First, the results of last week’s predictions.
- Saturday Night Football on ABC, Ohio State/USC. Prediction: 7.9. Final rating: 7.0. The 7.0 rating for Ohio State/USC is the best for a regular season college football game since Notre Dame/USC drew a 9.0/16 in ’06.
- NASCAR on ABC, Sylvania 300. Prediction: 3.6. Final rating: 3.8. ABC saw a solid 15% increase in ratings for its coverage of the Sylvania 300. The 3.8 rating is the best for the race since the Chase for the Cup began in ’04, though it should be pointed out the race aired on cable until last year.
- NFL on CBS, Jets/Patriots. Prediction: 15.6. Final rating: 15.3. Ratings soared for this marquee NFL match-up. The 15.3 final rating marks a 42% increase from a 10.8 for Chiefs/Bears last year, and is easily the highest rated game of the young NFL season.
- Sunday Night Football, Steelers/Browns. Prediction: 10.2. Final rating: 10.8. This Sunday Night Football game may not have had much marquee value, but the 10.8 final rating marks a 10% increase from a 9.8 for Chargers/Patriots in ’07.
- Monday Night Football, Cowboys/Eagles. Prediction: 8.6. Final rating: N/A.
This week’s predictions:
- NFL on CBS, Steelers/Eagles, 4:15 PM Sunday — Sunday’s late game on CBS figures to attract significant attention in Pennsylvania. Expect the rest of the country to have interest as well, though not enough to push the ratings for this game into the stratosphere. Prediction: 13.4.
- Sunday Night Football on NBC, Cowboys/Packers, 8:15 PM Sunday — This match-up of storied NFL franchises figures to give NBC one of its best ever Sunday Night Football ratings. Prediction: 12.9.
- Golf on NBC, Ryder Cup, 12 PM Sunday — Tiger Woods‘ absence has led to plummeting ratings for televised golf. That being said, look for the Ryder Cup to somewhat buck that trend, as the event’s appeal does not seem to depend on one individual player. In 2006, Sunday coverage of the Ryder Cup drew a 2.7. In ’04, the last time the Ryder Cup was held in the U.S., Sunday coverage drew a 3.1. Prediction: 2.6.
- College football on ABC, regional, 3:30 PM Saturday — Notre Dame may be a better draw than last year, but do not expect ABC’s early game on Saturday to match the 3.7 for last year’s Penn State/Michigan matchup. Prediction: 3.0.
- Saturday Night Football on ABC, Georgia/Arizona State, 8 PM Saturday — This solid match-up is no Ohio State/USC. Still, look for a decent jump in ratings over last year’s 3.2 for Washington State/USC and Iowa/Wisconsin. Prediction: 3.4.
- SEC on CBS, Florida/Tennessee, 3:30 PM Saturday — Thanks to a healthy helping of Tim Tebow mania and a recent run of success, the Florida Gators are a bonafide draw in college football. With that in mind, look solid numbers for their rivalry game against Tennessee. Prediction: 3.1.
- College football on ESPN, LSU/Auburn, 7:45 PM Saturday — When Auburn met LSU on ESPN last year, the game drew a 3.2 national rating, one of the best of the season on the network. While this game may not quite match that number, expect strong ratings. Prediction: 2.8.
- MLB on FOX, regional, 3:30 PM Saturday — For the last five weeks, no MLB telecast on FOX has drawn even a 1.8 rating. While Twins/Rays and Brewers/Reds both have bearing on the playoff race, FOX will send most of the country a generally suspense-free Cardinals/Cubs match-up featuring one team 5.5 games out of the Wildcard spot and the other a lock to win its division. Prediction: 1.8.
