First, the results of last week’s predictions:
- World Series on FOX, Red Sox/Rockies Game 3. Prediction: 9.7. Final rating: 8.5. Red Sox/Rockies Game 3 was easily the lowest rated Game 3 in World Series history. The 8.5 rating made the game the second-lowest rated World Series game of all time.
- World Series on FOX, Red Sox/Rockies Game 4. Prediction: 12.2. Final rating: 12.6. One night after the second-lowest rating in World Series history, FOX drew its highest Major League Baseball rating in two years. The 12.6 for the Red Sox’ clinching victory over the Rockies was a 21% increase over the 10.4 rating for Game 4 in ’06.
- Saturday Night Football on ABC, Ohio State/Penn State. Prediction: 4.3. Final rating: 4.6. The #1 ranked Buckeyes brought ABC its highest Saturday Night Football rating of the season.
- College football on ABC, regional. Prediction: 2.6. Final rating: 2.7. Regional coverage in the noon window fell 4% from a 2.8 rating in the same timeslot last year.
- College football on ABC, regional. Prediction: 2.8. Final rating: 3.3. Late afternoon college football coverage fell 18% from the comparable window in ’06; the 3.5 average rating for three college football games on ABC last weekend marks a 3% improvement over the 3.4 average for two games last year.
- SEC on CBS, Georgia/Florida. Prediction: 2.9. Final rating: 4.0. SEC football continues to be a surprise hit on CBS this year. The 4.0 rating for Georgia/Florida is a 14% jump over the 3.5 rating for the same match-up last year.
- NASCAR on ABC, Pep Boys Auto 500. Prediction: 3.6. Final rating: 4.0. NASCAR continues falling on ABC. The 4.0 rating for the Pep Boys Auto 500 is a sharp 17% drop from last year.
- NFL on FOX, Washington/Patriots. Prediction: 13.3. Final rating: 13.1. The New England Patriots are a big draw. The 13.1 rating for their game against Washington was higher than any game of the Red Sox/Rockies World Series.
This week’s predictions:
- NFL on CBS, Patriots/Colts, 4:15 PM Sunday — For the second time this season, CBS will air a match-up of high profile undefeated teams. In October, CBS drew an 18.0 rating for Patriots/Cowboys, when both teams were 5-0. While many in the media are prognosticating a rating of 20 or higher for Patriots/Colts, do not be surprised if Sunday’s game fails to top Pats/Cowboys as the highest rated of the season. Prediction: 17.6.
- Sunday Night Football on NBC, Cowboys/Eagles, 8:15 PM Sunday — Terrell Owens is far removed from the hyper-controversial status he had last season. With that in mind, Cowboys/Eagles is far less of a grudge match than it was in 2006. With Patriots/Colts stealing the headlines, look for NBC to draw a decent, though disappointing, number on Sunday. Prediction: 10.2.
- SEC on CBS, LSU/Alabama, 3:30 PM Saturday — AFC and SEC football have been a boon for CBS this year. Look for the rematch between LSU and former coach Nick Saban to improve upon the solid 3.9 rating for LSU/Tennessee last year. Prediction: 4.8.
- College football on ESPN, Arizona St./Oregon, 6:40 PM Saturday — The #4 and #5 teams square off in a rare ESPN Pac-10 battle. Despite limited national exposure, can the Sun Devils and Ducks draw a big audience? Prediction: 3.4.
- College football on ABC, regional, 3:30 PM Saturday — ABC has four underwhelming match-ups in the 3:30 PM window on Saturday; look for a mediocre number for a mediocre slate of games. Prediction: 2.7.
- Saturday Night Football on ABC, regional, 8 PM Saturday — FSU and USC are not quite the draws they were earlier in this season, or this decade for that matter. Prediction: 3.3.
- Notre Dame football on NBC, Navy/Notre Dame, 2:30 PM Saturday — NBC cannot be looking forward to the battle between Navy and Notre Dame on Saturday; the game will be hard pressed to draw a 1.5. Prediction: 1.6.
- NASCAR on ABC, Dickies 500, 3:30 PM Sunday — A later timeslot should help NASCAR on ABC. In a similar timeslot, last year’s Dickies 500 drew a 4.3 rating. Prediction: 4.1.
