SPORTS ON WEEKEND TV

Pro football’s playoffs and three intersectional college basketball games involving local teams highlight the sports viewing choices on the first weekend of the ‘90s.

Much of Southern California figures to be watching as the Rams meet the New York Giants at 9:30 a.m. Sunday on Channels 2 and 8. A phenomenal 51% of all Southland television sets in use last Sunday morning were tuned to the Rams’ upset win over the Philadelphia Eagles.

The San Francisco 49ers continue their drive to become the first team to successfully defend a Super Bowl championship since the 1979 Pittsburgh Steelers at 1 p.m. today on Channels 2 and 8 against the Minnesota Vikings. Omen department: The Vikings are the last team to defeat the 49ers in the playoffs, with a 36-24 win after the 1987 season.

The weekend’s other playoff games have the Cleveland Browns playing host to the Buffalo Bills at 9:30 a.m. on Channels 4, 36 and 39 today, and the Pittsburgh Steelers facing the Denver Broncos at 1 p.m. Sunday on Channels 4, 36 and 39.

In college basketball, UCLA, whose 9-1 record and No. 15 ranking has rekindled memories of the championship seasons, heads east for a non-conference game at No. 8 Louisville, 1 p.m. Sunday on Channels 2 and 8. Loyola Marymount, which cracked the Associated Press Top 25 this week for the first time this season, takes its No. 25 ranking into Philadelphia to face No. 17 La Salle at 5 p.m. today on ESPN. In a rivalry most associated with football, USC entertains Notre Dame at 10:30 p.m. tonight on Prime Ticket.

The Southland’s winter professional teams make four television appearances this weekend. The Lakers visit the Golden State Warriors at 7:30 p.m. tonight on Channels 9, 51 and 63 and try to maintain their mastery over the Miami Heat Sunday at 7:30 p.m. on Prime Ticket.

The improving Clippers are at Madison Square Garden for a 4:30 p.m. Sunday contest versus the New York Knicks on Channel 5, while the Kings skate against the Toronto Maple Leafs at 5 p.m. tonight on Prime Ticket.

The Professional Golfer’s Assn. tour, the most lucrative of all individual professional sports with a record total purse in excess of $45 million, begins its 1990 campaign with the Tournament of Champions, with third round coverage today at 1 p.m. on ESPN and final round coverage Sunday at 2 p.m. on Channels 7 and 10 and at noon on Channel 42.