First, the results of last week’s predictions.
- NFL on CBS, Ravens/Titans. Prediction: 16.0. Final rating: 15.4. The 15.4 rating for the Ravens’ upset of the Titans last Saturday was down 9% from a 17.0 for Seahawks/Packers in the same timeslot in ’08.
- NFL on FOX, Cardinals/Panthers. Prediction: 15.9. Final rating: 13.8. The Cardinals’ surprising blowout of the Panthers last Saturday night was the lowest rated Divisional Round game in eight years. The 13.8 rating was off 23% from last year’s 17.9.
- NFL on FOX, Eagles/Giants. Prediction: 21.3. Final rating: 18.7. Despite featuring the Super Bowl Champions and the #1 and #4 markets in the country, the 18.7 for Eagles/Giants was down 8% from Chargers/Colts last year.
- NFL on CBS, Chargers/Steelers. Prediction: 20.4. Final rating: 19.6. The 19.6 for the Steelers’ win over the Chargers was the highest of the weekend, but marked a 17% drop from last year’s 23.6 for Giants/Cowboys in ’08.
This week’s predictions:
- NFL on FOX, Eagles/Cardinals, 3 PM Sunday — There is almost no conceivable way this match-up will draw a rating close to last year’s 29.0 for Giants/Packers, which was the highest rated for the NFC Championship Game since 1997. Still, ratings should not tank, thanks in part to the presence of the Philadelphia Eagles and star Donovan McNabb. Prediction: 23.1.
- NFL on CBS, Ravens/Steelers, 6:30 PM Sunday — Ratings for this year’s prime time AFC Championship Game may be hard pressed to approach the 25.7 for last year’s game, which aired in the afternoon. Still, CBS Sports President Sean Macmanus is right to expect that the game will “be the highest rated show of the year, of any network, in any time slot” excluding the Super Bowl. Prediction: 24.7.
- NHL on NBC, Rangers/Penguins, 12:30 PM Sunday — The NHL returns to NBC on Championship Sunday, coming off of increased ratings for the Winter Classic. After last year’s Winter Classic, none of the other NHL telecasts on NBC drew even a 1.0 rating. Prediction: 0.9.
- College basketball on ABC, Wake/Clemson or Kansas/Colorado, 3:30 PM Saturday — ABC begins its run of college basketball games with a top ten battle between Wake Forest and Clemson. ABC’s debut game last year, an upset of UNC by Maryland, drew a 1.7. Prediction: 1.4.
