NCAA Elite Eight ratings predictions and more, including NASCAR from Martinsville and the PGA-WGC Match Play.
Last week’s results at the bottom of the page. All times Eastern.
NCAA Tournament Elite Eight (Sat & Sun, TBS & CBS)
As for the other half, #9 seeds FSU and Kansas State and #3 Texas Tech are probably not what CBS and Turner had in mind this late in the tournament. #11 Loyola-Chicago on the other hand is the ideal underdog. The Ramblers hail from a small conference (major conference underdogs like FSU and K-State are just not the same), boast an offbeat backstory (the prominence of team chaplain Sister Jean) and play in a major TV market. A Final Four of Loyola, Villanova, Michigan and either Duke or Kansas has the potential to draw strong numbers. Expect those teams to drive this weekend’s Elite Eight ratings.
LOYOLA (CHI.)-KANSAS STATE (6:09 PM SAT TBS): In the first game of the weekend, Loyola faces Kansas State in an unprecedented #11 vs. #9 matchup. Loyola drew surprisingly well against Nevada in the Sweet Sixteen, with their close win pulling even with Oregon-Michigan last year. That Loyola could match Michigan speaks well of their drawing power. Last year’s Gonzaga-Xavier game set a historically low bar with a 3.7 rating. Prediction: 4.5.
FSU-MICHIGAN (8:49 PM SAT TBS): Saturday night, it’s a rematch of the 2016 Orange Bowl as Michigan faces FSU. The Wolverines may not be in Duke or Kentucky territory, but they draw quite well. Outside of the Final Four, only one college basketball game in cable history has exceeded a 6.0 rating – Kentucky-Notre Dame in the 2015 Elite Eight (8.4). Expect Saturday’s game to be the second. Prediction: 6.2.
TEXAS TECH-VILLANOVA (2:20 PM SUN CBS): As for Sunday, Villanova-Texas Tech does not exactly look like a ratings bonanza — but neither did last year’s South Carolina-Florida game, which still pulled a solid 5.9. Expect similar numbers, though this game is the most likely of the weekend to decline. Prediction: 5.7.
DUKE-KANSAS (5:05 PM SUN CBS): Finally, Duke-Kansas is about as good as it gets for CBS. Two college basketball bluebloods in the best timeslot of the weekend. The highest Elite Eight rating in the past 12 years is an 8.9, hit multiple times (including last year). Prediction: 9.1.
NASCAR Cup Series: Martinsville (2 PM Sun FS1)
PGA-WGC Match Play Championships (3 PM Sun NBC)
NCAA Women’s Elite Eight: Mississippi St.-UCLA (7:30 PM Sun ESPN)
NHL: Flyers-Penguins (Noon Sun NBC)
Last week’s results
— NCAA Tournament: Kansas State-UMBC. Prediction: 1.4; result: 2.7
— NCAA Tournament: Syracuse-MSU. Prediction: 5.5; result: 5.3
— NCAA Tournament: TAMU-UNC. Prediction: 5.6; result: 5.6
— NCAA Tournament: Duke-URI. Prediction: 5.2; result: 4.1
— NCAA Tournament: Kentucky-Buffalo. Prediction: 5.9; result: 4.7
— PGA at Bay Hill. Prediction: 2.0 (Sat.) and 2.9 (Sun.); results: 2.0 and 3.2
— NASCAR Cup Series: Fontana. Prediction: 2.8; result: 2.4
