(Photo Credit: Brett Carlsen/Getty Images)

Two out of three ain’t bad. But all three are good.

The NFL, getting into an early gift-giving mode, puts a tripleheader on NFL Network on Saturday. Two of the three games have playoff ramifications and third – the nightcap – could well influence the NFC playoff picture.

Watch ‘em all. Put that heiner in the recliner and refuse to move.

We kick off the first at 1 p.m. ET with the Houston Texans (9-5) at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-7). A win gives the Texans the AFC South Division title.

We move on to the Buffalo Bills (10-4) visiting the New England Patriots (11-3) at 4:30 p.m. Both have already clinched playoff spots but a New England win will give the AFC East title to the Patriots.

Closeout the evening with the Los Angeles Rams (8-6) at San Francisco 49ers (11-3). The Rams aren’t likely to make the playoffs and certainly will not with another loss.

Sunday’s most meaningful game pits the Dallas Cowboys against the Philadelphia Eagles. They’re both 7-7 and the NFC East title is there for the taking. That’s at 4 p.m. on Fox.

Your best college basketball bet? No. 1 Kansas at No. 18 Villanova. Five teams have been atop the Associated Press poll this season. Fox shows this game at noon on Saturday.

Need a taste of the NBA? Start your weekend off right with Friday night’s matchup of the Dallas Mavericks and Philadelphia 76ers at 8 p.m. on ESPN.

The unending parade of college football bowl games is also underway. Good luck sorting those out. Look for the oddest name (the Cure Bowl?) if you’ve got no rooting interest going on in these made-for-TV mediocrities.

 
 
Post By: Larry Weisman, a longtime sportswriter for USA TODAY, blogs for Twistity.com. Follow him on Twitter @MrLarryWeisman