Originally published Wednesday, August 13, 2008 at 12:00 AM

Olympics best bets

Prime time, 8 p.m. to midnight on NBC (or 3-9 a.m. and 3-9 p.m. CBUT) • Michael Phelps won't be swimming for a gold medal, as he appears...

PREV of NEXT

Jonathan Horton

2008 Olympics Video Coverage at NBC Olympics.com!

Prime time, 8 p.m. to midnight on NBC (or 3-9 a.m. and 3-9 p.m. CBUT)

• Michael Phelps won't be swimming for a gold medal, as he appears only in the 200 IM semifinal (goes off at 7:02 p.m. Wednesday PDT). That leaves us time to cheer on Jason Lezak, the anchor hero of the 400 freestyle relay, as he goes it alone in the 100 free. On the women's side, Katie Hoff and Natalie Coughlin, both already medalists in Beijing, lead Team USA in the 800 freestyle relay final.

• In gymnastics, it's time to crown the men's all-around champion. Jonathan Horton and Alexander Artimev represent the USA. Two-time reigning world champion Yang Wei of China, who won silver eight years ago in Sydney, is heavily favored to win gold.

• For you beach volleyball enthusiasts, Misty-May Treanor and Kerri Walsh continue to attempt to extend their dominance over Norway.

• China could sweep the diving events in Beijing, and reigning world champions Qin Kai and Wang Feng are good bets to win synchro springboard gold.

Daytime, 10 a.m.-1 p.m., NBC

• USA's Nicole Branagh and Elaine Youngs take on Cuba in beach volleyball. Also: more swimming preliminaries, and USA women's water polo, which medaled in last two Olympics, against defending Olympic champion Italy.

Elsewhere on cable TV

• USA women's hoops meets Mali on USA Network and NBC's Olympic basketball channel (Real time start: 7:15 a.m.).

• USA baseball opens with South Korea on MSNBC (Real time start: 3 a.m.)

Note: Broadcasters won't reveal exact times

events will be aired; only windows.

More Olympics headlines...

E-mail article Print view Share: Digg Newsvine