Weekend ratings predictions.

First, the results of last week’s predictions.

MLB on TBS, Cubs/Dodgers (Game 3). Prediction: 3.2. Final rating: 3.2. The final game of the Cubs’ season was up 14% in ratings from the Phillies/Rockies game on the comparable night last year. Overall, the Dodgers’ three-game sweep of the Cubs averaged a 3.1 rating, up 3% from a 3.0 for the Diamondbacks’ sweep of the Cubs in ’07.
MLB on TBS, Angels/Red Sox (Game 3). Prediction: 3.4. Final rating: 3.9. To put in perspective how big a draw the New York Yankees are, the strong 3.9 rating for Angels/Red Sox last Sunday was still down 28% from the comparable Indians/Yankees game last year.
EliteXC on CBS. Prediction: 1.6. Final rating: 2.7. The 2.7 for the third edition of Saturday Night Fights on CBS was up 59% from a 1.7 for the second show in July, but down 10% from a 3.0 for the inaugural broadcast in May. In the key adults 18-49 demo, Saturday Night Fights finished behind Saturday Night Football on ABC.
Saturday Night Football on ABC, regional. Prediction: 3.8. Final rating: 4.2. The 4.2 for regional coverage featuring Ohio State/Wisconsin was up 45% from last year. So far this season, Saturday Night Football is averaging a 4.2 rating, up 20% from a 3.5 last year.
NFL on CBS, Bengals/Cowboys. Prediction: 11.9. Final rating: 12.6. Even opposite the winless Bengals, the Cowboys remain a big draw. The 12.6 final rating for Bengals/Cowboys last Sunday was up 33% from a 9.5 for Chargers/Broncos in ’07.
Sunday Night Football on NBC, Steelers/Jaguars. Prediction: 9.6. Final rating: 8.8. Opposite the baseball playoffs, Sunday Night Football sank to its second lowest ratings of the season. The 8.8 rating for Steelers/Jaguars marks a 21% drop from the 11.2 for Bears/Packers last year, and is the eighth-lowest rating for a Sunday Night Football telecast on NBC.
NASCAR on ABC, Amp Energy 500. Prediction: 4.3. Final rating: 4.6. The 4.6 for the Amp Energy 500 was even with the comparable race last year, and tied last year’s race as the highest rated NASCAR telecast on ABC since the network gained rights to the sport in ’07.

This week’s predictions:

MLB on FOX, Phillies/Dodgers, 8 PM Sunday — With an NFL lead-in and broadcast network exposure, look for Phillies/Dodgers to draw very well on Sunday night. Last year, Game 3 of the ALCS on FOX drew a 6.6 on a Monday night. Prediction: 7.3.
MLB on TBS, Red Sox/Rays, 8 PM Saturday — On a stacked Saturday night and opposide LSU/Florida on CBS and NASCAR on ABC, do not expect gigantic numbers for Game 2 of the ALCS. Prediction: 4.0.
NBA on TNT, Nuggets/Suns, 10 PM Saturday — While indoor baseball airs on TBS, outdoor basketball takes center stage on TNT. The NBA’s outdoor game arrives with possibly even less juice than July’s WNBA outdoor game, and very little in the way of promotion. Don’t expect this preseason match-up to make much of a dent in the ratings. Prediction: 0.8.
NASCAR on ABC, Bank of America 500, 7 PM Saturday — NASCAR heads to primetime on Saturday, coming off a solid 4.6 rating for last week’s Amp Energy 500. Last year’s Bank of America 500 drew a 4.2 opposite Game 2 of Red Sox/Indians on FOX. This year’s race may have even stiffer competition in the form of LSU/Florida on CBS. Prediction: 4.1.
College football on ABC, Oklahoma/Texas, 12 PM Saturday — This heavwyweight rivalry game may be hampered in the ratings by its Noon ET start time, but should still draw the highest rating of any sporting event on Saturday. Prediction: 6.1.
College football on ABC, regional, 3:30 PM Saturday — With what should be a strong lead-in in the form of Oklahoma/Texas, regional action featuring Notre Dame, Ohio State and USC should draw a large audience. Prediction: 4.9.
SEC on CBS, LSU/Florida, 8 PM Saturday — This matchup of the last two national champions should be a big draw on CBS Saturday night. Last year, when LSU was #1 and Florida was #9, their classic battle drew a 5.3 on CBS in prime time. Expect similar numbers this time around. Prediction: 5.1.
NFL on FOX, Cowboys/Cardinals, 4:15 PM Sunday — Yet again, arguably the biggest draw in the NFL will be featured in the late afternoon timeslot. This week, however, ratings are almost guaranteed to decline, as last year’s comparable match-up, Patriots/Cowboys, drew an unattainable 18.0/34. Prediction: 13.3.
Sunday Night Football on NBC, Patriots/Chargers, 8:15 PM Sunday — NFL action on NBC should win the ratings battle against baseball on FOX Sunday night, though Patriots/Chargers is likely to finish with a single-digit rating opposite Phillies/Dodgers. Last year’s Saints/Seahawks game drew a 7.1. Prediction: 9.0.