First, the results of last week’s predictions:
- Sunday Night Football on NBC, Patriots/Bills. Prediction: 10.8. Final rating: 9.3. Flexible scheduling is supposed to give NBC the most competitive match-ups possible. Needless to say, the Patriots’ slaughter of the Bills was not very competitive, and viewers tuned out. The 9.3 rating for the game marks a 2% drop from the 9.5 rating for Chargers/Broncos in ’06.
Thanks to the Thanksgiving Day holiday, ratings for most of last week’s events are unavailable.
This week’s predictions:
- College football on ABC, regional, 3:30 PM Saturday — #3 West Virginia playing for a potential spot in the national championship game could attract extra eyeballs for ABC Saturday afternoon. Prediction: 3.7.
- Saturday Night Football on ABC, Kansas/Missouri, 8 PM Saturday — Potentially the biggest game of the season so far in college football. With LSU losing yesterday, the winner of this game could end up as the #1 team in the country. Despite Kansas and Missouri being less-than-marquee programs in college football, look for this game to draw a big rating. Prediction: 6.9.
- SEC on CBS, Florida St./Florida, 5 PM Saturday — The second game of a CBS SEC doubleheader is really only relevant to the residents of Tallahassee and Gainesville. Do not expect a marquee rating for a rivalry that has little impact on the national picture. Prediction: 3.3.
- Sunday Night Football on NBC, Eagles/Patriots, 8:15 PM Sunday — As the ratings show, viewers are not quite interested in watching the Patriots destroy their opponents. A double-digit rating may be out of the question for a game that is assuredly going to be an uncompetitive blowout. Prediction: 9.6.
