And that might be no bad thing, for there’s an absolute ton of sporting goodness for you to get stuck into. Whether it’s sizzling rivalries from the EFL Championship and the NBA, tackle-tastic American footy action, pulsating Premier League fixtures or delightful darts that butters your parsnips, read on below to find out more…

Sky Bet Championship

West Brom v Aston Villa, Friday 7 December, 7pm, and Reading v Sheffield United, 5.15pm, Saturday 8 December, Sky Sports Football/HD (CH 513/503)

There really is no such thing as an easy game in the Championship, with form books being about as useful as a hole-punched piece of toilet paper. The West Midlands derby between Albion and Villa features two sides that could be in promotion contention come May, with the away team in particular buoyed by the arrival of new boss (and Villa fan) Dean Smith. Sheffield United will also hope to tighten their grip on a place inside the top two when they travel to Reading, while the home side will be looking to distance themselves from the bottom three.

NFL

From Friday 7 December, Sky Sports Action/HD (CH 517/507)

If you’re a fan of watching helmeted behemoths slamming into one another while chasing an egg-shaped bit of leather, you’ll love the NFL! Kicking off a bumper week of games is a wildly unpredictable all-AFC South clash between Jacksonville and Tennessee. Then the stuttering Oakland Raiders will try to turn their season around against an offensively strong Pittsburgh team, before the Vikings and the Seahawks – two very evenly matched sides – go head to head in Seattle’s CenturyLink Field.

Jacksonville Jaguars @ Tennessee Titans, Friday 7 December, 12.30am

Pittsburgh Steelers @ Oakland Raiders, Monday 10 December, 1.10am

Minnesota Vikings @ Seattle Seahawks, Tuesday 11 December, 1am

NBA

From Friday 7 December, Sky Sports Arena/HD (CH 518/508)

Amusing team names and rivalries abound in this week’s sequence of NBA fixtures, with the New York Knicks taking on the Boston Celtics on Friday. Next up is a delightful double of Golden State against the Milwaukee Bucks and a Texas showdown between the Rockets and the Mavericks. Then, in the space of four days, the New Orleans Pelicans first travel to Detroit to take on the Pistons in what we are calling “The P Derby”, before hosting Oklahoma City the following Thursday. Make sure to check out our blagger’s guide to all things b-ball before you get stuck into that selection of slam-dunking action.

New York Knicks @ Boston Celtics, Friday 7 December, 1am

Houston Rockets @ Dallas Mavericks, Saturday 8 December, 11pm

Golden State Warriors @ Milwaukee Bucks, Saturday 8 December, 2.30am

New Orleans Pelicans @ Detroit Pistons, Sunday 9 December, 8.30pm

Oklahoma City Thunder @ New Orleans Pelicans, 13 December, 1am

Premier League

Newcastle United v Wolverhampton Wanderers, Sunday 9 December, 3.30pm, and Everton v Watford, Monday 10 December, 7pm, Sky Sports Premier League/HD (CH 512/503)

After a bruising sequence of ten games without a win at the start of the season, Newcastle shocked everyone by storming to two successive victories. As such, their upcoming contest against the fiery, newly promoted Wolves should be a cracker. The following day, Everton boss Marco Silva hosts his former side Watford in a clash that will no doubt be rife with fast, flowing, attractive football, and endless mentions of Silva’s contentious time in charge of the Hornets.

PDC World Darts Championship

From Thursday 13 December, 7pm, Sky Sports Arena/HD (CH 518/508)

Following his shock debut win at last year’s event, all eyes will be on reigning champ Rob Cross to see if he can repeat his momentous feat and win a second successive crown. But if he’s to do so, he’ll no doubt have to get past a resurgent Michael van Gerwen, whose scintillating form makes him the clear favourite to claim what would be a third World Championship title in six years.

Find out what’s on Sky Sports this week

Keep up to speed with the latest games, players, athletes and action with our Sky Sports schedule. Collecting together all the latest sports coverage from across the channels, there’s something for every fan to celebrate on our homepage!

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