As I write this, I am half-watching the Michigan State-Pittsburgh football game on ESPN. I have no rooting interest in this game whatsoever. It’s just the most interesting game I found when I sat down at noon to watch football.

In a perfect world, I would be watching Penn State struggle against the University of Buffalo, but I have my cable through Comcast, and they haven’t added the Big Ten Network (BTN), which is broadcasting the game.

You know what? I don’t care. I love Penn State football and would enjoy cursing the fumble that set up Buffalo’s field goal or wondering why Austin Scott has only carried the ball three times for zero yards in the first half. But I don’t think Comcast should be forced to put BTN on its regular cable tier instead of the sports tier, which Comcast wants.

I think everyone should enjoy as many cable channels as possible, but basic tiers are filled with enough crap as it is. BTN will only have a handful of football games so regular TV viewers shouldn’t have to pay higher bills (The Big Ten wants $1.10 per customer, which will surely be passed on) for the coach’s shows and volleyball and soccer and other minor sports which will make up much of the program schedule.

I would watch some of those things, and I pay my $5 per month for the sports tier which provides me with games galore. I’d even pay another buck to get BTN, but I don’t think everyone should.

Which is why I’m content with checking the online Gametracker every so often to see if PSU will cover the spread and help me in my college football Pick ‘Em pool. Besides, this MSU-Pitt game isn’t that bad.