The Week In Tv Sports

Highlights

SATURDAY 11/27

? Georgia at Georgia Tech
ABC 1 PM
Introducing Joe Hamilton, your 1999-model Cade McNown. Last year quarterback McNown led UCLA to a 10-2 record and finished second in the Heisman voting behind then NCAA career rushing leader Ricky Williams. This season Hamilton, the nation's passing-efficiency leader, has sparked the Yellow Jackets to a 7-3 mark. In two weeks, however, he likely will find himself congratulating Ron Dayne, the new NCAA career rushing leader and Heisman favorite, at the Downtown Athletic Club. Today, Hamilton will be tested by the Bulldogs, also 7-3. The last two installments of this y'all brawl have been decided in the final minute.

?The Skins Game
ABC 4:30 PM; SUNDAY 3:30 PM
Unlike Jerry Garcia, who also attracted a cult following wherever he played, Sergio Garcia tries to avoid the weeds. In the 17th edition of this event (shown on tape delay), Sergio, the 19-year-old who was smokin' at the PGA Championship (finishing second) and the Ryder Cup, will be the most charismatic member of a foursome that also includes David Duval, two-time winner Fred Couples (taking the place of the late Payne Stewart) and defending champ Mark O'Meara.

WEDNESDAY 12/1
? Michigan State at North Carolina
ESPN 9 PM
All Spartans coach Tom Izzo wants for Christmas is Mateen Cleaves, his senior All-America point guard. Cleaves, who led Michigan State to the Final Four last March, suffered a stress fracture in his right foot in October and will miss pre-Yule road games at Arizona, Kentucky and tonight in Chapel Hill. His temporary replacement is 6'7" junior David Thomas, who before this season had never manned the point and who tonight will face one of the nation's best in Tar Heels senior Ed Cota. Thomas and his No. 2-ranked mates figure to be in for an Adventure against No. 5 North Carolina.

THURSDAY 12/2
? Sports Illustrated's 20th Century Sports Awards
CBS 9 PM
Either this is the greatest roster in the history of sport or Bill Bradley is hosting another fund-raiser. Here are the nicknames of just a few of those assembling tonight for the two-hour show from Madison Square Garden: the Greatest, the Great One, the Golden Bear, Hammerin' Hank, Arnie, Air, Magic, Chrissie, Tiger, the King, the and Hondo. Not to mention Roger Bannister, Jim Brown, Carl Lewis and Bill Russell. Do you believe in miracles (them, too)? Yes!

Don't Miss

SUNDAY 11/28
? Buccaneers at Seahawks
FOX 4 PM
They're talking playoffs at the Cafe Nervosa. Bulldog is barking up a storm on his sports-talk radio show, and Niles may use his opera glasses at the Kingdome soon. In Seattle, whose only birds of note the last few years have been the Cranes, the AFC West-leading Seahawks (8-2) are attracting a flock of believers. Quarterback Jon Kitna (above), the conference's No. 2-rated passer, has thrown only six interceptions while the Seattle secondary has picked off 21 passes. Seahawks defensive backs could be birds of prey against the Bucs (6-4), who are minus-13 in turnovers. Historical note: Tampa Bay is 0-4 against its 1976 expansion brother.

ALL TIMES EASTERN. SCHEDULES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE.