Carolina @ Virginia Tech (ESPN)
Wed, 7:30 PM: #15 Marquette @ #4 Pittsburgh (ESPN2)
Wed, 9 PM: #5 Oklahoma @ #12 Missouri (ESPN360)
Thurs, 7 PM: Providence @ #16 Villanova (ESPN2)
Thurs, 9 PM: #23 Illinois @ Penn St. (ESPN)

NBA
Mon, 7:30 PM: Cavs @ Heat
Tues, 7 PM: Suns @ Magic (NBA TV)
Wed, 9 PM: Spurs @ Mavs (ESPN)
Wed, 9 PM: Rockets @ Jazz
Thurs, 8 PM: Mavs @ Hornets (TNT)
Thurs, 10:30 PM: Blazers @ Nuggets (TNT)

NHL
Tues, 7 PM: Flyers @ Bruins
Wed, 7:30 PM: Canadiens @ Sabres
Thurs, 7 PM: Flames @ Flyers

College basketball highlights a decent week of sports. Kansas visits a Blake Griffin-less Sooner team tonight and UConn travels to Milwaukee for a Big East battle against Marquette. Duke has to visit College Park to face a Maryland team coming off a big home win against North Carolina.

College Hoops
Mon, 9 PM: #15 Kansas @ #3 Oklahoma (ESPN)
Wed, 7 PM: #2 UConn @ #11 Marquette (ESPN)
Wed, 9 PM: #7 Duke @ Maryland (ESPN)
Thurs, 7 PM: Minnesota @ #20 Illinois
Thurs, 11 PM: #11 Arizona St. @ #21 Washington

NBA
Mon, 9 PM: Hawks @ Jazz (NBA TV)
Mon, 9 PM: Celtics @ Nuggets
Tues, 8:30 PM: Trail Blazers @ Rockets
Tues, 8:30 PM: Mavs @ Spurs (NBA TV)
Wed, 8:30 PM: Trail Blazers @ Spurs
Wed, 9 PM: Hawks @ Nuggets (NBA TV)
Thurs, 8 PM: Cavs @ Rockets (TNT)
Thurs, 10:30 PM: Suns @ Lakers (TNT)

NHL
Mon, 8 PM: Sharks @ Stars (Versus)
Tues, 7 PM: Ducks @ Sabres (Versus)
Wed, 7:30 PM: Sharks @ Red Wings
Wed, 7:30 PM: Rangers @ Maple Leafs (TSN)

The game of the week starts in about 40 minutes as #4 Pitt takes on #1 UConn in a battle of Big East heavyweights.

All times ET…

College Hoops
Mon, 7 PM: #4 Pitt @ #1 UConn (ESPN)
Tues, 7 PM: #5 Michigan State @ #21 Purdue (ESPN)
Wed, 7:30 PM: Providence @ #7 Louisville (ESPN2)
Thurs, 11:00 PM: #19 Washington @ #15 UCLA

NBA
Tues, 10:30 PM: Hawks @ Lakers
Wed, 8 PM: Magic @ Hornets (ESPN)
Thurs, 8 PM: Spurs @ Pistons (TNT)
Thurs, 10:30 PM: Celtics @ Jazz (ESPN)

NHL
Mon, 7 PM: Rangers @ Blues (Versus)
Mon, 8 PM: Senators @ Predators (TSN)
Tues, 7 PM: Sabres @ Maple Leafs (TSN)
Wed, 7:30 PM: Canadiens @ Capitals (TSN)

It’s a great week to be a college basketball fan as ESPN and ESPN2 have at least one Top 25 matchup each day of the week, highlighted by the Syracuse/UConn and North Carolina/Duke doubleheader on Wednesday. It’s an extra special week because the Big 12, ACC, Big East and Pac-10 are all represented. For those that have the NBA League Pass, Wednesday is a big night as there are no fewer than 12 games scheduled (including three or four nice matchups).

College Hoops
Mon, 9 PM: #16 Kansas @ #19 Missouri (ESPN)
Tues, 7:30 PM: #12 Marquette @ #13 Villanova (ESPN2)
Wed, 7 PM: #22 Syracuse @ #1 UConn (ESPN)
Wed, 9 PM: #3 North Carolina @ #5 Duke (ESPN)
Thurs, 9 PM: #6 UCLA @ #18 Arizona St. (ESPN)

NBA
Tues, 7:30 PM: Nuggets @ Heat
Wed, 7 PM: Nuggets @ Magic
Wed, 8 PM: Celtics @ Hornets
Wed, 9 PM: Lakers @ Jazz
Thurs, 9:30 PM: Celtics @ Mavericks (TNT)

NHL
Mon, right now: Rangers @ Devils (Versus)
Tues, 7 PM: Sharks @ Bruins (Versus)
Wed, 7:30 PM: Senators @ Sabres (TSN)

Think it’s a coincidence that the second Lakers/Celtics showdown is the week after the Super Bowl? Now that the NFL season is finally over, it’s up to basketball to step into the spotlight. David Stern is no dummy.

NBA
Mon, 7 PM: Mavs @ Magic
Mon, 8 PM: Blazers @ Hornets (NBA TV)
Tues, 9 PM: Spurs @ Nuggets
Wed, 7:30 PM: Heat @ Pistons
Wed, 8:30 PM: Blazers @ Mavs (NBA TV)
Thurs, 8 PM: Lakers @ Celtics (TNT)
Thurs, 10:30 PM: Mavs @ Jazz (TNT)

College Hoops
Mon, 7 PM: #1 UConn @ #7 Louisville (ESPN)
Tues, 7 PM: #13 Purdue @ Ohio St. (ESPN)
Wed, 8:30 PM: #19 Minnesota @ #14 Michigan St.
Wed, 9 PM: #3 Duke @ #10 Clemson (ESPN)

NHL
Mon, 7 PM: Blues @ Red Wings (Versus)
Tues, 7 PM: Capitals @ Devils (Versus)
Tues, 7 PM: Blues @ Blue Jackets (Versus)
Wed, 7:30 PM: Maple Leafs @ Sabres (TSN)
Thurs, 7 PM: Bruins @ Senators (TSN)
Thurs, 9:30 PM: Blackhawks @ Flames (TSN)