Sports to Watch Instead of Studying for Finals

Finals week approaches, and with it comes much time spent studying. However, sometimes it is necessary to take a break from homework and studying to relax. Here is a list of key games to time your study breaks around, to watch while studying, or to simply watch instead of studying.

Soccer:

Toronto FC-Seattle Sounders, Dec. 9 (MLS Cup Final) @ 1:00 P.M.

The MLS Cup final is a rematch of last year’s championship, in which the Sounders won in penalty kicks. The Sounders are led by Clint Dempsey and Jordan Morris and seek to defend their title while Jozy Altidore and Michael Bradley will try to avenge last year’s loss and become the first team to win a treble (winning three different trophies in the same season).

Manchester City-Manchester United, Dec. 10 @ 8:30 A.M.

The Manchester Derby is a huge matchup every year, but this year the derby pits the top two teams in the English Premier League (EPL) against one another. Both teams have been on form of late, and Manchester City in particular are playing world-class football, undefeated in the first 28 games of the season and averaging more than three goals per game. With a win, Man City would also break the record for consecutive wins in EPL history to go with the best start ever seen in English football.

NBA:

Lakers-Sixers, Dec. 7 @ 5:00 PM

An NBA matchup between young, fun teams to watch. Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons are two of the best young players in the NBA, and there is some added beef between Embiid and the Ball family that adds a little extra excitement to the game.

Warriors-Pistons AND Celtics-Spurs, December 8 @ 4:00 & 6:30 PM

These games feature some of the top teams from both conferences. The Spurs are one of the most consistently good teams in any professional sport, and they face the Celtics who currently have the best record in the NBA led by Kyrie Irving. In the later game, the Pistons have started the season surprisingly strong, and they will be tested by the Warriors, a team that needs no introduction or explanation.

Lakers-Cavs, Dec. 14 (LeBron to LA) @ 5:00 PM

Lakers have a lot of young players that play an exciting brand of basketball this year, like Lonzo Ball, Kyle Kuzma and Brandon Ingram, and the Cavs have found their form of late after a slow start to the year. The interesting subplot is that LA could be LeBron’s destination next summer when he hits free agency, so keep an eye on his behaviors and interactions during the game.

NCAAM:

Oklahoma-USC, Dec. 8 @ 7:30 PM

A fun matchup in college basketball, USC is surprisingly talented this year and has earned national attention. Although Oklahoma is not ranked, Trae Young is a freshman who can light it up on any given night, like the game he dropped 43 against Oregon. There could be a lot of offensive fireworks in this game.

Florida-Cincinnati, Dec. 9 @ 3:00 PM

Florida is possibly the most entertaining team to watch in college basketball. Led by a strong group of guards, their offense is high-scoring, and they are legitimate contenders based on early season performance. Cincinnati is a team typically known for their tough defense and physical play, but this year they have added a balanced offensive attack to make them a very competitive squad.

NCAAF:

Army-Navy, December 9 @ 12:00 PM

The lone game on Saturday is a classic showdown between military academies. Navy had won 14 straight matchups until Army broke the streak last year with a 21-17 victory. This game does not feature the most talented players, but the game is deeply rooted in tradition and shows athletes whose lives are about much more than sports.

NFL:

Saints-Falcons, December 7 @ 5:25 PM

A matchup between NFC South rivals, this Thursday night matchup has large implications on the playoff picture. The Saints sit on top of the tightly packed division, and they seek to remain on top of the best division in football while the Falcons try to keep their playoff hopes alive.

Panthers-Vikings AND Eagles-Rams, December 10 @ 10:00 AM and 1:25 PM

These two games match four NFC teams that are all very much in the playoff picture. In particular, the Eagles-Rams match-up features two exciting, young quarterbacks as Jared Goff and Carson Wentz are both having phenomenal seasons; in particular, Wentz is putting together an MVP-caliber season.