First, the results of last week’s predictions:
Last week’s sports Nielsen ratings are unavailable.
This week’s predictions:
- NFL on CBS, Patriots at Cowboys, 4 PM Sunday — The two most high-profile teams in the NFL play each other on Sunday, and both have unblemished records. Look for this game to show a marked increase over Chiefs/Steelers last year. Prediction: 16.3.
- ALCS on FOX, Indians at Red Sox, 8 PM Saturday — The #7 market in the U.S. is good for big ratings, thanks to the national following of the Boston Red Sox. Whether or not that nationally following will be able to offset the presence of a team from small-market Cleveland remains to be seen. Prediction: 5.6.
- NLCS on TBS, Diamondbacks at Rockies, 8 PM Sunday — Game 1 of this series drew a 3.6 rating, strong for TBS and poor for an LCS game. Game 2, which did not end until around 3:00 AM ET, might not even draw a 3.0 rating. Look for the highest rating of this series on Sunday, with only a lackluster Sunday Night Football game serving as competition. Prediction: 4.1.
- NASCAR on ABC, Bank of America 500, 7:30 PM Saturday — It has been a lackluster end of the season for NASCAR, as ratings have been generally disappointing. Last year, opposite Game 3 of the NLCS, NASCAR drew a 4.7 versus a 4.9 rating for baseball. Versus Indians/Red Sox, can NASCAR pull off the same type of performance? Prediction: 4.3.
- College football on ABC, Regional action, 3:30 PM Saturday — Look for a strong rating for the only college football telecast on ABC Saturday; the network has a decent slate of regional games, featuring high-profile programs South Carolina, USC and Penn State. Prediction: 4.8.
- SEC on CBS, LSU at Kentucky, 3:30 PM Saturday — The #1 ranked team in the nation plays in a Top 25 battle on Saturday, but CBS should not expect huge numbers, especially with #10 USC playing on ABC in the same timeslot. Prediction: 3.1.
- Notre Dame Football on NBC, Boston College at Notre Dame, 3:30 PM Saturday — NBC begins its run of five straight Notre Dame games with the 1-5 Irish’ match-up against unbeaten Boston College. Through two games, NBC is averaging a 2.2 rating for Notre Dame football, down 51% from a 4.3 rating for NBC’s first two games last year. Prediction: 2.6.
- Sunday Night Football on NBC, Saints/Seahawks, 8 PM Sunday — Perhaps flex scheduling all season long might help NBC; Saints/Seahawks is a lock to draw the lowest rating of the year so far for NBC. Last year, the comparable Raiders/Broncos game drew a 7.9/12. Prediction: 8.5.
