The sporting gods have once again smiled on Arizona with a cavalcade of events scheduled before the end of the year.

An industrious sports fan in the Phoenix area can take their pick of college football bowl games, a match-up of nationally ranked college basketball teams and a high-profile high school football exhibition, in addition to the standard array of professional events.

Some of us have to work, so we tasked our intern- who’s long on free time and short on funds- with mapping out a reasonable route to hitting as many of these major events as possible.

Here’s what he came up with, taking us around the Arizona sports world in eight days. 

FIND A GAME TO WATCH: Sports on TV listings

Dec. 23: GEICO Bowl

With my home base being in Tempe, the first item on my list is the GEICO State Champions Bowl Series football game between the local powerhouse Chandler High Wolves and Miami Northwestern High Bulls.

The game is to be played at Grand Canyon University, marking the first time that GCU has hosted a football game. 

Though the game begins at 7:30 p.m., Tempe is only a short 25 minute drive to the GCU soccer stadium and tickets for adults are a reasonable $7.75.

I’ll make sure to turn on the radio on my drive there to catch the first quarter of the Suns vs. Timberwolves game beginning at 7 p.m.

Distance: 25 minutes / 20 miles

Cost: $7.75

MORE INFORMATION: Chandler to play Florida team in football game at GCU

Dec. 24: Cardinals vs. Giants

Day two of my quest takes me to Glendale where the New York Giants (2-12) are visiting to take on the Arizona Cardinals (6-8).

Giants quarterback Eli Manning will be headed back to Arizona where he is a perfect 3-0 in his career, including winning Super Bowl XLII in 2008.

StubHub has tickets for just $30 on the terrace at University of Phoenix Stadium, which is where I will be catching the 2:25 p.m. start of the Cardinals’ final home game of the season.

Distance: 32 minutes / 29 miles

Cost: $30

FIND A GAME: Week 16 NFL schedule rundown

Dec. 25

It’s Christmas, which means not moving from the couch unless there’s food involved.

Dec. 26: Cactus Bowl

After finally shaking my body out of its sentient Christmas state, I will be heading to downtown Phoenix to check out the Cactus Bowl at 7 p.m.

The UCLA Bruins (6-6) of the Pac-12 will be taking on the Kansas State Wildcats (7-5) of the Big 12 in a matchup played at Chase Field, home of the Arizona Diamondbacks MLB team.

Who doesn’t love football on baseball fields? The odd angles, interesting sight lines, and intimate setting make for a great bowl game atmosphere.

Vivid Seats currently has tickets in the outfield bleachers, which are just a few feet away from the end zone, for just $10.

Distance: 20 minutes / 11 miles

Cost: $10

MORE INFORMATION: UCLA to face Kansas State in the Cactus Bowl

Dec. 27: GCU vs. Morgan State

This is where the fun begins.

Day five of my journey will take me out of the Grand Canyon State and into Sin City where the GCU Lopes men’s basketball team will be taking on the Morgan State Bears at Orleans Arena in Las Vegas. 

Though I will be in Las Vegas where personal funds have been known to disappear, I can at least hold on to my money for this game as admission is free for the 7 p.m. start.

Tickets are on sale at the GCU Arena from now until game day but walk-up admission tickets will be based on a first-come, first-served basis.

In fact, the only money spent on this game will be for gas on the exactly five hour drive to Vegas from Tempe.

While at the game, I’ll make sure to whip out my phone and catch the Arizona Wildcats (7-5) football clash with the Purdue Boilermakers (6-6) at the Foster Farms Bowl in Santa Clara at 7 p.m. as well.

Distance:  5 hours / 310 miles

Cost: FREE

Dec. 28: Coyotes vs. Maple Leafs 

This is the day to get my hockey fix as the Arizona Coyotes face the Toronto Maple Leafs, and ex-Scottsdale resident Auston Matthews, in Glendale.

Second-level seating is priced at $31.

The action will take place at Gila River Arena in Glendale, directly next to University of Phoenix Stadium.

The game starts at 7 p.m. 

Distance: 32 minutes / 29 miles

Cost: $31

Dec. 29: The Arizona Bowl

In a game featuring two separate “Aggie” teams, the New Mexico State Aggies (6-6) will be taking on the Utah State Aggies (6-6) in the Arizona Bowl at 3:30 p.m.

The matchup will take place in Tucson at Arizona Stadium, home of the University of Arizona Wildcats.

Though most ticket websites are selling tickets for $35+, Ticketfly currently has tickets for as low as $25.

Utah State is also selling tickets on their school website for $27.

The two-hour drive to Tucson from Tempe will be spent listening to the Sun Bowl on the radio as the Arizona State Sun Devils (7-5) take on the No. 24 North Carolina State Wolfpack (8-4) at 1 p.m. in El Paso, Texas.

Once the game ends, I might be able to make it home to Tempe to catch the second half of the 8 p.m. Suns vs. Kings game.

Distance: 1 hour and 53 minutes/ 111 miles (Editor’s note: Terell originally wanted to go to El Paso, that’s 6 hours and 15 minutes / 425 miles)

Cost: $25

MORE INFORMATION: New Mexico State ends bowl drought

Dec. 30: Fiesta Bowl, ASU vs. UofA 

This has traditionally been a big day in the sports world as golf legend Tiger Woods and NBA superstar LeBron James were both born on December 30th.

It will be a different big day for me as I will be doubling up on Arizona sporting events.

First, I will be heading to Glendale for a third time to watch the No. 11 Washington Huskies (10-2) play the No. 9 Penn State Nittany Lions (10-2) at University of Phoenix Stadium in the Fiesta Bowl.

Tickets for the game even at terrace level are $70 so I’ll make sure to save my Christmas money for a seat.

The game is scheduled for 2 p.m. which should give me a chance to make most of the game before leaving early and hopping in the car to head to Tucson for a major college basketball tilt.

At 7 p.m., the No. 3 Arizona State Sun Devils basketball team will take on conference foe and in-state rival No. 18 Arizona Wildcats at the McKale Center.

Tickets for the UofA vs. ASU game are sold out and it looks like it’d take a couple hundred dollars to secure a pair of seats on third-party sites. 

Though the event is pricey, barring an upset it will be the first time the two teams have met while ranked in more than 20 years, so well worth the price of admission. 

Distance: 3 hours / 161 miles

Cost: $200 + 

MORE INFORMATION: Washington will make Fiesta Bowl debut vs. Penn State

Dec. 31

I have made it to the end of my destination and my final stop is Talking Stick Resort Arena to watch the Phoenix Suns take on the Philadelphia 76ers at 6 p.m.

After all of the money spent over the week, it is a relief that upper level seating is only $20 on StubHub.

The game will be over with enough time to enjoy all the New Year’s Eve festivities and get some well-needed rest to prepare for 2018. 

Distance: 20 minutes / 11 miles

Cost: $20

Final Stats

Total Miles Driven: 682 miles

Total Minutes Driven: 12 hours 

Total Cost: $323.75