Weekend ratings predictions.

• NHL on NBC, Red Wings/Blackhawks (1/1). Prediction: 2.4. Final rating: 2.5. The 2.5 final rating for the second NHL Winter Classic marks a 14% jump from last year’s 2.2.
• Capital One Bowl on ABC, Mich. St/Georgia (1/1). Prediction: 5.3. Final rating: 6.4. While the 6.4 rating for the Michigan St./Georgia Capital One Bowl was down 30% from last year’s 9.1 for Michigan/Florida, it still marked the highest rating of any of the non-BCS bowls.
• Rose Bowl on ABC, Penn. St./USC (1/1). Prediction: 13.0. Final rating: 11.7. The Rose Bowl drew its third-lowest rating during the BCS era. The 11.7 for USC’s win over Penn State was up 5% from an 11.1 last year, but down 16% from a 13.9 two years ago. Only last year’s game (11.1) and the 2003 game (11.3) drew lower ratings since the inception of the BCS.
• Orange Bowl on FOX, Cincinnati/Va. Tech (1/1). Prediction: 6.4. Final rating: 5.4. The 5.4 rating for the Orange Bowl was off 27% from last year’s 7.4, and is by far the lowest rating ever for a BCS bowl.
• Sugar Bowl on FOX, Alabama/Utah (1/2). Prediction: 8.7. Final rating: 7.8. While the 7.8 rating for the Sugar Bowl was up from last year’s comparable game, it still marked the seventh-lowest rating ever for a BCS bowl.
• NFL on NBC, Cardinals/Falcons. Prediction: 14.4. Final rating: 13.1. The 13.1 for the Cardinals’ victory over the Falcons last Saturday afternoon was down 6% from a 14.0 for Washington/Seahawks in the comparable slot in ’08. The 13.1 is the second-lowest rating for an NFL playoff game since 2003.
• NFL on NBC, Colts/Chargers. Prediction: 15.3. Final rating: 16.1. NBC saw a decent bump for its prime time Wild Card game; the Chargers’ OT victory over the Colts drew a 16.1 rating, up 7% from a 15.0 f0r Jaguars/Steelers in ’08. The 16.1 rating is the third-best for a Saturday Wild Card game this decade.
• NFL on CBS, Ravens/Dolphins. Prediction: 15.0. Final rating: 15.0. The 15.0 rating for the Ravens’ win over the Dolphins last Sunday afternoon was down 1% from a 15.1 for Giants/Buccaneers in the same timeslot last year.
• NFL on FOX, Eagles/Vikings. Prediction: 17.4. Final rating: 17.6. FOX drew a strong 17.6 rating for the Eagles’ win over the Vikings in the late Sunday afternoon timeslot, up 5% from a 16.7 for the comparable Titans/Chargers game last year.
• Fiesta Bowl on FOX, Ohio State/Texas. Prediction: 10.1. Final rating: 10.4. With two college football powerhouses battling down to the wire, it is no surprise that FOX saw its best rating ever for a non-National Championship BCS telecast. The 10.4 was up 35% from a 7.7 for last year’s Fiesta Bowl.

This week’s predictions:

• NFL on CBS, Ravens/Titans, 4:30 PM Saturday — Look for ratings to drop for the first playoff game of the weekend. While Ravens/Titans should draw strong numbers, it will likely pale in comparison to last year’s Seahawks/Packers game, which featured Brett Favre and drew a 17.0 rating, and even the comparable Colts/Ravens game two years ago, which featured Peyton Manning and drew a 16.4. Prediction: 16.0.
• NFL on FOX, Cardinals/Panthers, 8 PM Saturday — Ratings should fall sharply for this matchup of lower-profile NFC teams. While the Cardinals and Panthers can draw big audiences when provided with the right marquee opponents, this head-to-head meeting will likely fall far short of the 17.9 for the comparable game last year, which featured the Jaguars against the then-undefeated Patriots. Prediction: 15.9.
• NFL on FOX, Eagles/Giants, 1 PM Sunday — Not only is this an NFC East rivalry game featuring the #1 and #4 television markets in the country, but it also features the defending Super Bowl Champions. Look for the ratings to surpass the 20.2 for last year’s Chargers/Colts tilt. Prediction: 21.3.
• NFL on CBS, Chargers/Steelers, 4:30 PM Sunday — While Chargers/Steelers should hold its own in the ratings, it would be too much to ask for this game to come close to the 23.6 for last year’s Giants/Cowboys game. Prediction: 20.4.