'Twas the week before Christmas, and what should appear? The start of college football bowl season—the end of football is near.

Thursday, Dec. 19

College basketball (8-10 p.m., CSS): Mississippi State hosts the darling of last year's NCAA Tournament, Florida Gulf Coast.

Friday, Dec. 20

NHL (6-8 p.m., FSS): Your weekly hockey fix features two of the better teams in the Eastern Conference, with the Carolina Hurricanes hosting the Washington Capitals.

Saturday, Dec. 21

College football (8-11 p.m., ESPN): You can choose from four bowl games today, including Fresno State-USC, but I give the nod to Tulane making its first bowl appearance in more than a decade against Louisiana-Lafayette.

Sunday, Dec. 22

NFL (12-3 p.m., Fox): This will be a huge game in the NFC South between the New Orleans Saints at the Carolina Panthers, with first place in the division and playoff seeding on the line.

Monday, Dec. 23

NFL (7:30-11 p.m., ESPN): Monday Night football features the San Francisco 49ers hosting the Atlanta Falcons, who could affect the playoffs with a win.

Tuesday, Dec. 24

College football (7-10 p.m., ESPN): Spend Christmas Eve watching a football game played in sunny Hawaii as the Oregon State Beavers take on the Boise State Broncos.

Wednesday, Dec. 25

NBA (7-9:30 p.m., ESPN): ABC and ESPN air basketball all day long, but the best game might be between the San Antonio Spurs and the Houston Rockets after Christmas dinner.

I will be snug in front of my TV eating baked goods and watching meaningless football games from now until the new year. And I wonder why I get fatter during the holidays.