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New Year's weekend sports schedule: Bowls, NFL among games to watch on TV Dec. 30-Jan. 2

jeremy cluff, arizona republic
·5 min read

New Year's weekend traditionally features some of the best sporting events of the year.

The 2023 version isn't breaking with tradition.

You have some great options for holiday viewing this weekend, with college football bowl games and the NFL taking center stage.

Here are some games to watch through Monday, and how to watch them. All times MST.

More:College football bowl schedule, TV information: How to watch 2022-23 bowl games

Friday, Dec. 30

College football: Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl: Pittsburgh at UCLA, noon, CBS

UCLA and its high-flying offense is a 7.5 favorite in this game, which has provided some memorable moments through the years.

College football: TaxSlayer Gator Bowl: Notre Dame at South Carolina, 1:30 p.m., ESPN

Notre Dame is a 3.5-point favorite in a game that could have a lot of fireworks. Both teams went 8-4 in the regular season.

NBA: Lakers at Hawks, 5:30 p.m., NBA TV

Both of these teams were 8.5 games out of first place in their respective conferences entering Friday's games.

NBA: Suns at Raptors, 5:30 p.m., Bally Sports Arizona

The Suns are going to have to win some games without Devin Booker to have a chance at their postseason goals.

College football: Capital One Orange Bowl: Tennessee at Clemson, 6 p.m., ESPN

Both of these teams only lost two games during the regular season and narrowly missed the College Football Playoff.

Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney, right, shakes hands with Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel, at a coaches luncheon ahead of the Orange Bowl NCAA college football game, Thursday, Dec. 29, 2022, in Miami, Fla. The two teams meet in the Orange Bowl on Friday, Dec. 30. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney, right, shakes hands with Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel, at a coaches luncheon ahead of the Orange Bowl NCAA college football game, Thursday, Dec. 29, 2022, in Miami, Fla. The two teams meet in the Orange Bowl on Friday, Dec. 30. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

NBA: Trail Blazers at Warriors, 8 p.m., NBA TV

Just a game separates these two in the NBA's Western Conference standings.

Men's college basketball: USC at Washington, 8 p.m., ESPN2

USC is 10-3. Washington is 9-4. This could be a key early Pac-12 matchup.

More:NFL Week 17 schedule, television information: How to watch Week 17 NFL games

Saturday, Dec. 31

Men's college basketball: No. 2 UConn at No. 22 Xavier, 10 a.m., Fox

A Top 25 matchup pits the undefeated Huskies against the 11-3 Musketeers. Both are 3-0 in Big East play.

College football: Allstate Sugar Bowl: Alabama at Kansas State, 10 a.m., ESPN

Can Kansas State upset Alabama? The Tide are a 7-point favorite over the Wildcats.

College football: TransPerfect Music City Bowl: Iowa at Kentucky, 10 a.m., ABC

Iowa is a 2.5-point favorite in this game, which could end up being as close as the spread indicates.

Men's college basketball: Oklahoma State at No. 4 Kansas, noon, CBS

The Cowboys would love to upset the Jayhawks at home, but that is easier said than done.

Men's college basketball: No. 5 Arizona at Arizona State, noon, Fox

The winner of this rivalry game gets a big jump in the Pac-12 early season standings.

Men's college basketball: San Diego State at UNLV, 2 p.m., CBS

A sneaky good Mountain West matchup between the 10-3 Aztecs and 11-2 Rebels.

College football: CFP Semifinal at the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl: TCU at Michigan, 2 p.m., ESPN

Fiesta Bowl mascot, Spirit, plays blackjack with Michigan Wolverines punter Brad Robbins (91) during Vrbo Fiesta Bowl media day at Camelback Inn in Scottsdale on Dec. 29, 2022.
Fiesta Bowl mascot, Spirit, plays blackjack with Michigan Wolverines punter Brad Robbins (91) during Vrbo Fiesta Bowl media day at Camelback Inn in Scottsdale on Dec. 29, 2022.

The first College Football Playoff semifinal could be very interesting. Does TCU have a shot at the upset?

College football: CFB Semifinal at the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl: Ohio State at Georgia, 6 p.m., ESPN

The second College Football Playoff semifinal also has intrigue. Which Ohio State team shows up against the favored Bulldogs?

NFL Week 17 picks: Cowboys vs. Titans | Cardinals vs. Falcons | Bears vs. Lions | Jaguars vs. Texans | Broncos vs. Chiefs | Dolphins vs. Patriots | Colts vs. Giants | Saints vs. Eagles | Panthers vs. Buccaneers | Browns vs. Commanders | 49ers vs. Raiders | Jets vs. Seahawks | Vikings vs. Packers | Rams vs. Chargers | Steelers vs. Ravens | Bills vs. Bengals

Sunday, Jan. 1

NFL: Dolphins at Patriots, 11 a.m., CBS

The winner of this game gets a huge boost in the AFC playoff race with one week remaining.

NFL: Cardinals at Falcons, 11 a.m., Fox

The winner of this game hurts their NFL draft status for the 2023 NFL draft.

NFL: Vikings at Packers, 2 p.m., CBS

The Vikings are in the playoffs. The Packers must win to have a chance.

Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson (18) carries the ball against Green Bay Packers cornerback Rasul Douglas (29) after catching a pass during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 11, 2022, in Minneapolis.
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson (18) carries the ball against Green Bay Packers cornerback Rasul Douglas (29) after catching a pass during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 11, 2022, in Minneapolis.

NFL: Steelers at Ravens, 6:15 p.m., NBC

The Ravens are in the playoffs. The Steelers must win to have a chance.

NFL Week 17 odds: Cowboys vs. Titans | Cardinals vs. Falcons | Bears vs. Lions | Jaguars vs. Texans | Broncos vs. Chiefs | Dolphins vs. Patriots | Colts vs. Giants | Saints vs. Eagles | Panthers vs. Buccaneers | Browns vs. Commanders | 49ers vs. Raiders | Jets vs. Seahawks | Vikings vs. Packers | Rams vs. Chargers | Steelers vs. Ravens | Bills vs. Bengals

Monday, Jan. 2

College football: ReliaQuest Bowl: Illinois vs. Mississippi State, 10 a.m., ESPN2

Just a 1.5-point point spread (favoring Mississippi State) makes this game one to keep an eye on.

College football: Goodyear Cotton Bowl: Tulane vs. USC, 11 a.m., ESPN

Both of these teams went 11-2, but something tells us that Tulane might be happier to be there.

College football: Cheez-It Citrus Bowl: Purdue vs. LSU, 11 a.m., ABC

Las Vegas thinks this game will be an LSU blowout (14.5-point favorite). We aren’t so sure.

College football: Prudential Financial Rose Bowl: Utah vs. Penn State, 3 p.m., ESPN

The Granddaddy of them all gets a very intriguing game once again. Are we in for a thriller?

Men's college basketball: Rutgers at No. 1 Purdue, 5 p.m., Big Ten Network

The Boilermakers are No. 1 and 13-0. Rutgers is now pushover, at 8-4, however.

QB Josh Allen (17) and the Buffalo Bills badly need to win Monday night's game at Cincinnati to keep hopes alive for the AFC's No. 1 playoff seed.
QB Josh Allen (17) and the Buffalo Bills badly need to win Monday night's game at Cincinnati to keep hopes alive for the AFC's No. 1 playoff seed.

NFL: Bills at Bengals, 6:20 p.m., ESPN, ABC

This might be the best game of the weekend, and it was saved for last. Expect a ton of fireworks in Cincinnati in this game.

More:Complete sports on TV listings for this weekend

Reach Jeremy Cluff at jeremy.cluff@arizonarepublic.com. Follow him on Twitter @Jeremy_Cluff.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: New Year's weekend sports schedule, games to watch, TV listings