First, the results of last week’s predictions.
- MLB on TBS, Red Sox/Rays. Prediction: 4.4. Final rating: 5.4. While the ratings for Game 7 of the ALCS understandably drew the most attention, Game 6 last Saturday night finished as the third-most viewed Major League Baseball playoff game ever on cable.
- MLB on TBS, Red Sox/Rays. Prediction: 7.1. Final rating: 7.9. The Rays’ pennant-clinching victory over the Red Sox last Sunday was the highest rated and most viewed MLB broadcast ever on cable.
- Saturday Night Football on ABC, Missouri/Texas. Prediction: 4.7. Final rating: 3.1. Opposite Game 6 of the ALCS, what seemed like a marquee matchup between Big 12 powers drew a relatively disappointing 3.1 rating, up 3% from a 3.0 for last year’s comparable Michigan/Illinois tilt.
- NASCAR on ABC, Tums QuikPak 500. Prediction: 3.8. Final rating: 3.3. NASCAR continues to draw mediocre ratings on ABC. The 3.3 for last Sunday’s Tums QuikPak 500 marks an 11% drop from a 3.7 for last year’s comparable Subway 500.
- NFL on CBS, Colts/Packers. Prediction: 14.2. Final rating: 14.2. Peyton Manning versus Brett Favre likely would have drawn a bigger audience. As it is, Manning v. Aaron Rodgers drew a big enough audience for CBS. The 14.2 final rating for last Sunday’s Colts/Packers game marks a 4% drop from a 14.8 for Vikings/Cowboys on FOX last year, but was the highest rated sporting event of the weekend by far.
- Sunday Night Football on NBC, Seahawks/Buccaneers. Prediction: 7.6. Final rating: 6.3. Opposite Game 7 of the ALCS, Sunday Night Football on NBC drew the lowest rating ever for a prime time NFL game on broadcast. The 6.3 rating for the Buccaneers’ win last week was off 24% from an 8.3 for Steelers/Broncos last year.
This week’s predictions:
- MLB on FOX, Rays/Phillies, 8 PM Saturday — Game 3 of Phillies/Rays seems to be a lock to draw the lowest rating ever for a World Series game. The game is airing on a Saturday night, the lowest rated night of the week, and the start was delayed until 10 PM ET due to rain. Look for a steep drop from the already weak 8.1 rating Game 2 drew on Thursday night. Prediction: 7.2.
- MLB on FOX, Rays/Phillies, 8 PM Sunday — While Saturday night’s Game 3 should draw poor ratings, look for Sunday’s Game 4 to put up the best numbers of the series. With a post-NFL timeslot, and airing on the most watched night of the week, a double-digit rating is far from out of the question. Prediction: 10.3.
- College football on ABC, Penn St./Ohio St., 8 PM Saturday — This Big 10, top ten battle figures to put up good numbers opposite the World Series. Last year, the same matchup drew a 4.6 rating opposite Red Sox/Rockies Game 3. Prediction: 4.4.
- NASCAR on ABC, Pep Boys Auto 500, 2 PM Sunday — ABC’s NASCAR ratings are stuck in neutral. So far this season, the network has averaged a 3.7 rating for six NASCAR telecasts, even with the six comparable races in ’07. Last year’s Pep Boys Auto 500 drew a 4.0 rating; expect similar results this year. Prediction: 3.9.
- NFL on FOX, Giants/Steelers, 4 PM Sunday — Look for this battle between the Steelers and the Super Bowl champion Giants to give FOX a small bump in ratings over the comparable Washington/Patriots game last year. Prediction: 13.9.
