This Weekend in Sports: Alabama-Texas A&M Rematch and Mayweather-Canelo Fight
The upcoming sports calendar features the biggest game of the young college football season and the best boxing match of the year. Here's what to watch this weekend:
Friday, September 13
New York Yankees at Boston Red Sox
Fenway Park, Boston; 7:10 p.m. (ET) on MLB Network
The New York Yankees (78-68) are still in the playoff hunt. They began Thursday trailing Tampa Bay by just one game for the second American League wild-card spot. The Bronx Bombers visit the American League East-leading Boston Red Sox (89-58) for a three-game series this weekend, beginning with Yankees starter Hiroki Kuroda (11-10, 2.99) facing John Lackey (9-12, 3.48) on Friday night.
Saturday, September 14
(16) UCLA at (23) Nebraska
Memorial Stadium, Lincoln, Neb.; 12 p.m. (ET) on ABC
UCLA quarterback Brett Hundley leads his 16th-ranked Bruins against the 23rd-ranked Nebraska Cornhuskers. Nebraska quarterback Taylor Martinez had much success running and passing against UCLA in the 2012 game won by the Bruins.
Oakland A's at Texas Rangers
The Ball Park at Arlington, Arlington, Texas; 1:05 p.m. (ET) on Fox
The top two teams in the American League West meet in Texas this weekend, as the Rangers (81-64) host the Oakland A's (84-61). Saturday's pitching matchup features Oakland's Bartolo Colon (15-6, 2.85) against Texas's sensational ace, Yu Darvish (12-8, 2.84). The A's lead the Rangers by three games heading into Thursday's games.
(1) Alabama at (6) Texas A&M
Kyle Field, College Station, Texas; 3:30 p.m. (ET) on CBS
Behind an incredible performance from eventual Heisman Trophy-winner Johnny Manziel, sixth-ranked Texas A&M was the only team to beat top-ranked Alabama in 2012, so the Crimson Tide is out for revenge this weekend in College Station. Alabama head coach Nick Saban has had a year to prepare his defense for Manziel's scrambling and passing. Quarterback A.J. McCarron leads the Crimson Tide offense.
(21) Notre Dame at Purdue
Ross-Ade Stadium, West Lafayette, Ind.; 8 p.m. (ET) on ABC
After a disappointing loss to Michigan last week, 21st-ranked Notre Dame stays on the road to take on in-state rival Purdue. Quarterback Tommy Rees leads the Fighting Irish offense against first-year coach Darrell Hazell and the Boilermakers. Purdue has looked shaky in getting off to a 1-1 start.
Floyd Mayweather vs. Canelo Alvarez
MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas; 9 p.m. (ET) on pay-per-view
Undefeated and undisputed WBC junior middleweight champion Floyd Mayweather (44-0) puts his title—and record—on the line against upstart Saul "Canelo" Alvarez (42-0-1) in Las Vegas on Saturday. The match has been hyped as the boxing event of the year, with experts feeling that Alvarez's power and ring intelligence might give the experienced Mayweather the fight of his life.
Sunday, September 15
Geico 400 at Chicago
Chicagoland Speedway, Chicago; 2 p.m. (ET) on ESPN
The 10-race Chase for the Championship starts Sunday in Chicago, as NASCAR's best drivers vie for the 2013 Sprint Cup series title. Points leader Matt Kenseth will be joined by Jimmie Johnson, Kyle Busch, Carl Edwards, Clint Bowyer, Kurt Busch, Kevin Harvick, Joey Logano, Greg Biffle, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and wild cards Kasey Kahne and Ryan Newman in the field. The series ends November 17 in Florida.
Denver Broncos at New York Giants
MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford N.J.; 4:25 p.m. (ET) on CBS
After clobbering the defending Super Bowl-champion Ravens on opening night, the Denver Broncos (1-0) head east to New Jersey to face the New York Giants (0-1) in another installment of the "Manning Bowl." Of course, quarterback brothers Peyton and Eli Manning don't play defense against each other, so the real storyline will be how much pressure either defensive front can get against the opposing QB.
San Francisco 49ers at Seattle Seahawks
CenturyLink Field, Seattle; 8:30 p.m. (ET) on NBC
The defending NFC-champion 49ers (1-0) travel to Seattle to face the Seahawks (1-0) in what has become one of the best rivalries in football. San Francisco quarterback Colin Kaepernick must overcome the aggressive Seattle defense and cornerback Richard Sherman. The 49ers defensive line will attempt to corral Seahawks QB Russell Wilson.