TV Timeout: QB matchup spices up Pac-12 opener
After Josh Rosen's spectacular college debut against Virginia, UCLA's true freshman quarterback has been mediocre in wins over UNLV and Brigham Young.
The No. 9 Bruins will face their toughest test yet Saturday (5:05 p.m., ABC (13)) at No. 16 Arizona — led by quarterback Anu Solomon, a Bishop Gorman product — in the weekend's marquee college football matchup.
No. 13 Oregon hosts No. 18 Utah (5:30 p.m., Fox (5)) in the only other matchup between Top 25 teams this week, and No. 22 BYU will try to get back on track at Michigan (9 a.m., ABC (13)) after squandering a late lead in Saturday's 24-23 loss to UCLA.
On NFL Sunday, the Atlanta Falcons and Dallas Cowboys clash at 10 a.m. on Fox (5) in the league's only showdown of 2-0 teams, and the San Diego Chargers and Minnesota Vikings meet in the other early game on CBS (8). The afternoon game features the Chicago Bears at the Seattle Seahawks in a matchup of winless teams at 1:25 p.m. on CBS (8), and "Sunday Night Football" showcases the Denver Broncos and Detroit Lions at 5:20 p.m. on NBC (3).
TODAY
Pittsburgh Pirates at Chicago Cubs (11:20 a.m., MLBN (314)): Las Vegan Kris Bryant, the leading National League Rookie of the Year candidate, and the Cubs host the Pirates at Wrigley Field in a preview of the NL wild-card playoff game, which probably will be played in Pittsburgh unless Chicago can sweep this series. An appealing pitching matchup has the Cubs' Jon Lester (10-11, 3.46 ERA) opposing the Pirates' Gerrit Cole (17-8, 2.64).
BEST OF REST: College football: Boise State at Virginia (5 p.m., ESPN (30)), No. 21 Stanford at Oregon State (7 p.m., FS1 (329)); MLB: Texas Rangers at Houston Astros (5 p.m., ESPN2 (31)), Seattle Mariners at Los Angeles Angels (7 p.m., FSW (49)).
SATURDAY
No. 9 UCLA at No. 16 Arizona (5:05 p.m., ABC (13)): It's the Pac-12 opener for both teams. Rosen threw three first-half interceptions against BYU while Solomon has thrown 10 touchdowns and no interceptions for the Wildcats, who hope to have All-American linebacker Scooby Wright back from a knee injury. Under coach Rich Rodriguez, Arizona is 0-3 vs. UCLA but has beaten a top-10 team in each of his first three seasons at the school.
BEST OF REST: College football: No. 22 BYU at Michigan (9 a.m., ABC (13)), No. 18 Utah at No. 13 Oregon (5:30 p.m., Fox (5)), No. 19 Southern Cal at Arizona State (7:30 p.m., ESPN (30)); MLB: Pittsburgh Pirates at Chicago Cubs (10 a.m., Fox (5)).
SUNDAY
Atlanta Falcons at Dallas Cowboys (10 a.m., Fox (5)): Both teams are 2-0, but the Cowboys aren't exactly brimming with confidence as Brandon Weeden starts in place of injured quarterback Tony Romo. Weeden completed all seven passes for 73 yards and a score after replacing Romo in last Sunday's 20-10 win at Philadelphia, but as a starter he's 5-16 with eight straight losses. The Falcons rallied from a 10-point fourth-quarter deficit to beat the New York Giants 24-20 on Sunday behind explosive receiver Julio Jones, who had a career-high 13 catches for 135 yards.
BEST OF REST: MLB: Texas Rangers at Houston Astros (11 a.m., TBS (7)), Pittsburgh Pirates at Chicago Cubs (5 p.m., ESPN (30)); NFL: San Diego Chargers at Minnesota Vikings (10 a.m., CBS (8)), Chicago Bears at Seattle Seahawks (1:25 p.m., CBS (8)), Denver Broncos at Detroit Lions (5:20 p.m., NBC (3)); PGA Tour: TOUR Championship, final round (9 a.m., TGC (339), 10:30 a.m., NBC (3)).
Contact reporter Todd Dewey at tdewey@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0354. Follow him: @tdewey33
