Week Ahead

SATURDAY 9/9

Chevy Rock & Roll 400
Kasey Kahne has one more week to claw his way into the Chase for the Nextel Cup. His win at California last week (above)--his series-best fifth victory of the year--pulled him within striking distance of Tony Stewart , Mark Martin and Jeff Burton , who hold the final three spots in the Chase. Kahne will need a strong finish at Richmond International Raceway , where he finished 34th in May's Crown Royal 400.
TNT 7 p.m.

No. 18 Clemson at Boston College
The Tigers, who hammered Florida Atlantic 54--6 last Saturday, are hoping to avoid yet another postopener swoon. In 2004 Clemson won its first game, then lost the next four. Last year it won its opener, then dropped three of four--including a 16--13 OT loss to the Eagles. That was the first game started by BC QB Matt Ryan (below), who proceeded to lead the Eagles on a four-game winning streak.
ABC 3:30 p.m.

SUNDAY 9/10

Padres at Giants
San Diego picked up another body (and a big one at that) last week at the waiver deadline, getting hefty lefty David Wells from the Red Sox. Boomer will enter a tight wild-card race. The Padres have a one-game lead on the Phillies, with San Francisco 2 1/2 games back.
ESPN 8 p.m.

Colts at Giants
All eyes will be on the arms of quarterbacks Peyton and Eli Manning (page 72). But if their first head-to-head matchup is a tight one, it could be decided by the leg of Adam Vinatieri . After getting bounced from the playoffs last year on a missed last-minute field goal against the Steelers, Indianapolis went out and signed free agent Vinatieri, who's got two Super Bowl--winning kicks on his r�sum�.
NBC 8:15 p.m.

SI PICK OF THE WEEK

MONDAY 9/11

Striking Poses

The women's bowling pro tour, the PWBA, folded in 2003 because it couldn't attract enough sponsorship dollars. So what does a sport do to get noticed? Makeovers, baby! The 16 bowlers in the USBC Women's Challenge--led by 2006 U.S. Amateur champ Diandra Asbaty (above)--were picked for their ability to pick up stares as well as spares. The five-part series features a tournament in Las Vegas on one lane. When they're not on the lanes, bowlers will meet with stylists and receive new hairdos, makeup and, yes, manicures. Those bowling balls can be hell on nails.
ESPN2 9:30 p.m.

TUESDAY 9/12