Catch the Bowl Games at a Local Sports Bar

Maybe you didn’t get that big screen television as a present this year.

It’s ok—there are a lot of sports bars in Northern Virginia where you can watch the Bowl Championship Series games (see a schedule below).

No matter where your college football allegiance lies, here are of a few spots you might try in Arlington, Alexandria and Fairfax.

Of course, feel free to add your own suggestions in the comments section below, and post a review of these places to the Patch Places directory by clicking on the linked addresses.

FAIRFAX COUNTY

Lucky’s Sports Theatre and Grill

7027 Manchester Blvd., Alexandria (703) 922-0404

Yes, that’s “theatre” with an –re. This Kingstowne-area spot has a good number of televisions and the layout is intelligent, making it easy for most patrons to actually see the TVs without craning their necks or turning around. The bar area allows smoking.

Champp’s

11724 Fair Oaks, Oakton (703) 383-1200

 (703) 318-7600

This chain sports bar and restaurant has multiple locations that get varying reviews of the service. With multiple televisions, a good bar and solid pub fare, Champp’s can be quite popular.

Glory Days Grill

The original Glory Days opened in Burke in 1996. There are now 11 locations in Northern Virginia. Most of them can get pretty loud. Fortunately, the restaurant offers small speaker boxes for your table if you want to hear the ref’s calls.

Here are the locations in Fairfax County and City:

 (703) 866-1911

 (703) 266-4100

3059 Nutley St., Oakton (703) 204-0900

 (703) 390-5555

 (703) 372-1770

Hard Times Café

 (703) 267-9590

6362 Springfield Plaza, Springfield (703) 913-5600

Another chain sports bar and restaurant, all Hard Times Cafés are large, open spaces with multiple televisions, good bar food and pool tables. There are also Hard Times Cafés in Alexandria and Arlington.

ARLINGTON AND ALEXANDRIA

Bailey’s

 (703) 465-1300

Bailey’s is located in the Ballston Common mall and has more screens than you can shake your fist at, visible from all areas of this large restaurant and bar.

Carpool

(703) 532-7665

True to its name, Carpool pays homage to the love of the American automobile and has multiple pool tables, dart boards and yes, big screens.

Clarendon Grill

(703) 524-7455

Del Ray Pizzeria

(703) 549-2999

This tight-knit neighborhood spot has enough screens—and good pizza, too. Parking can be difficult to find when Mount Vernon Avenue is hopping.

First Down Sports Bar & Grill

(703) 465-8888

First Down is described on Yelp as “dive-y,” but the hot wings get good reviews and there are plenty of screens.

Hard Times Café

(703) 528-2233

(703) 837-0050

Hard Times Café is a chain with multiple locations in Virginia and Maryland. Harkening back to Depression-era chili parlors, Hard Times specializes in chili among its other menu items.

The Lounge Restaurant

100 S. Reynolds St., Alexandria
New this year in Alexandria’s West End, The Lounge Restaurant has “more TVs than should be legal” in the relatively small space, according to one Yelp reviewer. Food and service have both gotten solid reviews.

Spider Kelly’s

(703) 312-8888

Spider Kelly’s has expanded has a large sports bar area with multiple big screen TVs. Some online reviews ding the bouncers, and the place can get crowded, particularly Saturday nights.  But there are plenty of screens and a more-than-adequate bar.

Who’s Playing When in the BCS?

Rose Bowl

Oregon vs. Wisconsin

Jan. 2, 2012, 5:10 p.m. ET

Tostitos Fiesta Bowl

Stanford vs. Oklahoma State

Jan. 2, 2012, 8:45 p.m. ET

Allstate Sugar Bowl

Michigan vs. Virginia Tech

Jan. 3, 2012, 8:30 p.m. ET

Discover Orange Bowl

Clemson vs. West Virginia

Jan. 4, 2012, 8:30 p.m. ET

BCS National Championship

LSU vs. Alabama

Jan. 9, 2012, 8:30 p.m. ET