Author: Shaun P Kernahan

WHAT TO WATCH THIS WEEKEND – Football Owns the Weekend, Everything Else Fights for Space

This is one of those weekends where the sports calendar stops pretending it has manners. NFL playoff football stacks Saturday and Sunday. The NBA slips in a few national windows. Soccer gives you a proper derby. And Olympic sports quietly sneak in some must-see events if you’re willing to leave the mainstream lane.

You won’t watch everything — but you should know where to look.

NFL — DIVISIONAL ROUND

Buffalo Bills vs Denver Broncos

Saturday, Jan 17 — 4:30 PM ET — CBS

This is the early Saturday game, which historically means one of two things: either a blowout nobody remembers or a weird classic that ruins the rest of your weekend expectations. Buffalo brings the firepower. Denver brings the defense and altitude energy. Someone’s season ends before dinner.

San Francisco 49ers vs Seattle Seahawks

Saturday, Jan 17 — 8:00 PM ET — FOX

This rivalry never needs help. Familiar opponents. Familiar tension. Familiar “how did that just happen?” moments. The late Saturday slot is where grudges go to thrive.

Houston Texans vs New England Patriots

Sunday, Jan 18 — 3:00 PM ET — ESPN / ABC

The Patriots aren’t supposed to be here. The Texans are supposed to be happy just being invited. That combination usually produces chaos. The early Sunday national window is deceptive — this one could turn sideways fast.

Los Angeles Rams vs Chicago Bears

Sunday, Jan 18 — 6:30 PM ET — NBC / Peacock

Prime-time playoff football in Chicago. Cold weather. Tight game. Everyone suddenly becomes a running-game expert. This is the “wrap the weekend in stress” game.

NBA — NATIONAL WINDOWS & SPOTLIGHT GAMES

Cleveland Cavaliers vs Philadelphia 76ers

Friday, Jan 16 — 7:00 PM ET — ESPN

This is the kind of Friday night NBA game that reminds you the regular season still matters when the teams actually care. Physical, emotional, and loud — especially if it’s close late.

Minnesota Timberwolves vs Houston Rockets

Friday, Jan 16 — Late Evening ET — ESPN / Regional

Young legs, fast pace, and a game that can flip from sloppy to electric in about three possessions. Perfect background basketball once your brain starts switching gears.

Oklahoma City Thunder vs Miami Heat

Sunday, Jan 18 — Evening ET — Regional / League Pass

Not a national window, but a quietly important matchup. OKC’s speed against Miami’s structure always makes for uncomfortable basketball — which is usually the good kind.

Toronto Raptors vs Los Angeles Lakers

Sunday, Jan 18 — Night ET — Regional / League Pass

Late-night NBA with stars on one side and chaos on the other. If you’re still awake after the NFL, this is where you land.

SOCCER — DERBIES AND REAL STAKES

Manchester United vs Manchester City

Sunday, Jan 18 — Late Morning ET — Peacock / USA Network

Derbies don’t care about form. They care about moments. This one sets the tone for your entire Sunday before football even kicks off.

RB Leipzig vs Bayern Munich

Saturday, Jan 17 — 12:30 PM ET — ESPN+

Fast, aggressive, and played like someone turned the difficulty setting up too high. Bundesliga at its best never apologizes.

AFCON — Senegal vs Morocco

Friday, Jan 16 — Afternoon ET — beIN SPORTS / beIN CONNECT

Tournament football hits differently. This one carries real weight, real pressure, and zero patience. If you want intensity before the weekend fully explodes, this is it.

OLYMPIC SPORTS — IF YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW

Figure Skating — European Championships

Friday–Sunday — Peacock

This isn’t background viewing. This is elite skating with Olympic implications, pressure situations, and performances that actually matter. Peacock has full session coverage — it’s the only reliable place to watch without guessing.

Speed Skating — ISU World Cup

Friday–Sunday — Peacock

Session-based coverage with Olympic qualification points on the line. Not flashy, but incredibly tense if you care about margins and moments.

THE REMOTE PLAN

(Because discipline matters.)

Friday Night
NBA on ESPN → AFCON earlier if you want the warm-up → skating on Peacock as the late-night reset.

Saturday
Early afternoon: Leipzig–Bayern
Late afternoon: Bills–Broncos
Night: 49ers–Seahawks
Second screen all day: Figure skating sessions

Sunday
Morning: Manchester derby
Afternoon: Texans–Patriots
Evening: Rams–Bears
Late: NBA or skating depending on energy level

FINAL WORD

This weekend doesn’t need hype — it needs organization. The NFL owns the calendar, but the edges are where things get interesting. If you pace it right, you’ll hit football, basketball, soccer, and Olympic sports without burning out by Sunday night.

And if you don’t?
There’s always next weekend.

What to Watch This Weekend: CFP First Round, Packers-Bears on Saturday Night, and Jake Paul vs Anthony Joshua

December Sports, Zero Downtime Edition

This is one of those weekends where the remote never stops moving and nobody apologizes for it. Rivalries, playoffs, heavyweight matchups, and one boxing spectacle nobody asked for but everyone will watch anyway.

Here’s the full slate — with times, channels, and zero fluff.

NFL

Green Bay Packers at Chicago Bears
Saturday — 8:20 PM ET
FOX

This rivalry survives quarterbacks, coaches, rebuilds, and common sense.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Carolina Panthers
Sunday — 1:00 PM ET
Fox

Because technically somebody has to win the NFC South.

Jacksonville Jaguars at Denver Broncos
Sunday — 4:05 PM ET
Fox

6 TDs last week for Trevor Lawrence, one of the best defenses in the NFL this week.

Pittsburgh Steelers at Detroit Lions
Sunday — 4:25 PM ET
CBS

Physical football. Loud stadium. Somebody wins ugly.

New England Patriots at Baltimore Ravens
Sunday — 8:20 PM ET
NBC / Peacock

Patriots need to rebound, Drake Maye with a standalone MVP opportunity, Ravens desperate for Ws.

NBA

Friday

Philadelphia 76ers at New York Knicks
Friday — 7:30 PM ET
Prime

Two fanbases convinced the refs hate them equally.

Oklahoma City Thunder at Minnesota Timberwolves
Friday — 9:30 PM ET
Prime

Young stars, athletic lineups, and a game that might turn serious very quickly.

Saturday

Houston Rockets at Denver Nuggets
Saturday — 5:00 PM ET
NBA TV

Denver controls games quietly. Houston tries to disrupt that plan loudly.

NHL

Friday

Carolina Hurricanes at Florida Panthers
Friday — 7:00 PM ET
ESPN+

Speed, pressure, and very little space to breathe.

Dallas Stars at Anaheim Ducks
Friday — 10:00 PM ET
ESPN+

Pair of underrated Western Conference contenders.

Saturday

Detroit Red Wings at Washington Capitals
Saturday — 12:30 PM ET
NHL Network

Youth movement meets veteran resistance.

Edmonton Oilers at Minnesota Wild
Saturday — 3:00 PM ET
ESPN+

Elite skill vs structured defense. Always worth your time.

Carolina Hurricanes at Tampa Bay Lightning
Saturday — 7:00 PM ET
ESPN+

Yes, again. No complaints.

Sunday

Colorado Avalanche at Minnesota Wild
Sunday — 6:00 PM ET
ESPN+

Minnesota doesn’t get a break this weekend. Neither should you.

Soccer

Saturday

Tottenham vs Liverpool
Saturday — 12:30 PM ET
NBC / Peacock

Pace, pressure, and someone losing control of midfield early.

Stuttgart vs Hoffenheim
Saturday — 7:30 AM ET
ESPN+

Bundesliga chaos, fully endorsed.

RB Leipzig vs Bayer Leverkusen
Saturday — 10:30 AM ET
ESPN+

Fast, aggressive, and played at a volume most leagues avoid.

Juventus vs Roma
Saturday — 2:45 PM ET
Paramount+

Tactical tension. Somebody wins 1–0. Nobody is happy afterward.

Sunday

Villarreal vs Barcelona
Sunday — 10:15 AM ET
ESPN+

Barcelona road matches remain a weekly stress test.

NCAA Football

FBS Playoffs

Alabama vs Oklahoma
Friday — 6:00 PM ET
ABC/ESPN

Two brands that assume they belong here. Only one leaves satisfied.

Miami vs Texas A&M
Saturday — 12:00 PM ET
ABC/ESPN

Talent everywhere. Discipline negotiable.

Tulane vs Ole Miss
Saturday — 3:30 PM ET
TNT

How will no Lane Kiffin impact Ole Miss?

James Madison vs Oregon
Saturday — 7:30 PM ET
TNT

Belief vs depth. Speed vs confidence.

FCS Playoffs

Montana vs Montana State
Saturday — 2:00 PM ET
ABC
Brawl of the Wild rematch. If you skip this, that’s on you.

Illinois State vs Villanova
Saturday — 5:30 PM ET
ESPN2

Clean football. No gimmicks. Real stakes.

NCAA Women’s Volleyball

National Championship Match
Sunday — 3:00 PM ET
ABC

Elite execution, real pressure, and one of the best championship environments in college sports.

Boxing

Jake Paul vs Anthony Joshua
Saturday — 8:00 PM ET
Netflix

Yes, it’s ridiculous.
Yes, you’ll check the result.
Yes, many of you will watch live.

What to Watch This Weekend: NBA Cup Semis, Army–Navy, NFL Chaos, UFC Fight Night, and College Football Playoffs

December 12–14, 2025 — The Remote Is Doing Cardio

December is not messing around. Every sport has decided “What if we all played at once?” and now your weekend looks like a bad multiverse timeline where football, basketball, lacrosse, soccer, hockey, and fistfighting all overlap on purpose.

This is Peak Remote Stress Season.
Let’s embrace it.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

Three divisions. Twelve games. Zero mercy.

FCS Quarterfinals

Friday
• Stephen F. Austin at Montana State — 7:00 PM ET (ESPN)
Bozeman in December: where football dreams freeze before they die.

Saturday
• Villanova at Tarleton State — 10:00 AM ET (ESPN)
Breakfast football should always come with playoff implications.
• South Dakota at Montana — 1:30 PM ET (ABC)
Montana’s defense hasn’t allowed a clean breath since Week 2.
• Illinois State at UC Davis — 3:00 PM ET (ESPN+)
The “quiet” quarterfinal that will probably end up the wildest because FCS refuses to act normal.

Division II Playoffs — Semifinals (Corrected)

Saturday — ESPN+

• Newberry at No. 1 Ferris State — 10:00 AM
Ferris State is a machine built to ruin someone’s season every December.

• Harding at Kutztown — 1:30 PM
This is where it belongs — DII.
Harding runs more option than a 1997 playbook. Kutztown hits like they’re trying to win two games at once.

Division III Playoffs — Quarterfinals

Saturday — All ESPN+

• John Carroll at Berry — 10:00 AM
• Susquehanna at Johns Hopkins — 10:00 AM
• Bethel (MN) at North Central — 11:00 AM
• Wheaton at Wisconsin–River Falls — 1:00 PM

DIII football is an absolute fever dream. Someone is going to fake a punt from their own 12. Someone else is going to go for two simply because “why not?”

Army–Navy

Saturday — 3:00 PM ET (CBS)
The only game where eight total passes still feels like poetry.

NFL — SUNDAY

Meaningful December football, or at least something pretending to be.

• Bills at Patriots — 1:00 PM ET (CBS)
Buffalo should win. Which obviously means they might not.
• Packers at Broncos — 4:25 PM ET (CBS)
Two teams that flip a chaos coin every week.
• Rams at Lions — 4:25 PM ET (FOX)
A shootout disguised as a football game.
• Colts (Philip Rivers!!) at Seahawks — 4:25 PM ET (CBS/FOX)
Rivers is back to scream at safeties and throw touch passes no one else would attempt.

NBA CUP — SEMIFINALS

Vegas, where every franchise suddenly pretends this trophy matters more than their regular season.

Saturday — Prime Video

• Spurs vs Thunder — 7:00 PM ET
OKC is 24–1 and acting like this is their tournament.
• Knicks vs Magic — 8:30 PM ET
Knicks fans are already planning the parade. Orlando is here to ruin someone’s weekend.

NHL

Hockey: where chaos and skill hold hands and sprint into the boards.

Friday
• Lightning at Islanders — 7:00 PM ET (ESPN+)

Saturday
• Flyers at Hurricanes — 7:00 PM ET (ESPN+)
Philly brings chaos. Carolina brings structure. Something’s gotta give.

Sunday
• Kraken at Canucks — 8:00 PM ET (ESPN+)
• Coyotes at Kings — 10:30 PM ET (ESPN+)
For the real night owls.

NLL — WEEK 2

The most fun you can have watching grown men run into each other at 20 mph.

Friday
• Calgary at Vancouver — 10:00 PM ET

Saturday
• Rochester at Georgia — 6:00 PM
• Toronto at Albany — 7:00 PM
• Buffalo at Halifax — 7:00 PM
• Panther City at San Diego — 10:00 PM

Sunday
• New York at Colorado — 5:00 PM

Every game is a banger. No notes.

SOCCER

Morning caffeine delivery system.

• Chelsea vs Everton — Sunday, 9:00 AM ET (Peacock)
Chelsea are performing a long-term science experiment. Everton are performing a cry for help.

• Bologna vs Juventus — Sunday, 2:45 PM ET (Paramount+)
Juve wins by not losing. Bologna plays like they’re tired of that narrative.

UFC FIGHT NIGHT — ROYVAL VS KAPE

Saturday — Prelims 7:00 PM, Main Card 10:00 PM (ESPN2/ESPN+)

Royval fights like he’s double-parked.
Kape fights like he’s here for the performance bonus.
This one might not last long — but neither will your nerves.

THE REMOTE PLAN

Your survival depends on discipline.

FRIDAY

7:00 — FCS: SFA at Montana State
10:00 — NLL: Calgary at Vancouver
Side screen: NHL if your heart rate drops

SATURDAY MORNING

10:00 — Villanova/Tarleton
Second screen — DIII madness
Third screen — Ferris State being Ferris State

SATURDAY AFTERNOON (UPDATED)

1:30 — South Dakota/Montana (Main)
Second — Harding at Kutztown (DII Semifinal)
Third — Any DIII game refusing to end
3:00 — Army–Navy takes over the main screen
Second — Illinois State/UC Davis

SATURDAY NIGHT CHAOS

7:00 — Spurs/Thunder (Main)
8:30 — Knicks/Magic (Main 2 if you have picture-in-picture)
Second — NLL early games
Third — UFC Prelims
10:00 — UFC Main Card (Main), NLL late game (Second)

SUNDAY

9:00 AM — Chelsea/Everton
1:00 — Bills/Patriots
4:25 — Rams–Lions OR Colts–Seahawks (flip if Rivers is cooking)
5:00 — NLL: New York at Colorado
8:00 — Kraken/Canucks
10:30 — Coyotes/Kings to finish the weekend off a cliff

What to Watch This Weekend: October Kings and Contact Sports: Dodgers, Jays, and Everyone Else Fighting for Oxygen

It’s one of those weekends that looks like the remote’s about to sprain a thumb. We’ve got the World Series, the NBA back in full swing, and a football slate that runs wall-to-wall with a side of chaos. F1 rolls through Mexico City, NASCAR bangs fenders in Martinsville, and there’s just enough combat and global flair to keep you from pretending you’ll get anything productive done.

MLB — World Series (Dodgers vs Blue Jays)

Game 1 — Fri 8:00 PM ET (FOX)
Game 2 — Sat 8:00 PM ET (FOX)

Toronto’s trying to prove they belong with baseball’s heavyweights; Los Angeles is looking to repeat

NBA — Opening Weekend Highlights

Fri: Celtics at Knicks — 7:30 PM ET (Prime Video)
A great NBA rivalry with one of the favorites in the East taking on the Celtics looking to compete without Tatum.
Fri: Warriors at Trail Blazers — 10:00 PM ET (NBA TV)
Portland’s in post-scandal mode; Golden State’s in perpetual drama mode.
Sat: Suns at Nuggets — 9:00 PM ET (League Pass)
Denver looks the part; Phoenix looks like a team still learning each other’s names.
Sun: Bucks at Cavaliers — 6:00 PM ET (NBA TV)
Milwaukee’s size, Cleveland’s speed—whoever blinks first loses.

NFL — Week 8 Headliners

Bills at Panthers — Sun 1:00 PM ET (FOX)
Buffalo’s firepower meets Carolina who are a surprising team over .500.
Cowboys at Broncos — Sun 4:25 PM ET (CBS)
Denver’s altitude vs. Dallas’ attitude; something’s getting gassed.
Packers at Steelers — Sun 8:20 PM ET (NBC / Peacock)
Classic uniforms, classic bruises—bring an ice pack.

NHL — Saturday Showcase

Avalanche at Bruins — Sat 3:00 PM ET (ESPN+)
Two Cup contenders in October form, which means both already look terrifying.
Golden Knights at Panthers — Sat 6:00 PM ET (ESPN+)
A pair of Stanley Cup hopefuls, including one looking to repeat.

College Football — Rivalries & Ranked Clashes

Ole Miss at Oklahoma — 12:00 PM ET (ABC)
Points everywhere. Defenses optional.
Missouri at Vanderbilt — 3:30 PM ET (ESPN)
Vandy looking like a genuine football school suddenly.
Illinois at Washington — 3:30 PM ET (BTN)
Two teams who have had some ups and downs, need this one big.
Texas A&M at LSU — 7:30 PM ET (ABC)
Baton Rouge at night—equal parts football and exorcism.
Michigan at Michigan State — 7:30 PM ET (NBC / Peacock)
Hate runs deep, records don’t matter, neighbors don’t speak.
Houston at Arizona State — 8:00 PM ET (ESPN)
Expect points and coaches who age a decade by halftime.

NASCAR — Martinsville Playoff Weekend

Truck Series (“Slim Jim 200”) — Fri 6:00 PM ET (FS1)
Xfinity (“IAA & Ritchie Bros 250”) — Sat 7:30 PM ET (The CW)
Cup (“Xfinity 500”) — Sun 2:00 PM ET (NBC / Peacock)

The paperclip where patience dies and bumpers retire early.

F1 — Mexico City Grand Prix

FP1 — Fri 2:30 PM (ESPNU)
FP2 — Fri 5:55 PM (ESPNEWS)
FP3 — Sat 1:25 PM (ESPNEWS)
Qualifying — Sat 5:00 PM (ESPN2)
Race — Sun 4:00 PM (ESPN)

No Perez this year to soak up the cheers, but the Foro Sol grandstand will still sound like a jet engine. Altitude kills grip and lap times—and usually someone’s strategy.

Combat Sports — Day Violence, Night Violence

UFC 321 — Abu Dhabi

Prelims: Sat 10:00 AM ET (ESPN+)
Main Card: Sat 2:00 PM ET (ESPN+ PPV)
Aspinall vs Gane for the heavyweight title—lunch with left hooks.

Boxing — Joseph Parker vs Fabio Wardley

Undercard: Sat 1:30 PM ET (DAZN PPV)
Main Event: ~5:30 PM ET
London heavyweights with bad intentions and worse defense.

Soccer — World and Club Action

Women’s U-17 World Cup (Morocco) — Group stage through the weekend on FOX Sports platforms and FIFA+.

Men’s Club Highlights

Fri: Inter Miami vs Nashville SC — 7:30 PM ET (MLS Season Pass)
Sat: Chelsea vs Sunderland, Napoli vs Inter Milan (Paramount+), Lens vs Marseille (beIN)
Sun: Real Madrid vs Barcelona — El Clásico (ESPN)

🧠 The Stain Remote Plan

Friday: World Series G1 → Celtics-Knicks → Warriors-Blazers → Martinsville Trucks if sleep is overrated.
Saturday: Ole Miss-OU brunch → F1 qualifying → UFC 321 main card → World Series G2 → Xfinity night race.
Sunday: Mexico City GP → Martinsville Cup race → NFL double (Cowboys-Broncos, Packers-Steelers) → El Clásico cool-down.

Your couch is the MVP.

What to Watch This Weekend: NFL Week 8, F1 in Austin, MLB Playoffs, and a Regatta of Pumpkins

If you thought last weekend was busy, this one’s an all-you-can-eat buffet of sports chaos. We’ve got international football that starts before your coffee, college rivalries that spill into the night, playoff baseball holding America hostage, and an F1 sprint weekend deep in the heart of Texas.

Oh — and if none of that moves the needle, there’s a regatta featuring people racing in hollowed-out pumpkins. Let’s dive in.

NFL — Week 8

Rams vs Jaguars (London, Wembley) — Sunday 9:30 AM ET, NFL Network
The NFL international games roll on. Stafford vs. Lawrence with tea and scones.
Patriots at Titans — Sunday 1:00 PM ET, CBS
Mike Vrabel faces his old team, and Tennesse plays its first game since firing his replacement. You can practically smell the awkward.
Eagles at Vikings — Sunday 1:00 PM ET, FOX
Two of the best receiving duos in the NFL, if Hurts decides to use his receivers again.
Colts at Chargers — Sunday 4:05 PM ET, CBS
Two teams with plenty of talent, let’s just hope nobody on the Colts has to go to the hospital pregame.
Falcons at 49ers — Sunday 4:25 PM ET, FOX
Motion on motion on motion. Somewhere, an analytics intern is having a breakdown.
Monday Night Football Doubleheader — 7:00 PM ET (Buccaneers @ Lions, ABC) and 10:00 PM ET (Texans @ Seahawks, ESPN)
Baker and Dan Campbell sure to bring plenty of entertainment. Texans still trying to figure out who they are while Darnold is looking legit in the Pacific Northwest.

College Football — Rivalries and Ranked Drama

Louisville at Miami (FL) — Friday 7:30 PM ET, ESPN
Friday-night humidity meets ACC volatility.
LSU at Vanderbilt — Saturday 12:00 PM ET, ESPN
Vandy is no longer the SEC dormat of the past, this is no cakewalk for LSU.
Ole Miss at Georgia — Saturday 3:30 PM ET, CBS
Rebels air raid vs. Bulldogs brick wall.
Tennessee at Alabama — Saturday 7:30 PM ET, ABC
The Third Saturday in October: cigars, grudges, and one coach crying in the tunnel.
USC at Notre Dame — Saturday 7:30 PM ET, NBC/Peacock
Not Catholics vs. Convicts, but the tension’s familiar.
Utah at BYU (Holy War) — Saturday 10:15 PM ET, FOX
You’ll be watching at midnight. Don’t lie.

MLB Postseason — One Ticket to Toronto, One to L.A.

Friday, Oct 17

Blue Jays @ Mariners — Game 5 (ALCS) — 6:08 PM ET, FS1
Brewers @ Dodgers — Game 4 (NLCS) — 8:38 PM ET, TBS/truTV/Max

Saturday, Oct 18 — Game 5 Brewers–Dodgers (if necessary)

Sunday, Oct 19

Blue Jays vs. Mariners — Game 6 (ALCS) — 6:03 PM ET, FS1

October baseball — because your blood pressure wasn’t high enough already.

NHL — Early-Season Showdown

Bruins vs Avalanche — Saturday 8:00 PM ET, ABC/ESPN+
Two heavyweights skating like it’s April already. Someone’s goalie gets embarrassed.

Soccer — Cups, Classics, and Chaos

U-20 World Cup: Third Place — Colombia vs France — Saturday 2:00 PM ET, FS2
*Final — Argentina vs Morocco — Sunday 4:00 PM ET, FS2
Bundesliga: Bayern Munich vs Borussia Dortmund — Saturday 12:30 PM ET, ESPN+
Premier League: Liverpool vs Manchester United — Sunday 11:30 AM ET, NBC/Peacock

Racing — Two Flavors of Mayhem

NASCAR Playoffs — Talladega Superspeedway

Sunday 2:00 PM ET, NBC/USA Network
Restrictor-plate roulette: half the field finishes upside down, the other half finishes furious.

Formula 1 — United States Grand Prix (COTA, Austin)

Sprint Weekend Schedule (ET):

Friday: Practice 1 (1:30 PM, ESPN2), Sprint Quali (5:30 PM, ESPN)
Saturday: Sprint Race (1:00 PM, ESPN), Grand Prix Qualifying (5:00 PM, ESPN/ABC)
Sunday: Grand Prix (3:00 PM, ABC)

McLaren’s dominance, Ferrari’s optimism, Mercedes’ confusion — all served with brisket.

Wildcard Window — West Coast Giant Pumpkin Regatta (Tualatin, Oregon)

Sunday, Oct 19 — Heats at 3:00 PM & 5:00 PM ET
Competitors climb into 1,000-pound pumpkins and paddle across the lake in costume.
Part race, part fever dream, all glory

The Stain Viewing Plan

Friday: Louisville–Miami, then Game 5 in Seattle.
Saturday: Ole Miss–Georgia, F1 Sprint, and nighttime chaos in South Bend and Tuscaloosa.
Sunday: London football breakfast → Talladega mayhem → F1 COTA → MLB ALCS → Pumpkin boats.
Your remote deserves hazard pay.

DFS Week 6 Builds: Jacobs Workload, Jeanty Versatility, and Low-Cost Stacks Define the Slate

After some chaos last week (and no wins to show for it), Week 6 offers a reset with several paths to steady points and bounce-back value. Between high-volume running backs, mid-tier receivers, and flexible stacking options, this slate has the potential to swing back in our favor.

DraftKings Lineup

Play Breakdown:
Justin Herbert anchors the DraftKings build in what should be a fast-paced matchup with Miami. Ladd McConkey fits the stack as he finally had a good game last week and hoping he repeats that again this week. Jake Ferguson has been the top tight end in fantasy this year, and should be in line for another big week.

Josh Jacobs may have seen his touchdown streak end, but the workload hasn’t. Ashton Jeanty’s dual-threat skill set continues to flash, making him a worthy pairing. Horton and Legette round out the receiving corps as low cost flyers with real upside. Green Bay’s defense provides cap-friendly stability against Cincinnati.

FanDuel Lineup

Play Breakdown:
Matthew Stafford leads the FanDuel side in a correlation stack with Davante Adams, banking on volume and red-zone work. Jacobs again anchors the backfield, while Jeanty repeats as FLEX for both value and explosiveness.

Stefon Diggs comes in discounted but still commands a target share worth chasing. Michael Pittman Jr. and Hill provide safe mid-tier floors, while Haskins supplies lineup flexibility if his usage climbs after the Hampton injury. The Packers D remains the budget-friendly constant across both builds with a pocket passing Joe Flacco in Cincy for less than a week and behind a line that puts the offensive in offensive line.

FanDuel vs DraftKings

DraftKings: Herbert–McConkey stack; Jacobs–Jeanty backfield blend; Pickens for ceiling.
FanDuel: Stafford–Adams stack; Diggs/Pittman stability; Jeanty as repeat FLEX.
Overlap: Jacobs, Jeanty, Packers D — workload and matchup volume drive the correlation.

DFS Angle of the Week

Jacobs’ TD streak may be over, but his touch volume still locks him in as a cornerstone play.
Jeanty’s all-purpose role keeps paying off in both formats.
The Herbert–McConkey combo offers an efficient, low-cost QB stack.
Stafford–Adams could be one of the quieter high-volume duos of the week.
Value WRs (Horton, Legette, McConkey) make room for balanced builds.

Profit Tracker

Each lineup counts as 2 units per site — play at whatever dollar value fits your comfort level.

Week 5: –4 units (0 wins across both sites)
Season Total: +2 units

Week 6 Buy-in: 2 units on FanDuel + 2 units on DraftKings

What to Watch this Weekend: Football at Breakfast, Baseball for Dinner, and Beer for the Weight of Your Wife

We’re deep into October, that stretch where every screen in your house wants attention and the remote is one bad decision from becoming a weapon. NFL mornings in London, college football heat, playoff baseball drama, NASCAR in Vegas, and yes—a weekend where people literally carry their spouses for beer while others float peacefully over Albuquerque. Balance, baby.

NFL — Sunday Stack + MNF Double Shot

Broncos vs Jets (London, Tottenham) — Sun 9:30 AM ET, NFL Network. Brunch football and jet lag—London’s favorite export.
Seahawks at Jaguars — Sun 1:00 PM ET, FOX. Sunshine, humidity, and enough fourth-quarter weirdness to melt fantasy lineups.
49ers at Buccaneers — Sun 4:25 PM ET, CBS. West Coast grit meets Florida man energy.
Lions at Chiefs (SNF) — Sun 8:20 PM ET, NBC/Peacock. Arrowhead after dark. Loud enough to make your ribs vibrate.
MNF Doubleheader — Mon 7:15 PM ET (ESPN) & 8:15 PM ET (ABC). Two helpings for your Monday misery.

College Football — Ranked vs Ranked & Rivalry Flavor (Sat)

No. 1 Ohio State @ No. 17 Illinois — 12:00 PM ET, FOX. Trap-game vibes in Champaign.
No. 8 Alabama @ No. 14 Missouri — 12:00 PM ET, ABC. The Tide rolls into Columbia needing points and answers.
No. 7 Indiana @ No. 3 Oregon — 3:30 PM ET, CBS/Paramount+. Ducks at home with two of the top QBs in college football.
Texas vs Oklahoma (Red River Rivalry, Dallas) — 3:30 PM ET, ABC. Hate in the Cotton Bowl, as it should be.

MLB Postseason — Win or Go Home

Friday (Oct 10) — Tigers @ Mariners, Game 5 (ALDS) — TBS/truTV/Max. Winner gets Toronto on Sunday in the ALCS opener.
Saturday (Oct 11) — Cubs @ Brewers, Game 5 (NLDS) — FOX/FS1. Winner heads west to face the Dodgers in the NLCS.
Sunday (Oct 12) — ALCS Game 1: Blue Jays vs Tigers/Mariners Winner, Rogers Centre.

October baseball—where heart rates go to die.

NHL — Opening Weekend

First full weekend of the new season. ESPN, TNT, and ESPN+ all carry national windows, but every fan base thinks their team’s goalie looks sharper than last year. (He doesn’t. No one’s does.)

NASCAR Playoffs — Viva Las Vegas (Round of 8 Opener)

Xfinity: Focused Health 302 — Sat 7:30 PM ET, The CW. Desert night race.
Cup: South Point 400 — Sun 5:30 PM ET, USA Network. Eight drivers, one ticket to Phoenix.

Soccer — U-20 World Cup + Senior Action

U-20 World Cup Quarterfinal: USA vs Morocco — Sun 4:00 PM ET, FS2. The Americans are alive and kicking into the quarters.
USMNT vs Ecuador (Friendly, Austin) — Fri 8:30 PM ET, TNT/truTV/Peacock/Universo/HBO Max. South American pace, Texas humidity.
World Cup Qualifying — Ongoing across UEFA, CAF, and CONMEBOL. If you wake up at odd hours, there’s soccer on.

Wildcard Window — Nonsense, Elevation, and True Romance

North American Wife Carrying Championship — Newry, Maine

Sat, Oct 11 (late morning ET) — Sunday River Ski Resort
Couples sprint an obstacle course while one carries the other—preferably Estonian-style—for her weight in beer and five times her weight in cash. Romance isn’t dead; it’s just wheezing at the finish line.

Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta — Albuquerque, NM

Fri–Sun, Oct 10–12, Balloon Fiesta Park
Dawn Patrol (~6 AM MT / 8 AM ET) and Night Magic Glow each evening. Hundreds of balloons, thousands of burners, zero logical reason not to look up.

The Stain Remote Plan

Saturday: Bama-Mizzou brunch → Texas-OU and Indiana-Oregon chaos → Xfinity under the lights.
Sunday: London breakfast football → Cup chaos in Vegas → Lions-Chiefs primetime → U-20 Yanks vs Morocco closer.
Anytime: Balloon Fiesta streams for zen; Wife Carrying for comedy; MLB for palpitations.

F1 Singapore Showdown: Russell Reigns, McLaren Clinches, and Weug Wins in the Wet

Singapore never disappoints. From fire and red flags to late-race rain and first-time winners, Marina Bay once again proved that survival is half the sport.

Formula 1 — Russell Rules the Night

The weekend opened in flames—Alex Albon’s brakes lit up ten minutes into FP1. By FP2, George Russell had clipped the barriers, Liam Lawson had managed it twice, and Ferrari added pit-lane drama when they released Leclerc straight into Lando Norris.

Lewis Hamilton escaped penalty for a red-flag infringement in FP3, but qualifying was pure chaos. Pierre Gasly ended Q1 in the wall, Esteban Ocon was trapped under yellows, and both Williams cars were later disqualified for a technical breach. Leclerc brushed the wall in Q2, Kimi Antonelli lost his best lap to track limits, and Russell put the Mercedes on pole. Verstappen’s drought continued—he’s never taken pole in Singapore, and Red Bull hasn’t since 2013.

Sunday night saw 18 cars on the grid, with Albon and Gasly starting from the pits. Russell launched clean, the McLarens nearly took eachother out in Turn 1 as Verstappen clipped Norris’s front wing, which ricocheted contact into Piastri. Norris carried minor damage but stayed in the fight.

Pit stops told the story of the middle stint: Bortoleto and Tsunoda blinked first, Piastri lost time to a sluggish 5.2-second stop, Alonso’s dragged to 9.2, and Hamilton’s wasn’t much better. Despite four DRS zones, traffic gaps were huge—no one close enough to use them for a good chunk of the race.

Russell was untouchable—eight seconds clear by lap 16, never really under pressure. Verstappen locked up once and let Norris close briefly, but the order never changed. Hülkenberg spun backward into the runoff, avoided damage, and pitted for fresh tires. Hadjar’s engine gremlins cost him three-to-four tenths a lap and his shot at points.

Hamilton’s brakes began to fade in the closing laps, Alonso nearly pounced, finishing within half a second. A post-race time penalty dropped Hamilton to eighth. Russell won comfortably, Verstappen held second, and Norris—despite the early contact—completed the podium.

Top 3: Russell, Verstappen, Norris
Headline: McLaren clinches the Constructors’ Championship.

F1 Academy — Block Breaks Through, Weug Strikes Back

While F1 wrestled with walls, F1 Academy brought its own storm under the Singapore lights.

Race 1 (Reverse Grid)
Lia Block started from pole. She and Aurelia Nobels both ran wide at Turn 1, but Block rejoined first and kept it. Nicole Havrda’s crash triggered an early safety car, and on the restart Block managed the field like a veteran. Behind her, Billard fell from P4 to last after contact, Chloe Chambers had a huge lock-up, and Rafaela Ferreira’s car stumbled before she was shown the black-and-orange flag. Alisha Palmowski stormed from last toward the points before crashing hard and bringing out another safety car.

Block held firm to score her first F1 Academy win, just days after turning 19. Maya Weug finished second, Chloe Chambers third.

Race 2 (Feature)
Weug and Doriane Pin shared the front row, with Pin needing a big result to close the championship. Pin got the better launch, locked up into Turn 1 but kept it together to take the lead. Behind, Block tapped the wall and dropped to the back, while Palmowski climbed from 18th to 12th before sliding wide and losing ground.

Then came the rain. With five laps to go, Palmowski gambled first for wets—after mistakenly pulling into the wrong pit box—followed by Block. Havrda went off again and retired, bringing a safety car. Much of the field boxed for wets, but the leaders stayed on slicks. Weug was noted for a pit-lane entry violation as she got caught with indecision about the box strategy, but ultimately avoided any penalties.

With one lap left, the restart came just as the wet-tire runners caught the pack. Pin hit the throttle, Weug lunged down the inside, and the move stuck. Boxing for wets proved the wrong call. Weug won, Pin finished second with fastest lap, and Ella Lloyd took the final step on the podium.

The title fight stays alive—Pin leads Weug by nine points heading into the Las Vegas finale.

The Takeaway

Singapore delivered its usual blend of sweat and spectacle. Russell was flawless, sealing Mercedes’ first win in months and confirming McLaren’s constructors’ crown. And on the Academy side, Lia Block earned her breakthrough while Maya Weug kept the championship burning.

Next up: Austin, October 17–19 — different continent, same chaos.

DFS Week 5 Lineups: Gibbs Anchors Builds in Jets–Cowboys and Lions–Bengals Shootouts

Several games this week set up for fireworks, with matchups pointing to high fantasy scoring across the slate. Strap in — this could be a wild ride.

DraftKings Lineup

Play Breakdown:
Dak Prescott headlines the DraftKings lineup, paired with Jake Ferguson for the QB–TE stack against the Jets. Garrett Wilson runs it back on the other side, giving this lineup full game correlation in what should be a shootout.

For the first time this year, the lineup doesn’t feature a RB–DST stack — with the Cardinals’ RB situation in shambles, there’s no way to pair them up, though Arizona’s defense still provides salary relief.

Jahmyr Gibbs anchors the RBs, while Saquon Barkley takes the FLEX spot with his locked-in volume and touchdown potential. Woody Marks offers strong value with his growing role in Houston. Wan’Dale Robinson and Nick Westbrook-Ikhine round out the WR core as affordable paths to targets.

FanDuel Lineup

Play Breakdown:
Justin Fields headlines the FanDuel build, bringing rushing upside in the same Jets–Cowboys game we’re already targeting on DraftKings.

Jahmyr Gibbs repeats as the anchor RB, joined by Javonte Williams of Dallas in a high-usage role. Rome Odunze and Garrett Wilson may be absent here, but Marvin Harrison Jr. and Jaxon Smith-Njigba bring plenty of ceiling, while Tetairoa McMillan provides a salary-friendly WR breakout candidate.

Mason Taylor checks in as the budget TE play, Woody Marks repeats in FLEX as a value RB, and Detroit’s defense gets the nod against Cincinnati.

FanDuel vs DraftKings

DraftKings: Dak–Ferguson stack with Garrett Wilson as the bring-back, plus Barkley’s high-volume FLEX role.
FanDuel: Justin Fields’ rushing ceiling, Gibbs again as the anchor, and Javonte Williams for added RB stability.
Overlap: Gibbs, Marks, and game environments (Jets–Cowboys, Lions–Bengals) that point toward high-scoring outcomes.

DFS Angle of the Week

Jets–Cowboys looks like a featured shootout — exposure on both QBs and key pass catchers.
Lions–Bengals could be the juiciest matchup on the slate, with Gibbs set up for a big game.
Woody Marks is the sharp value play at RB, with expanding usage and the ability to unlock bigger spends.
No RB–DST stack on DraftKings this week, a first, thanks to Arizona’s chaos at running back.
Marvin Harrison Jr. and Jaxon Smith-Njigba headline the WRs with the highest big-play ceilings.

Profit Tracker

As always, results are tracked in units — each entry is worth $1, no matter the actual buy-in.

Weeks 1–3 Combined:

FanDuel: 6 units in → 16.4 units won (+10.4 units)
DraftKings: 6 units in → 5.6 units won (–0.4 units)
Total Weeks 1–3: +10 units

Week 4:

FanDuel: 2 units in → 0 units won (–2 units)
DraftKings: 2 units in → 0 units won (–2 units)
Week 4: –4 units

Season Total: +6 units

What to Watch This Weekend: Flush the Excuses, Strap In, and Pray for Your Plumbing

The Stain Sports was born out of bathroom humor, so it’s only fair the weekend ahead feels like a marathon Taco Bell run — fast, messy, and guaranteed to test your guts. What is a Taco Bell run you wonder? Well Denver’s most deranged ultramarathon makes Taco Tuesday look like a spa day. NFL goes abroad, college football brings service-academy swagger in fighter-jet threads, F1 lights the streets of Singapore, NASCAR chews up the ROVAL, and UFC straps up for a title brawl.

NFL — Week 5 Headlines

Vikings vs Browns (London) — Sun 9:30 AM ET, NFL Network/ESPN+
Breakfast football, defense vs. Jefferson, and another chance for London to politely clap for punts.
Broncos at Eagles — Sun 1:00 PM ET, CBS
Philly’s trench dominance against Denver’s pass rush.
Buccaneers at Seahawks — Sun 4:05 PM ET, FOX
Baker’s chaos in one of the loudest stadiums in sports.
Commanders at Chargers — Sun 4:25 PM ET, CBS
Washington’s front four trying to collapse SoFi.
Patriots at Bills — Sun 8:20 PM ET, NBC/Peacock
Bills are supposed to own the division, but divisional dogs always bite harder in primetime.

College Football — Rivalries and Flyovers

Boise State at Notre Dame — Sat 12:00 PM ET, NBC/Peacock
Blue turf toughness hits the golden helmets.
Air Force at Navy — Sat 12:00 PM ET, CBS Sports Network
Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy opener. Forget “whiteout” — Air Force is rolling out F-16 inspired uniforms built for supersonic option football that go entirely too hard.

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Vanderbilt at Alabama — Sat 3:30 PM ET, CBS
Last year Vandy shocked Bama; Tuscaloosa hasn’t stopped muttering since. Revenge tour or repeat nightmare?
Virginia at Louisville — Sat 3:30 PM ET, ABC/ESPN App
ACC undercard with bite.
Miami (FL) at Florida State — Sat 7:30 PM ET, ABC
Sunshine State spite in primetime.

MLB Postseason — Division Series Begin

American League

New York Yankees vs Toronto Blue Jays — Game 1 Sat Oct 4, Rogers Centre, Toronto (FOX/FS1)
Classic AL East blood feud, now with October stakes. The Bronx Bombers ride momentum into a hostile Canada.
Seattle Mariners vs Detroit Tigers — Game 1 Sat Oct 4, T-Mobile Park, Seattle (TBS/TruTV/Max)
Mariners’ power vs. Detroit’s arms. Two fan bases starving for October glory collide.

National League

Philadelphia Phillies vs Los Angeles Dodgers — Game 1 Sat Oct 4, Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia (FOX/FS1)
Two heavyweights. Two stacked lineups. One ticket to the NLCS.

Milwaukee Brewers vs Chicago Cubs — Game 1 Sat Oct 4, American Family Field, Milwaukee (TBS/TruTV/Max)
NL Central neighbors turned October enemies. Wrigley vs. Milwaukee taps straight into Midwest baseball heartache.

Formula 1 — Singapore Grand Prix (Marina Bay)

Practice: Fri 5:30 AM & 9:00 AM ET (ESPN platforms).
Qualifying: Sat 9:00 AM ET, ESPN.
Race: Sun 5:00 AM ET, ESPN.
Support: F1 Academy + Porsche Carrera Cup Asia.

It’s hot, it’s humid, and if a driver sneezes in Turn 18, half the field’s in the wall.

NASCAR — Charlotte ROVAL Playoffs

Truck: EcoSave 250 — Fri 3:30 PM, FS1
Xfinity: Blue Cross NC 250 — Sat 5:00 PM, The CW
Cup: Bank of America ROVAL 400 — Sun 3:00 PM, USA Network/truTV

Half oval, half road course, all mayhem.

Combat Sports — UFC 320

UFC 320: Ankalaev vs Pereira II (Light Heavyweight Title) — Sat Oct 4
- Early Prelims: 6:00 PM ET, ESPN+
- Prelims: 8:00 PM ET, ESPN+/ESPNEWS
- Main Card: 10:00 PM ET, ESPN+ PPV

Ankalaev plays the long game, Pereira brings the sledgehammer.

Soccer — Euro Heavyweights & U-20 Spotlight

Saturday:

Chelsea vs Liverpool — 12:30 PM ET, NBC/Peacock/Universo
Dortmund vs RB Leipzig — 9:30 AM ET, ESPN+
Eintracht Frankfurt vs Bayern Munich — 12:30 PM ET, ESPN+
Real Madrid vs Villarreal — 3:00 PM ET, ESPN+/ESPN Deportes

Sunday:

Sevilla vs Barcelona — 10:15 AM ET, ESPN+/ESPN Deportes
Juventus vs AC Milan — 2:45 PM ET, Paramount+
Lille vs PSG — 11:45 AM ET, beIN/stream TBA
Porto vs Benfica — 11:15 AM ET, GolTV/Fubo

Youth Spotlight:

FIFA U-20 World Cup — South Africa vs USA — Sun 4:00 PM ET, FS2

WNBA Finals — Aces vs Mercury

Game 2 — Sun 3:00 PM ET, ABC
Las Vegas star power vs Phoenix grit. And yes, it comes after the league’s commissioner made headlines for all the wrong reasons this week — which only adds heat to a Finals already packed with it.

Taco Bell 50K Ultramarathon (Denver)

Forget Boston. Forget Berlin. The most sadistic race on Earth involves ten Taco Bells, nine required food items, and 31 miles of regret.

By Stop 4, you’ve got to hammer down a Chalupa or Crunchwrap. By Stop 8, it’s a Burrito Supreme or Nachos Bell Grande. All while running. All under 11 hours. Only one designated bathroom break (avoid Wash Park if you in Denver this weekend).

Optional bonuses include drowning everything in Diablo sauce or attempting to keep two liters of Baja Blast inside your body. Spoiler: it won’t work.

The prize? A commemorative token. The punishment? Your own digestive tract filing for divorce.

The Stain Remote Plan

Saturday: Boise-ND and AF-Navy at noon → ROVAL Xfinity mid-afternoon → Miami-FSU primetime → UFC 320 at night.
Sunday: London breakfast football → Singapore GP sunrise → ROVAL Cup chaos → NFL quadruple stack (Vikings-Browns, Broncos-Eagles, Bucs-Seahawks/Commanders-Chargers, Pats-Bills) → WNBA Finals G2 → and the Taco Bell 50K if you dare.
Saturday and Sunday: Baseball playoff action.