Friday's Big Weekend Preview

Madness – it's back. While last week has all the initial "my-braket-isn't-busted-yet" buzz, there's still enough excitement with Elite Eight and Final Four berths on the line to fill a weekend of sports watching. Speaking of which, get out of the house, or go grab some friends to watch these games at your place. 

Everyone knows there's certain things you should never do alone, and watching NCAA tournament games is one of them. Who are you going to celebrate upsets with? Who are you going to poke fun at? (Admit it was a lot of fun to laugh at your buddies who picked Memphis). Who are you going to cheers with?

And if you're really over all this madness, the NBA is serving up a can't-miss, not seen in 2012 matchup this weekend as well. So while some of you may be salivating for baseball, there's still plenty left to satisfy your sports appetite. 

Indiana vs. Kentucky

When: Friday, 9:45 (ET)

TV: CBS

Why You Should Watch: Well, the last time these two teams met, this happened. (I'll save you the click if you'd like ... It's Indiana shocking the Wildcats with a game-winning, cause-a-court-storming buzzer-beating 3 in December. Real good, enriching, why-college-basketball-is-awesome stuff that anyone who doesn't live in Lexington should savor.)

And now they're set to face each other again, with just a tad bit more on the line than in December non-conference game. While both coaches have downplayed what happened in boring, expected fashion, there will be an undeniable feeling in the air between the players and fans that you'll be able to sense through your flat screen ... or computer screen ... or iphone screen ... because you're probably paying attention to both this game and ...

NC State vs. Kansas

When: Friday, 10:17 p.m. (ET)

TV: TBS

Why You Should Watch: You either need to multi-screen it or be a master with your remote control, because it's a hard pick between Indiana-Kentucky and this one when they start to overlap. While you've got the rematch factor in the Kentucky game, you've got an underdog tale here, which sports fans eat up like a buffet this time of year. 

How can you not like NC State? (Obvious bracket and Jawhawk exemptions are noted.) They're like the forgotten middle child of the ACC, wedged between Duke and UNC, left searching for scraps of national attention and recruits. Take away the Wolfpacks' 1983 "pass," and they're not left with much. Still, they're dangerous. This 11th-seeded version has a chance to knock of a No. 2 to reach the Elite 8. 

NASCAR Sprint Cup: Auto Club 400

When: Sunday, 2:30 p.m. (ET)

TV: Fox

Why You Should Watch: Look, some of you may hate NASCAR, what with all of its left turns and over-caffeinated announcers and biggest star who the most most painful interview ever, but it's still alluring if you try. Well, maybe not this weekend. You NASCAR haters actually will have something in common with hardcore race fans on Sunday ... 

You'll both find this race boring. 

Seriously. This track is reviled, mainly for it's ability to put people to sleep with it's hypnotically mundane racing (no small feat considering cars hit more than 200 mph here). That being said, it's still 43 cars going really fast, with potential for drama and crashes with really loud noise mixed it.

What, you thought we were going to put Warriors vs. Trailblazers on this list? (They play on Sunday as well, Ew.) If you're not a race fan (I'm a big one, FYI), you should watch a few laps simply to have some argument ammunition for the next time somebody gets into a NASCAR debate with you. 

Miami Heat vs. Oklahoma City Thunder

When: Sunday, 8 p.m. (ET)

TV: ESPN

Why You Should Watch: Usually in this space I'd recount the last two times these teams met, and how it was an uber-close-shootout-with-a-crazy-finish-that-was-so-supercalifragilisticexpialidociously-amazing-you'd-be-a-idiot-not-to-watch-the-rematch. 

No dice here. These two teams haven't played yet this season. This is the first time all year you'll see Durant and Co. take on one of the NBA's best team. Sign. Us. Up ... But only if what we're talking about next turns out to be a bust.

NCAA Regional Finals

When: Saturday and Sunday

TV: CBS Family of Networks: 

Why You Should Watch: Who cares if your backet is busted by this point? Who cares if on Thursday or Friday your top team went down, causing you to throw a fit, then crumple that sheet of paper and drop in the trash? Get over it. A lot of people picked Mizzou, which worked out great. 

No, at this moment, it's strictly about the Final Four being on the line. It's about Cinderella's finding their inner George Mason or VCU, or top seeds – like Mr. Davis and his team – doing what they're supposed to do in the first place. It's a win-win for sports fans, and it's why you need to be watching, whether in your living room or out with friends.