TAMPA, Fla. — Buccaneers and Rowdies and Rays – oh my!
There's a lot of sports action going on regarding teams based in the Tampa Bay area this weekend, both on the professional and collegiate levels.
The Tampa Bay Bucs will take on Justin Fields and the Chicago Bears in their home opener on Sunday for Week 2 of the new NFL season, while The Tampa Bay Rays will have already played three games in their crucial series against division foes the Baltimore Orioles on Saturday.
Elsewhere, the Tampa Bay Rowdies – who have already cemented their spot in the postseason for the fifth straight year — will take on one of the top teams in the western conference of the USL.
USF also has a biggie coming up. The Bulls will welcome NCAA powerhouse Alabama to Raymond James Stadium on Saturday, a game that will be nationally televised.
Here is a list of all sporting events from local teams taking place this weekend.
Bucs 🏈
Time: 1 p.m.
Date: Sunday, Sept. 17
Place: Raymond James Stadium
Opponent: Chicago Bears
Watch: FOX, NFL+
After more than eight months, the Bucs are back at Raymond James Stadium to play an NFL regular season game. Baker Mayfield and the Bucs are going for back-to-back wins in the first two games of the season, but they face a tough test with Justin Fields and company roaring into town. Click here for ticket information.
Be sure to watch The Blitz at 8:30 a.m. every Sunday only on 10 Tampa Bay as Sports Director Evan Closky and Sports Anchor David Schiele give you full Bucs coverage leading up to each game.
Rays ⚾
Time: 7:05 p.m.
Date: Saturday, Sept. 16
Place: Oriole Park at Camden Yards
Opponent: Baltimore Orioles
Watch: Bally Sports Sun
Time: 1:35 p.m.
Date: Sunday, Sept. 17
Place: Oriole Park
Opponent: Baltimore Orioles
Watch: Bally Sports Sun
The Rays will be in the midst of its crucial four-game series against current AL East leaders the Baltimore Orioles. The team is currently four wins behind Baltimore to take over the top spot, so this series will certainly be one to watch.
Rowdies ⚽
Time: 8:30 p.m.
Date: Saturday, Sept. 16
Place: Toyota Field
Opponent: San Antonio FC
Watch: ESPN+
The Rowdies have already clinched their spot in this year's USL playoffs, so the team will use its remaining regular season games as momentum leading up until then. They will face San Antonio FC, one of the top teams in the Western Conference, this weekend. It's a match that will surely test if the Rowdies can compete against one of the hardest sides before they head into the postseason.
USF 🐂
Time: 3:30 p.m.
Date: Saturday, Sept. 16
Place: Raymond James Stadium
Opponent: Alabama Crimson Tide
Watch: ABC
The Bulls face one of – if not the toughest – test of their season this year. No. 10 Alabama Crimson Tide will come rolling through town on Saturday, Sept. 16. to take on the Bulls in a primetime match. USF currently has a 1-1 record, and head coach Alex Golesh said this game will serve as a testament to the foundation that the Bulls have set early in his tenure with the team.
Other Florida sports teams playing this weekend
- Florida State vs. Boston College: Noon Saturday, Sept. 16
- UCF vs. Villanova: 6:30 Saturday, Sept. 16
- Florida vs. Tennessee: 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 16
- Orlando City SC vs. Columbus Crew: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 16
- Inter Miami vs. Atlanta United: 5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 16
- USF vs. Elon (Men's soccer): 7 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 17