The Lineup: Friday, September 27

Author:
Mike Bebernes
Publish date:
Sep 27, 2013

Elsa/Getty Images

Totally worth the wait. Send any suggestions to SI.TheLineup@gmail.com. (Bold indicates a national broadcast. All times Eastern.)

Pregame Reads

Esquire's James Joiner argues that the America's Cup is just as entertaining as any other U.S. racing.
Turns out Thursday Night Football games aren't any worse than the usual Sunday fare, so says Aaron Gordon of Sports on Earth.
A European journalist for CNN struggles with the American tradition of crowding around buck-naked athletes.

Starter

Sportscenter Special: Exit Sandman, 7:00p.m. (ESPN)

I know that these decisions are probably made way in advance, but I would have loved to be in the room when the ESPN producers who named this Mariano Rivera documentary got their hands on SI's cover from last week:

Reserves

MLB

Red Sox vs. Orioles, 7:05p.m.

Rays vs. Blue Jays, 7:07p.m.

Tigers vs. Marlins, 7:10p.m.

Brewers vs. Mets, 7:10p.m.

Pirates vs. Reds, 7:10p.m.

Phillies vs. Braves, 7:30p.m.

Angels vs. Rangers, 8:05p.m.

Indians vs. Twins, 8:10p.m.

Royals vs. White Sox, 8:10p.m.

Yankees vs. Astros, 8:10p.m.

Cubs vs. Cardinals, 8:15p.m.

Nationals vs. Diamondbacks, 9:40p.m.

Rockies vs. Dodgers, 10:10p.m.

Athletics vs. Mariners, 10:10p.m.

Padres vs. Giants, 10:15p.m.

College Football

Utah State vs. San Jose State, 9:00p.m. (ESPN)

Middle Tennessee vs. BYU, 9:00p.m. (ESPNU)

High School Football

Mount Carmel (IL) vs. St. Rita (IL), 8:30p.m. (ESPN3)

Edison vs. Mater Dei, 10:00p.m. (Fox Sports 1)

Canadian Football

British Columbia Lions vs. Winnipeg Blue Bombers, 10:30p.m. (NBC Sports & Live Extra)

Soccer

Philadelphia Union vs. Sporting KC, 8:00p.m. (NBC Sports & Live Extra)

Copa Mexico: Toros del Celaya vs. Estudiantes Tecos, 12:00p.m. (ESPN Deportes)

Mexico League: Querétaro vs. Tigres UANL, 8:25p.m. (ESPN2 & ESPN Deportes)

Racing

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Qualifying, 3:00p.m. (ESPN2)

NHRA Midwest Nationals Qualifying, 6:15p.m. (ESPN3)

NCAA Women's Volleyball

Seton Hall vs. St. John's, 7:00p.m. (ESPN3)

Golf

Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, 8:30a.m. (Golf)

Web.com Tour Championship, 3:00p.m. (Golf)

Champions Tour: Nature Valley First Tee Open at Pebble Beach, 6:30p.m. (Golf)

Bellator MMA, 9:00p.m. (Spike)

Undercover Boss, 8:00p.m. (CBS)

The CBS schmaltz factory comes back for another season of making all the nation's financial inequities better by forcing some rich guy to work a menial job for a few days. The first episode has the owner of a sports bar franchise joining the staff on the floor. Unless it's Hooters and the guy's going to put on the orange short-shorts, count me out.