A GRIP ON SPORTS • The bowl season gets underway today. There is a bunch of good college basketball games on TV as well, including a battle over in Seattle. There will be a bunch of frenzied folks at the malls. It’s just your typical Saturday before Christmas. Read on.

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• I’m not much of one for Christmas shopping on the weekends and, luckily, I don’t have to be. I have enough freedom to do it during the week, when the crowds are a bit smaller. That also allows me the ability to watch sporting events on TV during this time of year, and that’s a gift from the heavens. You like football? There are five college bowl games on today, headlined by ... well, I guess the best game is the Las Vegas Bowl, matching long-time rivals BYU and Utah. Or maybe it’s the New Mexico Bowl, which features New Mexico (of course) and Arizona in another neighborhood battle of a sort. Heck, the Cure Bowl pits two teams that are a combined 11-13, so there is that. But still, if you want to watch college football today, you can. And college basketball? Well there are more than two dozen games on a variety of networks, from CBS – North Carolina vs. UCLA and Ohio State vs. Kentucky, both from Brooklyn – to Root – the Northwest’s station has Syracuse, Miami, Florida State and New Mexico but, unfortunately, they are not playing each other – to the family of ESPN channels. The most important game around here is Gonzaga’s matchup with Tennessee in Seattle. The annual game at Key Arena doesn’t tip off until around 8 p.m. on ESPNU, which means it will be a late night for those of you who want to catch the Zags in action. I may already be in bed, resting up for Sunday’s NFL games. But that is, as they say, another story.

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• WSU: The Cougars got the weekend off with a win, though it came in overtime against Texas State. The visitors gave WSU troubles with their athleticism inside but couldn’t get over the hump. Jacob Thorpe has the story as Washington State improved to 7-2 before heading to Hawaii for a Christmas tournament. Jacob also has video of interviews with Ernie Kent and his players after the game. ... Football practice continued but Jacob focused today on the financial impact a good season is having for the Cougars. ... He also has a report on the AP All-Pac-12 team. ... ESPN.com’s Pac-12 blog has its weekly mailbag and a look ahead to the best non-conference games next season. ... There were a few Pac-12 basketball games last night, with both Oregon and Oregon State picking up wins. ... Back to football, the Cougars picked up another wide receiver commit yesterday.

• Gonzaga: Yes, the Zags are in Seattle for their annual game. Jim Meehan has an advance, which focuses upon the friendship between the coaches, one that goes back years. That is also the focus of this advance from Tennessee and the advance in the Times. ... BYU held off Central Michigan while Santa Clara’s four-game winning streak was snapped. ... Gonzaga announced yesterday sophomore center Emma Wolfram (pictured) has been lost for the season due to a knee injury suffered in practice.

• EWU: Is it OK if we just call Cooper Kupp a “consensus All-American” and leave it at that? ... The Eagles basketball team was off last night but Weber State got past Portland in the Far West Classic.

• Idaho: The Vandals gave New Hope no hope last night as they scored a school record for points in a 127-54 romp. Sean Kramer has the story on the rout.

• Whitworth: Tight end Nick Kiourkas was named a third-team All-American yesterday.

• Chiefs: Portland came to town and left with a 2-1 overtime victory despite Spokane having multiple chances to win. Tom Clouse has the particulars in this game story. ... Tri-City also played overtime, but the Americans won, over Seattle. ... There was another overtime in Vancouver, with Everett earning a 3-2 victory.

• Preps: It was a busy night in high school basketball, as per usual for a Friday, and we have roundups from boys and girls action.

• Seahawks: Most of the discussion tomorrow will probably be on the quarterbacks, Russell Wilson and Johnny Manziel, but the biggest question for the Hawks is who will be carrying the ball. That’s still to be determined. ... Kam Chancellor did not practice all week and probably won’t start.

• Mariners: New/old starter Hisashi Iwakuma met with the media yesterday and there were smiles all around. Maybe even the Dodgers were smiling. ... After having a day to digest the signing, the overall feeling is positive. ... Tyler Olson has a new home.

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• Enjoy your Saturday. And, if you have to shop today, sorry. Until later ...

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