Once Vail and the Beav start spinning their lifts for the winter season, planning your weekend around the big game becomes less dependent on the matchup as it is on the snow forecast. Until that time however, college football is back on the weekend agenda, major league baseball playoffs are fast approaching, MLS soccer season is in full swing, and NFL football kicks off every Sunday (and Monday, and Thursday). So the question remains: where to while away weekends catching all the action (and better yet, how to catch all the action once it does start snowing)? Lucky for you, we've mapped out the valley's sports bar scene so you can pick and choose your game-day locale, even if you can't pick and choose your team's results. 

The Best Screen. Period.

The Remedy, Four Seasons Resort & Residences, Vail Village

Who knew that the biggest and screen in town happened to be at one of its toniest hotels? Plenty of people, actually, seeing as the 165-inch wall of televisions in the upscale bar area's dining section is kind of hard to miss. And while the screen (made up of multiple screens that can all play different games, along with other, smaller screens in other areas of the bar) is king, the food and drink selection is a reason to come in its own right, too. If your team kicks off at 11 a.m., plan your day around Munchie Brunchie, with bottomless Bloody Mary's and a gourmet breakfast prepared by executive chef Marcus Stewart.  Otherwise, the craft cocktail menu, local beer list, and burger and wings specials should see you through the afternoon and into the evening games, too. fourseasons.com, 970-477-8600

The Best Pizza Joint

Vendetta's, Vail Village

If you can snag a seat (and the bartender's attention), Vail Village's pizza bastion has televisions scattered throughout the dining room and expanded bar area, making this Bridge Street landmark the ideal place to post up with a group, a few pints, and order after order of mozzarella sticks and pizza by-the-slice. The pizza joint's locale and history makes it a popular destination for patrons from around the country, however, so be forewarned that your sought-after bar space might have you rubbing elbows with a fan rooting for your arch nemesis. vendettasvail.com, 970-476-5070

The Lifties' Hangout 

Altitude, The Evergreen Lodge, Vail Village

The sports bar within the Evergreen Lodge underwent a management change and renovation over the last few years, although it still continues to be a favorite haunt for locals and on-mountain employees to catch up with Sunday action after their shifts. The 19 televisions and a 100-inch projector have only helped solidify its standing as one of the few valley bars where you can catch any and every Sunday game, and with standards like a $13 burger anchoring the menu, you'll be penny-pinching yourself that you're still in Vail Village. evergreenvail.com/dining, 800-284-8245

Where to Get Your Finger-Lickin' Fix

BC Backcountry Wings, Main Street, Minturn

Minturn's wing shack might not have a wall of televisions or a jumbo screen that comes down for game day, but where there's wings, there's football (or at least there should be), and with an entire menu dedicated to sauces, spiciness, and bucket-sized specials paired with a few conveniently-placed TVs for game-watching, we just can't pass that up. backcountrywings.com, 970-763-5621

The Locals' Hangout

Bob's Place, Avon

You don't have to be named Bob to enjoy one of 27 televisions that stream games throughout the fall, or a menu that spans breakfast to late-night bites for whatever time kickoff happens to be, although if you're one of the many locals who have made the weekly pilgrimage to Bob's over the last nearly 20 years, none of this is news to you. bobsplace.co, 970-845-8556

Best Beer Selection

Vail Ale House, West Vail

With 20 rotating taps that feature craft beer from around the state and the region, it's easy to find yourself sidling up to the bar to catch your favorite team— and the team after — and maybe the team after that. Both the bar and restaurant area have TVs at pretty much every vantage point, so it's easy to catch your home team (even if no one else wants to). For Sunday games and Monday and Sunday night football, they even pull out a projector, so every seat in the house gets a front row view. vailalehouse.com, 970-476-4314

Best Pop-Up Viewing Venue

Vail Brewing Company, Solaris, Vail Village 

The Eagle-Vail-based brewery's tasting room in nearby Vail Village might have you fooled Monday through Saturday, but once Sunday hits, the beer-centric establishment drops down its projector for football fans to catch game day action while they sip.  They don't serve food on site, but we recommend grabbing a slice or a sandwich to-go from a nearby restaurant before you settle in for the evening. vailbrewingco.com, 970-470-4622

The Chillest Vibe

Gore Range Brewery, Edwards

A down-valley locale means less chance of crowds, with outdoor seating available for anyone who needs to take a break from Sunday's action. Although planning your game day around the Edwards brewery to avoid the throngs of Vail Village isn't the only reason to make the valley's oldest brewery your habitual game-viewing bar-of-choice — a comprehensive cocktail list, hearty pub fare, and, of course, a tap dedicated to the brewery's selection of beer made on-site have kept this brewpub atop locals' lists for years regardless of season. gorerangebrewery.com, 970-926-2739

The Foodie's Find

Bol, Solaris, Vail Village

Perhaps the valley's most overlooked game day destination, this haute bowling alley/bar/restaurant is the perfect place to graze on crispy confit chicken wings and lamb lollipops while sipping on selections from an award-winning cocktail menu (and rotating taps of regional craft brews), all while catching the action on the bar's monster-sized televisions. Bar space is limited, but if you really want to go big for game day, book a lane in the bowling alley for a winning experience. bolvail.com, 970-476-5300