MLB Productions, Shout! Factory Continue Their World Series Success With 2021 Collector’s Edition Presentation

Courtesy: MLB Productions/Shout! Factory

Major League Baseball’s 2022 Spring Training session is scheduled to launch Feb. 26, with all 30 of the league’s teams set to take the fields.  Of course, thanks to the league’s current lockout – the first since the 1994-1995 season – that date might get pushed back.  What’s more it may leave 29 of the league’s teams and their fans wondering when “next year” will happen.  There is at least one consolation prize of sorts courtesy of Major League Baseball Productions and Shout! Factory.  It comes in the form of this year’s annual World Series presentation, The 2021 World Series Collector’s Edition.  Scheduled for release Tuesday, the eight-disc set is another success for MLB Productions and Shout! Factory in the companies’ ongoing partnership.  That is due in no small part to its general presentation, which will be discussed shortly.  The bonus content that accompanies the collection adds to its appeal.  It will be examined a little later.  The set’s pricing rounds out its most important items and will be discussed later, too.  Each item noted is important in its own way to the whole of the collection.  All things considered, they make The 2021 World Series Collector’s Edition a presentation that Atlanta Braves fans and baseball fans will enjoy as they wait for the start of the 2022 season.

MLB Productions and Shout! Factory’s forthcoming 2021 World Series Collector’s Edition Blu-ray package is a presentation that baseball fans (and especially Atlanta Braves) will find appealing.  That is due in part to its general presentation.  The general presentation is important because it compiles the entire six-game 2021 World Series along with the whole of Game Six of the National League Championship Series and the 2021 World Series documentary in one setting.  On the surface that might not seem overly important.  However, in the bigger picture, the inclusion of all of that content in one setting will save space and money for audiences.  In years past, the companies separated the World Series and its documentary, meaning audiences had to pay extra and find space on their DVD/BD racks for each.  Now with everything in one package, audiences no longer have to worry about that pricing (which will be addressed a little later) and finding space for the set and a separate documentary.  That makes this collection a win for the companies and for audiences alike.  To that end, MLB Productions and Shout! Factory are to be highly commended.  It is just one of the items that makes this collection successful.  The bonus content that accompanies the set adds to the collection’s appeal.

The inclusion of the 2021 World Series documentary is itself bonus content.  That is, again, because it marks the first time ever that Shout! Factory and MLB Productions have included the documentary with the World Series itself.  The documentary is certain to keep audiences engaged and entertained, this despite the lacking narration of rapper Chris “Ludacris” Bridges.  He did a much better job working on Jim Henson Company/Lifetime’s 2015 movie, Turkey Hollow.  The documentary follows the Braves’ unlikely run to the World Series title after reaching only 44 wins by the mid-season break.  The note of GM Alex Anthopoulos’ roster moves at that break deserved maybe a little more attention.  Though, the tribute that the team made to the legend himself, #44, Hank Aaron (who died in January) during and after the documentary is reason enough to watch.  Diehard Braves fans will appreciate the note from Manager Brian Snitker of how perhaps Aaron gave the team a little extra help during the season’s second half, noting how the team had 44 wins at the season break, and how the team had 44 runs through the World Series.  That Shout! Factory and MLB Productions ensured the tribute to the legendary baseball star made during the World Series was included in the documentary makes for even more appeal.  Between that and the in-depth story of how the team reached the proverbial mountaintop, the documentary offers audiences so much to appreciate, even if they are not Braves fans.  This is just one of the bonuses that makes the 202 World Series Collector’s Edition so enjoyable.  The trivia-filled booklet that accompanies the collection is its own enjoyable bonus.

This year is hardly the first that MLB Productions and Shout! Factory has featured a companion, trivia-filled booklet with its World Series collections.  It is no less appreciated, either.  Audiences learn so much extra about this year’s World Series through the noted information.  For instance, audiences learn that “through Game 2, teams scoring first in the 2021 postseason had won 26 of 33 games.  Interestingly enough, Atlanta scored first in Game 1 of this year’s Fall Classic, proving the stat even truer.  On another note, in Game 1, audiences learn through the trivia, the Astros’ loss in Game 1 made th team the first to lose five straight World Series home games since the Braves’ teams from 1996-1999.  That is just a small sampling of what audiences learn through the booklet’s trivia.  Viewers and fans also learn that Houston’s win in Game 5 made the team the first this year to defeat Atlanta at home in the 2021 postseason.  Between these bits of trivia and so much more that are spread throughout the collection, the companion booklet once again proves itself to be a solid bonus and then some.  Add the appeal of that item to the fact that audiences once again get audio options from Fox, both teams’ home radio broadcasters, and even in Spanish as yet another bonus, and no doubt is left that the bonus content featured in this collection strengthens the set’s appeal even more.  It is just one more way in which this latest World Series presentation proves so successful.  Keeping in mind the engagement and entertainment that the overall content ensures, it makes the set’s pricing appealing in its own right.

The average price point for The 2021 World Series Collector’s Edition is $47.08.  The price was reached by averaging prices listed through Amazon, Walmart, Target, Best Buy, Books-A-Million, and Shout! Factory.  In looking at the separate prices, Amazon offers the set at the least expensive price of $41.99.  Book-A-Million’s listing of 59.98 is the most expensive of the listings, far exceeding that average. Walmart’s listing of $46 even is just below the average and exceeds it when shipping and handling are added in to the mix.  Target lists the et at $43.49 while Best Buy lists the set at $42.99.  Shout! Factory lists the set at just above the average, at $47.98.  So while there are some more expensive listings, there is at least one relatively inexpensive listing through Amazon.  Again, considering all of the content featured in the collection, there is no denying that the noted least expensive listing of $41.99 through Amazon is worth paying by any diehard Braves and baseball fan.  When that listing and others just below the noted average are considered collectively with the set’s overall content, the whole makes The 2021 World Series Collector’s Edition a presentation that any baseball collector and diehard Braves fan will appreciate.

MLB Productions and Shout! Factory’s forthcoming 2021 World Series Collector’s Edition is another enjoyable offering from the companies through their ongoing partnership.  The set’s appeal comes in part through its general presentation.  The general presentation is important to the collection because it houses the entire 2021 World Series in one setting for the first time ever.  That includes the annual World Series documentary that MLB Production creates to accompany the World Series presentation.  The bonus content that accompanies the collection (including that documentary) adds to the set’s appeal.  That is because it will ensure audiences’ engagement and entertainment just as much as the general presentation.  The set’s pricing proves appealing for the most part, too.  That is because of the breadth and depth of the content featured in the set and its presentation.  Each item examined is important in its own way to the whole of the collection.  All things considered, they make the collection another successful offering from MLB Productions and Shout! Factory, and one more of the best of this year’s family DVDs/BDs.

The 2021 World Series Collector’s Edition is scheduled for release Tuesday through MLB Productions and Shout! Factory. More information on the set is available online along with all of the latest Major League Baseball headlines at:

Website: https://www.mlb.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mlb

Twitter: https://twitter.com/mlb

To keep up with the latest sports and entertainment reviews and news, go online to https://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like “it.  Fans can always keep up with the latest sports and entertainment reviews and news in the Phil’s Picks blog at https://philspicks.wordpress.com.

PBS, PBS Distribution Score With ‘Baseball’ Re-Issue

Courtesy: PBS/PBS Distribution

The countdown to the midpoint of Major League Baseball’s 2021 season is underway.  The biggest names in the league will come together next week to put their talents on display in the 2021 MLB All-Star Game.  The game will also determine home field advantage for the World Series.  With the season’s midway point almost reached and all eyes looking forward to the second half of the season, the upcoming break makes for a great time to also look back on the Great American Pastime’s history.  Audiences can once again do just that thanks to PBS Distribution’s recent re-issue of the Ken Burns documentary, Baseball.  Re-issued June 8 on separate DVD and Blu-ray box sets, the documentary is a wonderful presentation for any baseball fan.  That is due in no small part to its content, which will be discussed shortly.  The set’s packaging is especially important to address in this re-issue and will be discussed a little later.  The bonus content that accompanies the set is also of note and will be examined later, too.  Each item noted is important in its own way.  All things considered, these items make the set one more of this year’s top new DVD and Blu-ray re-issues.

PBS Distribution’s recent re-issue of the Ken Burns documentary Baseball is a presentation that any baseball fan will appreciate.  Its appeal is due in no small part to its featured content.  The content in question is exactly the same as that presented in the set’s original release in 2000 and its 2004 and 2010 re-issues (Yes, this is now the documentary’s third re-issue).  The content in question follows the evolution of “America’s Game” from the pre-Civil War years (the 1840s) all the way up to 2009.  Throughout the 23 hours which the program spans, viewers learn about how baseball has brought the nation together in some of its best and worst times.  It also ensures the history of the Negro League is thoroughly highlighted as part of the whole.  The story of Jackie Robinson’s impact on the league and its history is also part of the overall story, as is the impact of performance enhancing drugs in the late 90s and early 2000s.  Simply put, audiences who perhaps did not or do not own this documentary in its previous two releases get the original program – remastered – in this set.  None of the story is omitted, nor is anything added that was not in those releases.  To that end, audiences will be pleased to know that in terms of content, this latest presentation of Baseball is positive.  The primary content featured in PBS Distribution’s latest re-issue of Baseball is just one of its positives.  Its packaging adds to its appeal.

Baseball’s packaging is important to note because it is so ergonomic in comparison to that of the documentary’s prior releases.  Both the DVD and Blu-ray presentation spread the documentary’s 11 discs across three separate cases inside a bigger housing box.  This sounds somewhat bulky, but it really is anything but.  By comparison, the documentary’s 2004 DVD release was far less ergonomic.  It placed each “inning” of the story (yes, the story is divided into “innings” instead of “chapters.”  Got to love that marketing aspect.) on its own disc within a bigger box.  That means that said set was extremely large.  These new sets on the other hand, are far less space consuming.  Each box in this re-issue separates the set’s discs into a count of three, two, and six respectively.  The discs are separated on their own spindle and leaf separate from the other discs.  This protects the discs from one another, dramatically decreasing the chances of the discs being marred.  What’s more, it also ensures the set will take up far less space on audiences’ DVD/BD racks than that 2004 (and even 2010) re-issue.  Speaking of the 2010 re-issue, it separated the “10^th Inning” section as a standalone Blu-ray, while the rest of the documentary was still packaged as an overly bulky DVD set.  So again, what audiences are getting here in terms of packaging is a positive presentation in its own right, both on DVD and Blu-ray.  The packaging is exactly the same on both sets and far more ergonomic than that of the documentary’s previous releases.  It is just one more positive of this overall set.  The bonus content that accompanies the set rounds out its most important elements.

The bonus content that accompanies the documentary in its latest presentation is the same as that presented in the set’s 2010 re-issue.  Save for the update about the Red Sox winning the 2004 World Series title, all of the bonus content featured in that set is also the same as that in the set’s 2000 release.  So in other words, audiences get here, all of the same bonus content collected over the course of the documentary’s previous releases.  This means that no viewers will feel cheated.  The bulk of the bonus content is extra interview footage that did not make the final cut for the documentary’s main feature.  Among the most notable of the bonus interview footage is that which focuses on race relations in baseball’s history, asterisks related to PEDs, and the role of baseball post 9/11.  In regards to the matter of race relations, writer Gerald Early states that through much of baseball’s history, there was little attempt by the league’s heads to attract African-American audiences.  Fellow writer Howard Bryant expanded on Early’s comments, stating that instead of looking inward at America’s own African-American community, the league instead looked more toward Latin America and the college ranks.  He added (again, at the time) that this had been the trend over the course of the past 30 years.  On a related note, sportswriter Doug Glanville states counters that as he said “multiculturalism is the next level” for the league.  He was making the comment about the growing globalization of the game in regards to its reach and diversity in the league’s players.

In regards to the extra discussions on baseball’s role post 9/11, former Yankees manager Joe Torre joins Early, and sportswriters Tom Verducci and Selena Roberts to discuss how important it was at the time for the game to return.  Each points out in his/her own way that having the game return was fully necessary because it returned a sense of normalcy to the nation and helped to unite Americans, even if they were not Yankees fans.  As fellow sportswriter Tom Boswell best put it, “It gave us all something to rally around.”

The bonus commentary excerpts are only a portion of the more than two hours of bonus content featured in this re-issue.  Burns and producer Lynn Novick are also featured from their 2010 interview as they talk about how the documentary came about.  According to Burns, Baseball is for all intents and purposes, a “sequel” to The Civil War, another documentary for which he is known.  Novick ads her own comments, stressing that when Baseball originally aired in 1992, there was some trepidation because it aired right as the now infamous players strike happened.  The contrast of the strike and the virtual love letter to the game that was Baseball was stark.  That in itself is sure to make for some discussion among audiences.  Additionally, Novick raises discussion about concerns raised by the league’s heads when she and Burns came to them about making the documentary.  According to Novick, the league officials were concerned about Burns and Novick making the project “a hatchet job” and their changed opinions after seeing the finished product.  The concerns, according to Novick stemmed from the impact of the player’s strike on public opinion and the impact of the PED scandal on public opinion.  To that end, their concerns were justified.  It can be appreciated why the league would have been tentative about having this documentary released.  Keeping this in mind along with everything else shared in the interviews with Burns and Novick, and in the bonus interview segments, the whole of the bonus content makes for its own appeal.  When the appeal of the bonus content is considered along with that created through the documentary’s primary content and packaging, the whole makes this re-issue a positive overall presentation for baseball fans and those of PBS and Ken Burns.

PBS Distribution’s latest re-issue of the Ken Burns documentary Baseball is a positive presentation.  It will appeal equally to baseball fans and those of Burns and PBS.  That is proven in part through its primary content.  The primary content in question is the same as that presented in the documentary’s previous releases.  That means that whether audiences own the documentary’s previous releases, everyone will be on the same level in terms of that content.  The content in question takes audiences through baseball’s history, from its infancy in the pre-Civil War era up to 2009.  That is a wide swath of the game’s history.  The set’s packaging is also a positive for this presentation.  That is because in the case of the DVD and Blu-ray platform, the packaging is far more ergonomic than that of the documentary’s previous DVD releases.  The bonus content, like the primary content, is the same as that in the documentary’s prior releases.  As with that primary content, this also ensures that audiences are all on the same level.  The more than two hours of content adds its own share of engagement and entertainment for audiences.  When it is considered along with the documentary’s primary content and packaging, the whole makes this presentation one more of this year’s top new DVD and BD re-issues.  Baseball is available now.

More information on this and other titles from PBS is available at:

Website: https://www.pbs.org

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pbs

Twitter: https://twitter.com/PBS

To keep up with the latest entertainment reviews and news, go online to https://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it.  Fans can always keep up with the latest entertainment reviews and news in the Phil’s Picks blog at https://philspicks.wordpress.com.  

Shout! Factory, MLB Prouctions “Score” Again With ‘2020 World Series: Los Angeles Dodgers’

Courtesy: Shout! Factory/MLB Productions

The first tow months of each new year are the most important of all for baseball fans.  That is because it is during those months that news starts arriving about Major League Baseball’s spring training and regular season schedules.  The league’s spring training was cancelled I 2020 and its regular season start delayed until July due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  Now that news is finally coming out about the hopefully soon distribution of a vaccine to fight the virus, anticipation is likely building even more over what will happen with Major League Baseball’s 2021 season.  With any luck, fans and teams alike will get a full season with no asterisks (unlike this recently ended season).  Until then, fans will get to relive the 2020 World Series in part thank to Major League Baseball Productions and Shout! Factory.  The companies have partnered once again to release a look back at MLB’s annual fall classic, this time in the form of 2020 World Series: Los Angeles Dodgers.  The two-disc set, which features the program on DVD and Blu-ray separately, is a presentation that will appeal equally to Dodgers fans and baseball fans in general.  That is due in no small part to the documentary’s primary feature, which is narrated by legendary Dodgers announcer Vin Scully.  This will be discussed shortly.  The bonus (secondary content) that accompanies the program builds on the appeal created through the retrospective’s primary content and makes the overall presentation that much more entertaining and engaging.  It will be discussed a little later.  The whole of that primary and secondary content collectively makes the set’s average price point important to address in its own way, too.  It will also be discussed later.  When it is considered along with the set’s overall content, the whole of this presentation proves itself such that it will keep baseball fans across the board entertained, regardless of whether MLB’s 2021 season starts on time (which hopefully it will).

MLB Productions and Shout! Factory’s annual World Series retrospective presentation, this year focusing on the 2020 World Series, is a work that is certain to appeal to baseball fans, regardless of team affiliation and loyalty.  That is proven in no small part to the documentary’s primary feature.  The production, narrated by legendary Dodgers voice Vin Scully, takes audiences through the back and forth six-game battle between the Dodgers and Rays.  Adding to Scully’s narration — which shows zero bias toward the Dodgers at any point (audiences will appreciate this aspect of Scully’s work very much) — was commentary from members of the Rays and Dodgers, recalling thoughts and emotions on both sides of the ball as the series progressed.  From the momentous “battle of the bats” in the series’ fourth game, to the controversial decision by Tampa Bay Manager Kevin Cash to pull pitcher Blake Snell in the sixth inning of Game Six, to the impact of Mookie Betts for Los Angeles throughout the series, and more, audiences are presented a rich picture of the action throughout the series thanks to that first hand insight and narration.  The cinematography that pairs with Scully’s narration adds to the experience. 

Media access to the World Series was limited on and off the field due to COVID-19 restrictions, but despite that, enough footage was captured that audiences still managed to see firsthand, the highs and lows for each team.  Even with restrictions in place due to COVID-19, the cameras were still fully able to capture all of the on- and off-field action.  The editing of that footage helped tell the series’ story.  Audiences will watch in awe as certain pitches make their way past the batters and as the fielding units make their way to the walls, making seemingly impossible leaps to catch the balls.  Even seeing the looks on the players’ faces throughout the course of the series adds to the impact of the cinematography.  The editing of that footage into the presentation shown here works with Scully’s narration to make the program’s pacing solid from start to end.  According to information on the program’s case, its run time is 90 minutes.  That run time passes by with ease thanks to everything noted here collectively.  The result is a primary presentation that ensures this retrospective will keep audiences watching time and again as they count down to the start of the 2021 season.

The primary presentation featured in 2020 World Series: Los Angeles Dodgers is undeniably important in its own way to the whole of this program.  As important as it is to the retrospective’s whole, it is just one aspect worth examining in the presentation.  The bonus content that accompanies the set’s primary content adds its own share of entertainment and engagement for audiences.  The whole of that content opens with the “How The yGot There” featurette.  Clocking in at approximately five minutes (give or take a few seconds here and there) this featurette chronicles the Dodgers season-long run to its first MLB title in 32 years.  One of the biggest highlights of the featurette is the team’s acquisition of star Mookie Betts from the Boston Red Sox during the off-season.  His addition to the team clearly made a big difference, as this featurette shows.  Just as interesting to see in this presentation is the tension between the Dodgers and their rivals, the San Diego Padres as the season progressed.  Obviously there was no love lost between the two teams, as the documentary shows.  The brief, but still rich presentation culminates with the final out in the sixth game of the World Series.

The “Clinching Moments” and “Season Highlights” that accompany the bigger look back take audiences back through some of the biggest moments of the season and post season for the Dodgers, including one game in particular that saw Betts go yard three teams.  Other notable highlights are big moments from Betts’ teammates, such as Justin Turner, Cody Bellinger, and Clayton Kershaw.  Everything is rounded out by the Game Six post game interviews with the Dodgers’ players.  The interviews, conducted by on-air staff with MLB Network and Fox Sports, show an interesting picture of calm from the team members.  One would think that after a drought of 32 years without a championship, the team members would be jubilant and excited even in the interviews.  Given, they were clearly upbeat, the control in their presentation is something to behold, considering everything going on around them.  One of the most interesting questions that came up (multiple times) was the thoughts of the Dodgers; team members about that controversial move by the Rays’ manager to pull Snell.  It shows the clear impact that Snell had in the series.  Betts’ response to the question is telling in itself.  He took the high road and refused to let the announcers try to pull him into the controversy, which is a wonderful show of his professionalism.  The interviews in whole are a great accent to the bonus content that opens with the “How They Got There” featurette, showing that the sequencing of the bonus content is just as important as the content itself.  It helps to enrich the story of the 2020 World Series even more.  When this content and its sequencing is considered along with the set’s primary content, the whole of the set’s content gives audiences plenty to appreciate.

Considering the breadth and depth of the content featured in 2020 World Series: Los Angeles Dodgers, the double-disc set’s average price point prove to be its own positive worth noting.  The average price point, using listings at Amazon, Walmart, Best Buy, Barnes & Noble Booksellers, and Major League Baseball’s online store, is $21.70.  The set is not listed through Target or Books-A-Million.  The documentary’s standalone DVD presentation is listed through Target at $14.99.  Speaking of the DVD, its average price point comes to $18.31.  That price is obtained by adding in the aforementioned retailers’ listings along with that noted listing at Target.  Amazon and Target offer the lowest DVD listing at $14.99 while MLB’s listing of $24.99 is the most expensive.  Its listing of $29.99 is also the most expensive of the Blu-ray/DVD combo set price listings while Best Buy’s listing of $19.99 is in fact the best buy in this case.  Considering that the Blu-ray/DVD set’s average price point barely tops the $20 mark and that the standalone DVD set’s price point comes in at just below the $20 mark, that in itself is motivation for baseball fans.  Neither price will break any fan’s budget, and that together with the noted content makes the prices even more positive.  Given, the singular price listings  are somewhat expensive at some retailers, but the least expensive listings are below $15 (DVD) and below $20 (Blu-ray/DVD).  That overall affordability is undeniably another positive to this presentation.  When it is considered along with the retrospective’s overall content, the whole of the presentation leaves zero doubt as to its value for the most devoted baseball fans.  It is a presentation that will keep viewers entertained and engaged as they wait for news on the start of the 2021 MLB season, especially when it is considered along with the forthcoming full, six-game World Series set that is due for release in February.

Major League Baseball Productions and Shout! Factory’s 2020 World Series retrospective 2020 World Series: Los Angeles Dodgers is a welcome presentation for Dodgers fans and baseball fans alike as they wait anxiously for news about the 2021 MLB season.  That is proven in no small part through its primary feature, which chronicles in depth, all six games of this year’s World Series.  The narration by legendary Dodgers announcer Vin Scully and the first hand accounts from team members on both sides of the ball does so much to entertain and engage audiences.  The cinematography and editing that pairs with the overall story adds to the presentation’s positive impact.  The average price points for the documentary’s Blu-ray/DVD combo pack and its standalone DVD presentation prove to be their own positive as do their least expensive singular listings.  They are prices that will not break any viewer’s budget.  Add in the amount of content in the overall presentation and that content’s depth, and those least expensive listings become even more positive.  Each item noted here is important in its own way to the whole of the documentary.  All things considered, 2020 World Series: Los Angeles Dodgers proves itself a great way for Dodgers fans and baseball fans alike to pass the time until Major League Baseball (hopefully) returns in March for its 2021 season.

More information on this and other titles from Shout! Factory is available online at:

Website: http://www.shoutfactory.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/shoutfactoryofficial

Twitter: http://twitter.com/ShoutFactory

To keep up with the latest entertainment reviews and news, go online to http://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it.  Fans can always keep up with the latest entertainment reviews and news in the Phil’s Picks blog at https://philspicks.wordpress.com.

ESPN’s ‘CGD’ Broadcast To Come Live From Coastal Carolina Saturday

Courtesy: ESPN

ESPN’s College GameDay Built by The Home Depot air live from South Carolina this weekend.

The network’s flagship college football program will air live from the campus of No. 18 Coastal Carolina University Saturday. It marks the first time that the program will have ever run from the university. It is ahead of the Chanticleers’ matchup with No. 13 BYU.

Rece Davis will anchor the broadcast. Kirk Herbstreit, Desmond Howard, David Pollack, Maria Taylor and Chris “The Bear” Fallica will join Davis for the broadcast. Lee Corso will join the broadcast remotely from his home while Jen Lada, Pat McAfee, Tom Rinaldi, and Gene Wojciechowski will also contribute.

The matchup between BYU and Coastal Carolina is just one of the games set for Saturday’s day-long college football schedule. No. 4 Ohio State will visit Michigan State, with coverage starting at noon on ABC. Over on ESPN, No. 5 Texas A&M will visit Auburn.

No. 17 UNC will host the Western Carolina Catamounts at noon on the ACC Network. ESPN2 will broadcast the matchup of No. 15 Oklahoma State and TCU, also at noon. that game will simulcast on ESPN Radio.

No. 12 Indiana will visit No. 16 Wisconsin at 3:30 p.m. ET on ESPN as the day continues. Virginia Tech will host No. 3 Clemson in the day’s headliner on ABC.

The full schedule for this weekend’s college football matchups is noted below.

Updated at noon ET on Thursday, Dec. 3. All rankings are CFP Rankings (Dec. 1).

Date	Time (ET)	Game/Talent	Network
Fri, Dec 4	8:30 p.m.	Louisiana at Appalachian State Jason Benetti, Andre Ware, Taylor Davis	ESPN
Sat, Dec 5	Noon	No. 4 Ohio State at Michigan State Bob Wischusen, Dan Orlovsky, Quint Kessenich	ABC
		No. 5 Texas A&M at Auburn Sean McDonough, Todd Blackledge, Todd McShay, Allison Williams	ESPN
		No. 15 Oklahoma State at TCU TV: Mark Jones, Dusty Dvoracek, Kris Budden Radio: Marc Kestecher, Ben Hartsock	ESPN2/ESPN Radio
		Western Carolina at No. 17 North Carolina Wes Durham, Roddy Jones, Lericia Harris	ACC Network
		Arkansas at Missouri Dave Neal, DJ Shockley, Dawn Davenport	SEC Network
		Toledo at Northern Illinois Shawn Kenney, Bob Chmiel	ESPN3
		Memphis at Tulane David Saltzman, Keith Moreland	ESPN+
		Rice at No. 21 Marshall	ESPN+
	2 p.m.	Ball State at Central Michigan Clay Matvick, Rocky Boiman	ESPNU
		Bowling Green at Akron Michael Reghi, Jerod Cherry	ESPN3
		Troy at South Alabama	ESPN3
		Eastern Michigan at Western Michigan Dan Gutowsky, Devin Gardner	ESPN+
	3 p.m.	Louisiana-Monroe at Arkansas State	ESPN3
	3:30 p.m.	No. 12 Indiana at No. 16 Wisconsin Joe Tessitore, Greg McElroy, Holly Rowe	ABC
		West Virginia at No. 9 Iowa State Dave Pasch, Mike Golic Sr., Paul Carcaterra	ESPN
		No. 24 Tulsa at Navy Anish Shroff, Tom Luginbill, Alex Chappell	ESPN2
		Boston College at Virginia	ESPN3
	4 p.m.	Georgia Tech at NC State Chris Cotter, Mark Herzlich, Eric Wood	ACC Network
		Vanderbilt at No. 8 Georgia Taylor Zarzour, Matt Stinchcomb, Lauren Sisler	SEC Network
	5:30 p.m.	No. 13 BYU at No. 18 Coastal Carolina Bill Roth, Dustin Fox, Ryan McGee	ESPNU
	6 p.m.	Florida Atlantic at Georgia Southern	ESPN+
	7 p.m.	No. 23 Oregon at California Dave Flemming, Rod Gilmore, Taylor McGregor	ESPN
	7:30 p.m.	No. 3 Clemson at Virginia Tech Chris Fowler, Kirk Herbstreit, Maria Taylor	ABC
		South Carolina at Kentucky Tom Hart, Jordan Rodgers, Cole Cubelic	SEC Network
		No. 1 Alabama at LSU Sean Kelley, Barrett Jones	ESPN Radio
	8 p.m.	No. 10 Miami at Duke Dave O’Brien, Tim Hasselbeck, Katie George	ACC Network
	9 p.m.	Houston at SMU John Schriffen, Rene Ingoglia	ESPNU
	10:30 p.m.	Oregon State at Utah Mike Couzens, Kirk Morrison, Ian Fitzsimmons	ESPN
Sun, Dec 6	Noon	Western Kentucky at Charlotte	ESPN3

Note: Not all digital games are exclusive

More information on the ESPN networks’ college football coverage is available online along with all of the latest college football news at:

Website: http://www.espn.com/college-football

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/CFBonESPN

Twitter: http://twitter.com/espncfb

To keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews, go online to http://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it.  Fans can always keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews in the Phil’s Picks blog at https://philspicks.wordpress.com.

ESPN Networks’ Thanksgiving Weekend CFB Schedule Announced

Corutesy: ESPN

ESPN is giving football fans plenty of ways to pass the time safely at home this Thanksgiving weekend.

Approximately 16 of college football’s Top 25 ranked teams are scheduled to face off this weekend in an extensive broadcast schedule across the ESPN networks. This weekend’s schedule is set to launch at noon Friday on ABC, with No. 20 Texas hosting No. 15 Iowa State.

Over on ESPN3, Liberty, which has surprised many fans and other teams this season, will host UMass, also at noon.

Following the conclusion of the Iowa State – Texas game, No. 25 North Carolina will host No. 2 Notre Dame at 3:30 p.m. ET on ABC. South Florida will host in-state rival UCF in an American Athletic Conference matchup, also at 3:30 p.m., on ESPN.

No. 9 Oregon will visit in-state rival Oregon State at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN to round out the day’s college football broadcast schedule.

The action continues at noon Saturday with 10 games set to take place across the ESPN networks. Michigan will host winless Penn State on ABC, while No. 6 Florida will play host to Kentucky on ESPN2. No. 12 Indiana will host Maryland at noon on ESPN2.

The ACC Network will feature a conference matchup between N.C. State and Syracuse. Meanwhile on the SEC Network, Missouri will host Vanderbilt.

ESPN3 will offer two options at noon: Georgia Southern at Georgia State, and Ball State at Toleo.

East Carolina, which won its second game of the season last week, will host Southern Methodist University (SMU) as one of three games featured at noon Saturday on ESPN+. The other two games slated to stream in the noon time slot on ESPN+ are: Bowling Green at Ohio, and Northern Illinois At Western Michigan.

The gridiron action will continue well past noon into the evening, with the #7 ranked University of Cincinnati on the road against Temple at 4 p.m. ET on ESPNU. #4 Clemson is scheduled to host Pittsburgh at 3:30 p.m. ET on ESPN.

No. 14 Oklahoma and West Virginia will headline the weekend’s schedule on ABC’s Saturday Night Football Presented by Capital One. Coverage is scheduled to start at 7:30 p.m. ET.

This weekend’s full college football broadcast schedule is noted below.

Date	Time (ET)	Game/Talent	Network
Fri, Nov 27	Noon	No. 15 Iowa State at No. 20 Texas Matt Barrie, Mike Golic Jr., Kris Budden	ABC
		UMass at Liberty	ESPN3
	3:30 p.m.	No. 2 Notre Dame at No. 25 North Carolina Chris Fowler, Kirk Herbstreit, Katie George	ABC
		UCF at South Florida Roy Philpott, Kelly Stouffer	ESPN
	7 p.m.	No. 9 Oregon at Oregon State Dave Flemming, Rod Gilmore, Shelley Smith	ESPN
Sat, Nov 28	Noon	Penn State at Michigan Dave Pasch, Mike Golic Sr., Paul Carcaterra	ABC
		Kentucky at No. 6 Florida Mark Jones, Dusty Dvoracek, Quint Kessenich	ESPN
		Maryland at No. 12 Indiana Roy Philpott, Kelly Stouffer, Jerry Punch	ESPN2
		NC State at Syracuse Wes Durham, Roddy Jones	ACC Network
		Vanderbilt at Missouri Dave Neal, DJ Shockley, Taylor Davis	SEC Network
		Georgia Southern at Georgia State	ESPN3
		Ball State at Toledo Michael Reghi, Devin Gardner	ESPN3
		SMU at East Carolina Lincoln Rose, LaDarrin McLane	ESPN+
		Bowling Green at Ohio David Wilson, Ryan Cavanaugh	ESPN+
		Northern Illinois at Western Michigan Dan Gutowsky, Marcus Ray	ESPN+
	1 p.m.	Miami (Ohio) at Akron Anthony Lima, Jerod Cherry	ESPN3
		UTEP at Rice	ESPN3
	3 p.m.	South Alabama at Arkansas State	ESPN3
		No. 23 Louisiana at Louisiana-Monroe	ESPN3
		No. 16 Coastal Carolina at Texas State	ESPN+
	3:30 p.m.	Colorado at No. 19 USC Anish Shroff, Tom Luginbill, Allison Williams	ABC
		Pittsburgh at No. 4 Clemson Sean McDonough, Todd Blackledge, Todd McShay, Molly McGrath	ESPN
		No. 11 Northwestern at Michigan State Clay Matvick, Rocky Boiman, Taylor McGregor	ESPN2
	4 p.m.	No. 7 Cincinnati at Temple John Schriffen, Rene Ingoglia	ESPNU
		Louisville at Boston College Chris Cotter, Mark Herzlich, Eric Wood	ACC Network
		Mississippi State at Ole Miss Tom Hart, Jordan Rodgers, Cole Cubelic	SEC Network
	7 p.m.	LSU at No. 5 Texas A&M Bob Wischusen, Dan Orlovsky, Kris Budden	ESPN
		Kansas State at Baylor Jason Benetti, Andre Ware, Ian Fitzsimmons	ESPN2
		Duke at Georgia Tech	ESPN3
	7:30 p.m.	No. 14 Oklahoma at West Virginia Joe Tessitore, Greg McElroy, Holly Rowe	ABC
		No. 13 Georgia at South Carolina TV: Taylor Zarzour, Matt Stinchcomb, Alyssa Lang Radio: Sean Kelley, Barrett Jones	SEC Network/ESPN Radio
	8 p.m.	Troy at Appalachian State Bill Roth, Dustin Fox	ESPNU
		Virginia at Florida State Dave O’Brien, Tim Hasselbeck, Katie George	ACC Network
	10:30 p.m.	TBD at Washington Beth Mowins, Kurt Morrison, Stormy Buonantony	ESPN

Note: Not all digital games are exclusive

More information on the ESPN networks’ college football coverage is available online along with all of the latest college football news at:

Website: http://www.espn.com/college-football

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/CFBonESPN

Twitter: http://twitter.com/espncfb

To keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews, go online to http://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it.  Fans can always keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews in the Phil’s Picks blog at https://philspicks.wordpress.com.

ESPN Announces CFB Conference Championship Broadcast Schedule

Corutesy: ESPN

ESPN will broadcast five college football conference championships this season.

Network officials announced the broadcast schedule for the conference championships Tuesday. Opening this year’s coverage is the MAC Championship. The conference title game is scheduled to take place at 7:30 p.m. ET on Dec. 18 on ESPN. The game is scheduled to take place at Ford Field in Detroit, MI.

The other four title games are scheduled to take place the following day, Dec. 19. Opening the day-long schedule is the Dr. Pepper Big 12 Championship. Coverage is scheduled to start at noon on ABC. It will simulcast on ESPN Radio.

The start time for the day’s next game — the Sun Belt Championship — is under consideration. Conference officials are determining whether to play the game at noon or 3:30 p.m. ET. Additionally, the game site is under consideration along with network (ESPN/ESPN2).

The ACC Championship continues the day’s action at 4 p.m. ET on ABC and ESPN Radio. Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, NC is the scheduled site for the game.

The American Athletic Conference Championship rounds out the weekend’s Championship coverage for the 2020-21 college football season. Coverage is scheduled to start at 8 p.m. ET on ABC. The game site is under consideration.

The full weekend schedule for the conference championship coverage is noted below.

College Football Conference Championship Games on ESPN and ABC:

Date	Time (ET)	Matchup/Commentators	Network
Fri, Dec 18	7:30 p.m.	MAC Championship Ford Field, Detroit, Mich.	ESPN
Sat, Dec 19	Noon	Dr Pepper Big 12 Championship AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas	ABC ESPN Radio
	Noon or 3:30 p.m.	Sun Belt Championship campus site TBD	ESPN or ESPN2
	4 p.m.	ACC Championship Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, N.C.	ABC ESPN Radio
	8 p.m.	American Athletic Championship campus site TBD	ABC

* The Pac 12 Championship on Dec. 18 will also be available on ESPN Radio

In other college football news, ESPN officials have released a statement in regards to the game site for the upcoming New Mexico Bowl. It notes that COVID-19 restrictions in New Mexico have forced the game’s site to move out of state.

“Due to current state guidelines in New Mexico regarding intercollegiate athletics and travel, the 2020 New Mexico Bowl will be staged in Frisco, Texas, at Toyota Stadium, on Thursday, Dec. 24, at 3:30 p.m. ET,” the statement reads.

More information on the ESPN networks’ college football coverage is available online along with all of the latest college football news at:

Website: http://www.espn.com/college-football

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/CFBonESPN

Twitter: http://twitter.com/espncfb

To keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews, go online to http://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it.  Fans can always keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews in the Phil’s Picks blog at https://philspicks.wordpress.com

ESPN Announces Early Broadcast Schedule For 2020-21 College Basketball Season

Courtesy: ESPN

College basketball is back!

The ESPN networks will kick off the 2020-2021 college basketball season at 2 p.m. Wednesday. The season opens with Illinois on the road against No. 23 Ohio State on ESPN and Kansas State hosting Drake on ESPNU. Memphis and St. Mary’s will face off in the Quarterfinal #2 of the Bad Boy Mowers Crossover Classic on ESPN2.

Play continues at 4 p.m. ET as Louisville hosts Evansville on the ACC Network. Quarterfinal #1, featuring a matchup of Northern Iowa and Western Kentucky follows at 4:30 p.m. ET on ESPNU. No. 10 Kentucky will host Morehead State at 6 p.m. ET on the SEC Network.

Over on ESPN+, Northwestern State will visit No. 14 Texas Tech. That game is scheduled to start at 7 p.m. An hour later at 8 p.m. ET No. 19 Texas will host UT Rio Grande Valley on The Longhorn Network.

The opening day of ESPN’s college basketball opening day winds down at 9:30 p.m. ET on ESPN2. Quarterfinal #4 of the Bad Boy Mowers Crossover Classic, featuring a matchup of VCU and Utah State, finishes the day.

The full broadcast schedule for the ESPN networks’ first two weeks of the 2020-2021 college basketball season is noted below.

ESPN Networks Television Schedule (subject to change)
Please note: Due to the ongoing changes related to the college basketball season, ESPN will unveil TV and digital schedules on a week-to-week basis. Schedule changes will be reflected here, as well as @ESPNPR.

Date	Time (ET)	Matchup/Commentators	Network
Feast Week Presented by Lowe’s (ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU)
Wed, Nov 25	2 p.m.	Illinois State at No. 23 Ohio State Anish Shroff, Cory Alexander	ESPN
		Bad Boy Mowers Crossover Classic Quarterfinal #2 Memphis vs. St. Mary’s Rich Hollenberg, Dan Dakich	ESPN2
		Drake at Kansas State Chuckie Kempf, Tim Welsh	ESPNU
	4 p.m.	Oklahoma State at UT Arlington Mark Neely, Fran Fraschilla	ESPN
		Bowling Green at No. 25 Michigan Jason Benetti, Robbie Hummel	ESPN2
		Evansville at Louisville Mike Couzens, David Padgett	ACCN
	4:30 p.m.	Bad Boy Mowers Crossover Classic Quarterfinal #1 Northern Iowa vs. Western Kentucky Rich Hollenberg, Dan Dakich	ESPNU
	6 p.m.	College of Charleston at No. 16 North Carolina Jay Alter, Malcolm Huckaby	ACCN
		Morehead State vs. No. 10 Kentucky Paul Sunderland, Jimmy Dykes	SEC Network
	7 p.m.	2K Empire Classic Semifinal #1 No. 18 Arizona State vs. Rhode Island Jon Sciambi, Jay Bilas	ESPN
		Bad Boy Mowers Crossover Classic Quarterfinal #3 South Dakota State vs. No. 15 West Virginia Doug Sherman, Chris Spatola	ESPN2
		Northwestern State at No. 14 Texas Tech	ESPN+
	8 p.m.	Jacksonville State at Alabama Richard Cross, Mark Wise	SEC Network
		UT Rio Grande Valley at No. 19 Texas Lowell Galindo, Lance Blanks	Longhorn Network
		Charleston Southern vs. NC State	ACCN
		Houston Baptist at TCU	ESPN+
	9:30 p.m.	2K Empire Classic  Semifinal #2 No. 3 Villanova vs. Boston College Jon Sciambi, Jay Bilas	ESPN
		Bad Boy Mowers Crossover Classic  Quarterfinal #4 VCU vs. Utah State Doug Sherman, Chris Spatola	ESPN2
Thu, Nov. 26	Noon	Bad Boy Mowers Crossover Classic  Semifinal #1 Rich Hollenberg, Dan Dakich	ESPN
	2:30 p.m.	Bad Boy Mowers Crossover Classic  Semifinal #2 Rich Hollenberg, Dan Dakich	ESPN
	5 p.m.	Bad Boy Mowers Crossover Classic  Consolation Game Doug Sherman, Chris Spatola	ESPN or ESPN2
	7 p.m.	2K Empire Classic  Third Place Game Jon Sciambi, Jay Bilas	ESPN
	7:30 p.m.	Bad Boy Mowers Crossover Classic  Consolation Game Doug Sherman, Chris Spatola	ESPN2
	9:30 p.m.	2K Empire Classic  Championship Jon Sciambi, Jay Bilas	ESPN
Fri, Nov. 27	11:30 a.m.	HomeLight Classic	ESPN
	1:30 p.m.	Bad Boy Mowers Crossover Classic  Championship Rich Hollenberg, Dan Dakich	ESPN
		Sam Houston State vs. No. 14 Texas Tech Mark Neely, TBD	ESPNU
	3 p.m.	Bryant at Syracuse Jay Alter, Malcolm Huckaby	ACCN
	4 p.m.	Seton Hall at Louisville Mike Couzens, Fran Fraschilla	ESPN2
		Bad Boy Mowers Crossover Classic Seventh Place Game Rich Hollenberg, Dan Dakich	ESPNU
	6:30 p.m.	Bad Boy Mowers Crossover Classic Fifth Place Game Doug Sherman, Chris Spatola	ESPN2
	7 p.m.	Valparaiso at Vanderbilt	SEC Network
		Longwood at Wake Forest	ACCN
	8:30 p.m.	Colorado at Kansas State Chuckie Kempf, Tim Welsh	ESPNU
	9 p.m.	Bad Boy Mowers Crossover Classic Third Place Game Doug Sherman, Chris Spatola	ESPN2
Sat, Nov. 28	4 p.m.	Hall of Fame Classic Powered by ShotTracker  Semifinal #1 South Carolina vs. Liberty Chuckie Kempf, Mark Adams	ESPNEWS
	5:30 p.m.	Air Force Reserve Basketball Hall of Fame Tip-Off Classic  Rhode Island vs. South Florida Kevin Brown, Jon Crispin	ESPN3
	7:30 p.m.	Hall of Fame Classic Powered by ShotTracker Semifinal #2 Tulsa vs. TCU Chuckie Kempf, Mark Adams	ESPN3
		Texas Southern vs. Oklahoma State	ESPN+
	8 p.m.	Air Force Reserve Basketball Hall of Fame Tip-Off Classic  Virginia Tech vs. Temple Kevin Brown, Jon Crispin	ESPNEWS
Sun, Nov. 29	1 p.m.	Richmond vs. No. 10 Kentucky Dan Shulman, Jimmy Dykes	ESPN
		Arkansas-Pine Bluff vs. Iowa State	ESPN+
		Hall of Fame Classic Powered by ShotTracker  Third Place Game Chuckie Kempf, Mark Adams	ESPN2
	3:30 p.m.	Hall of Fame Classic Powered by ShotTracker  Championship Chuckie Kempf, Mark Adams	ESPN2
	5:30 p.m.	No. 17 Houston vs. No. 14 Texas Tech Mark Neely, Fran Fraschilla	ESPN2
		Air Force Reserve Basketball Hall of Fame Tip-Off Classic   Jon Sciambi, Jon Crispin	ESPNU
	6 p.m.	North Florida at Miami Dave O’Brien, Jordan Cornette	ACCN
	8 p.m.	Air Force Reserve Basketball Hall of Fame Tip-Off Classic   South Florida vs. Virginia Tech Jon Sciambi, Jon Crispin	ESPN2
Mon, Nov. 30	Noon	Camping World Maui Invitational  Quarterfinal #1 No. 19 Texas vs. Davidson	ESPN2
	2:30 p.m.	Camping World Maui Invitational  Quarterfinal #2 Indiana vs. Providence	ESPN2
	6 p.m.	Bubbleville   St. John’s vs. Boston College	ESPNU
	7 p.m.	Camping World Maui Invitational  Quarterfinal #3 No. 16 North Carolina vs. UNLV	ESPN2
		William & Mary at NC State	ACCN
	8 p.m.	UM Kansas City vs. Kansas State	ESPNU
		Texas State at Mississippi State	SEC Network
	9:30 p.m.	Camping World Maui Invitational  Quarterfinal #4 Stanford vs. Alabama	ESPN2
Tue, Dec. 1	1:30 p.m.	Camping World Maui Invitational  Semifinal #1	ESPN
	2:30 p.m.	Roman Legends Classic Semifinal #1 USC vs. BYU	ESPN2
	4 p.m.	Camping World Maui Invitational  Semifinal #2	ESPN
		Saint Francis at No. 4 Virginia	ACCN
	5 p.m.	Roman Legends Classic  Semifinal #2 UConn vs. Vanderbilt	ESPN2
	6 p.m.	Western Kentucky at Louisville	ACCN
	7 p.m.	Camping World Maui Invitational  Consolation Game	ESPN2
	7:30 p.m.	State Farm Champions Classic   No. 13 Michigan State vs. No. 9 Duke	ESPN
	9:30 p.m.	State Farm Champions Classic   No. 6 Kansas vs. No. 10 Kentucky	ESPN
		Camping World Maui Invitational  Consolation Game	ESPN2
Wed, Dec. 2	1:30 p.m.	Camping World Maui Invitational Third Place Game	ESPN
	4 p.m.	Camping World Maui Invitational  Championship	ESPN
		Troy at Wake Forest	ACCN
	5 p.m.	Florida vs. Oklahoma	ESPN2
	6 p.m.	South Carolina State at Clemson	ACCN
	7 p.m.	Jimmy V Men’s Classic Presented by Corona   No. 12 Tennessee vs. No. 1 Gonzaga	ESPN
		Camping World Maui Invitational  Fifth Place Game	ESPN2
		Tarleton State at Texas A&M	SEC Network
	8 p.m.	North Florida at No. 21 Florida State	ACCN
	9 p.m.	UT Arlington at Arkansas	SEC Network
	9:30 p.m.	Camping World Maui Invitational  Seventh Place Game	ESPN2
	10 p.m.	Jimmy V Men’s Classic Presented by Corona  No. 8 Illinois vs. No. 2 Baylor	ESPN
	7 p.m.	South Dakota State vs. Iowa State	ESPN+
		Youngstown State vs. No. 15 West Virginia	ESPN+
Thu, Dec. 3	7 p.m.	Roman Legends Classic  Championship	ESPN
	9 p.m.	St. John‘s vs. No. 14 Texas Tech	ESPN
	9:30 p.m.	Roman Legends Classic  Third Place Game	ESPN2
	8 p.m.	VMI vs. Virginia Tech	ACCN
		Northwestern State vs. TCU	ESPN+
Fri, Dec. 4	2 p.m.	UNCG at Louisville	ACCN
	4 p.m.	Rhode Island at Boston College	ACCN
	6 p.m.	Kent State at No. 4 Virginia	ACCN
	7 p.m.	Jacksonville at Georgia	SEC Network
	8 p.m.	No. 12 Tennessee at Notre Dame	ACCN
	9 p.m.	South Alabama at Auburn	SEC Network
Sat, Dec. 5	Noon	Bubbleville NC State vs. UConn	ESPNU
	TBD	Oakland vs. Oklahoma State	ESPN+
	8 p.m.	UNLV vs. Kansas State	ESPN+
Sun, Dec. 6	Noon	Elon at No. 9 Duke	ACCN
	1 p.m.	No. 3 Villanova at No. 19 Texas	ESPN
	2 p.m.	Missouri at Wichita State	ESPN2
		Grambling State at No. 14 Texas Tech	ESPNU
		Stetson at Florida	SEC Network
	3 p.m.	Xavier at Cincinnati	ESPN
	4 p.m.	Oklahoma at TCU	ESPN2
		UTRGV at Texas A&M	SEC Network
	5 p.m.	Hoopsgiving   No. 10 Kentucky at Georgia Tech	ESPN
	6 p.m.	DePaul at Iowa State	ESPNU
		Louisiana Tech at LSU	SEC Network
	8 p.m.	Oklahoma at TCU	ESPN+

ACC/Big Ten Challenge Presented by Continental Tire

Date	Time	Matchup	Network
Tue, Dec. 8	5 p.m.	Purdue at Miami	ESPN2
	7 p.m.	Boston College at Minnesota	ESPNU
	7:30 p.m.	North Carolina at Iowa	ESPN
		Ohio State at Notre Dame	ESPN2
	9 p.m.	Penn State at Virginia Tech	ESPNU
	9:30 p.m.	Illinois at Duke	ESPN
		Syracuse at Rutgers	ESPN2
Wed, Dec. 9	5 p.m.	Maryland at Clemson	ESPN2
	7:15 p.m.	Louisville at Wisconsin	ESPN
		NC State at Michigan	ESPN2
		Georgia Tech at Nebraska	ESPNU
	9:15 p.m.	Michigan State at Virginia	ESPN
		Indiana at Florida State	ESPN2
		Pittsburgh at Northwestern	ESPNU

More information on the ESPN networks’ men’s college basketball coverage is available online now along with all of the latest men’s college basketball headlines at:

Website: http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ESPNCBB

To keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews, go online to http://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it.  Fans can always keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews in the Phil’s Picks blog at https://philspicks.wordpress.com.

ESPN Awards Ceremony To Cap Off 2020-21 College Football Season

Courtesy: ESPN

ESPN will honor the cream of this year’s college football crop in January.

The Home Depot College Football Awards is scheduled to broadcast at 7 p.m. ET on Jan. 7 on ESPN. The 90-minute broadcast will honor the accomplishments of some of the game’s top student-athletes.

Chris Fowler will anchor the broadcast. Reporter Holly Rowe will provide additional stories and commentary for the program.

Pete Derzis, ESPN Senior Vice President of College Sports Programming and Events said in a prepared statement, the upcoming broadcast will not feature a live audience, but stressed that will not lessen the program’s content.

“The Home Depot College Football Awards will continue to be what they have always been, and that is a celebration of elite performances in college football,” said Derzis.  “While the award show will look different this year due to COVID-19, the spirit of the show remains the same. We look forward to honoring the stellar performances produced by these student-athletes this season.”

National College Football Awards Association President Mark Wolpert added to Derzis’ statements with his own comments.

“With all of the challenges faced in the 2020 season, we are looking forward to the opportunity to celebrate the game, its players, coaches and the amazing performances that have taken place,” said Wolpert. “This season’s award show will truly be a recognition of not only the top players, but more importantly the incredible efforts involved in making this season possible.”

Sixteen awards will go to players during the ceremony. The finalists for each award will be announced Dec. 22. The award categories are listed below.

Chuck Bednarik Award College Defensive Player of the Year

Biletnikoff Award Outstanding Receiver

Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award Nation’s Outstanding Placekicker

Ray Guy Award College Punter of the Year

Maxwell Award College Player of the Year

Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award Nation’s Best Quarterback

Outland Trophy Nation’s Most Outstanding Interior Lineman

Paycom Jim Thorpe Award Nation’s Best Defensive Back

Doak Walker Award Nation’s Premier Running Back

The Home Depot Coach of the Year

William V. Campbell Trophy Presented By Mazda Scholar-Athlete

Disney Spirit Award Most Inspirational Player or Team

Walter Camp All-America Team

 The show will also recognize recipients of the following awards:

John Mackey Award Outstanding Tight End

Rimington Trophy Outstanding Center

Wuerffel Trophy Community Service

More information on the ESPN networks’ college football coverage is available online along with all of the latest college football news at:

Website: http://www.espn.com/college-football

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/CFBonESPN

Twitter: http://twitter.com/espncfb

To keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews, go online to http://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it.  Fans can always keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews in the Phil’s Picks blog at https://philspicks.wordpress.com.

First 2020 College Football Playoff Rankings Revealed Tonight On ESPN

Courtesy: ESPN

College football fans and teams alike will get their first view of the post season tonight.

ESPN will broadcast the College Football Playoff Top 25 Ranking Show Presented by Allstate at 7 p.m .ET. Rece Davis will anchor the program. Analysts Kirk Herbstreit, Joey Galloway, Jesse Palmer, and David Pollack will join Davis for the broadcast.

The first rankings presentation ahead of the post season, it will feature an interview with College Football Playoffs Selection Committee Chairman Gary Barta. The broadcast will also feature the unveiling of the first playoffs ranking from the selection committee in real time.

As an added viewing option, Rankings Reaction, sponsored by Cheez-It will air online through Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, and the ESPN App. Mike Golic Jr., Jason Fitz, and Christine Williamson will host the program live from Studio E in Bristol, CT. The program will air throughout the remainder of the regular season and the post season right up until selection day, Dec. 30.

More information on the ESPN networks’ college football coverage is available online along with all of the latest college football news at:

Website: http://www.espn.com/college-football

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/CFBonESPN

Twitter: http://twitter.com/espncfb

To keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews, go online to http://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it.  Fans can always keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews in the Phil’s Picks blog at https://philspicks.wordpress.com.

Shout! Factory, MLB Productions Announce Release Date, Specs For World Series Sets

Courtesy: Shout! Factory/MLB Productions

Los Angeles Dodgers fans and baseball fans alike can relive history beginning next month.

Major League Baseball Productions and Shout! Factory have partnered to release 2020 World Series: Los Angeles Dodgers Dec. 8. The 90-minute presentation takes audiences through the Dodgers’ 2020 season all the way through the World Series.

Legendary Dodgers broadcaster Vin Scully narrates the program, which culminates in the Dodgers’ first World Series Championship in 32 years.

Scully was humble as he talked about taking part in the production.

“It was 32 years since the Dodgers won a World Series and the seventh in the history of the organization, bringing great joy to their fans and the city of Los Angeles in particular,” said Scully. “This is their winning story against the Tampa Bay Rays, and it’s an honor for me to recount just how they did it.”

Media access was limited this year as a result of COVID-19 restrictions. However, approved access and other feeds allowed for this year’s production to happen. The set is expected to retail for MSRP of $19.98 (DVD) and $26.98 (Blu-ray/DVD combo pack).

Courtesy: Shout! Factory/MLB Prouctions

As an additional bonus, the entire six-game world series is scheduled for release Feb. 9 through Shout! Factory and Major League Baseball Productions. The set will feature Game 3 of the National League Division Series and Game Seven of the National League Championship Series as bonus content.

2020 World Series Collector’s Edition is expected to retail for MSRP of $59.98 (DVD) and $74.98 (Blu-ray).

More information on these and other titles from Shout! Factory is available online at:

Website: http://www.shoutfactory.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/shoutfactoryofficial

Twitter: http://twitter.com/ShoutFactory

To keep up with the latest entertainment reviews and news, go online to http://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it.  Fans can always keep up with the latest entertainment reviews and news in the Phil’s Picks blog at https://philspicks.wordpress.com.