Holiday Sports Checklist: Football, Basketball and more

With the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision season ending for another year, those at Clemson University might be wondering what is coming up in the build up to Christmas to fill the void left by the lack of college football. While other sports such as women’s and men’s basketball and tennis, track & field, and gymnastics continue to thrill local fans through December and January, the absence of football might leave students turning towards the bright lights of the NFL for their winter football fix. 

There is a packed schedule including two football matches on Christmas Day with a certain Beyonce set to headline the match between the Houston Texans and Baltimore Ravens. However, it is not just NFL football that will entertain sports enthusiasts during the festive period. There is plenty more to look out for too.

The Texans doing battle with the Ravens is just one of the two matches taking place on the second turkey day. Elsewhere in Pittsburgh, the Steelers take on reigning Super Bowl champions, the Kansas City Chiefs, in the earlier matchup. However, it is the third appearance in the NFL for Beyonce that is making headlines. After performances at the Super Bowls in 2013 and 2016, Beyonce will be dazzling crowds again in her hometown of Houston. 
With Netflix making their first ventures into the NFL sporting world by securing the rights for Christmas Day football, football fans will be eagerly anticipating other big-name artists that could appear alongside Beyonce, following performances with Kelly Rowland, Michelle Williams, and Chris Martin and Bruno Mars at her previous NFL appearances.

More Festive Ball

If the excitement of the NFL is not enough, the NBA will be putting on their own Christmas show with three games on Christmas Day:

• Knicks vs Spurs
• Mavericks vs Timberwolves 
• Celtics vs 76ers 

These games will represent the second game in two days for these teams following a full round of action on 23^rd and 24^th December. But despite the jam-packed Christmas calendar, the overall glory will be at the forefront of teams’ and players’ minds as the season rumbles past its quarter mark point.
At a crucial stage of the season, the NBA odds on a range of betting markets are beginning to hot up, with the Celtics currently favorites to make it back-to-back championships. Unsurprisingly, Nikola Jokic is also leading the way in the MVP stakes, but there is plenty more basketball to be played this season, let alone during the festive period that kicks off with World Basketball Day on 21^st December.

Although the Formula One and tennis seasons have ended, there is also NHL action to follow. Although there are no games on Christmas Day, there is still a full hockey schedule to follow and watch. Elsewhere, the winter sports season adds to the sporting drama, while high-profile leagues in other sports such as the English Premier League continue to entertain soccer fans around the world through December. 

Despite the college football season ending, there is plenty more action to take in to see you through the Christmas period. For sports fans, action throughout the festive period is associated with Christmas as much as turkey and stuffing are. With full stomachs, food induced lethargy and overall merriment, just kick back and let the sporting action guide you through the Christmas season.