Predicting Yankees-Red Sox ratings and more, including Tiger Woods in the Bridgestone Invitational, NASCAR on NBC and the Pro Football Hall of Fame induction.
All times Eastern. Previous results at the bottom of the page.
MLB: YANKEES-RED SOX (8 PM SUN ESPN)
The Yankees-Red Sox rivalry is more relevant now than at any point in the past 14 years. Boston is far and away the best team in the major leagues, and the Yankees — after spending much of the season in second — are in third. The rivals’ long-dormant bad blood is even starting to bubble up. While ratings have not yet returned to 2000s levels, Yankees-Red Sox games have generated the highest ratings of the season on both FOX (tie) and ESPN. Expect ESPN to set a new season-high for this Sunday’s game, topping the 1.5 for the teams’ July 1 meeting. Prediction: 1.8.
PGA TOUR/WGC-BRIDGESTONE INVITATIONAL, FINAL RD. (3 PM SUN CBS)
Tiger Woods entered the weekend in a tie for tenth, but after shooting a third round 73, he’s all the way back in 28th entering Sunday’s final round of the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational. His presence will certainly lift ratings for the event, but do not expect the kind of huge gains seen earlier this season. Since his 2013 win at the tournament, final round ratings have declined every year – bottoming out at least year’s 1.8. Prediction: 2.8.
NASCAR CUP SERIES: WATKINS GLEN 355 (2:30 PM SUN NBC)
NASCAR ratings have increased just twice this season and both times a scheduling shift made the difference. Chicagoland scored a 14 percent bump after moving up from September (opposite the NFL) to July. Michigan rose 19 percent thanks to a shift from cable’s FS1 to broadcast network FOX. This week’s Watkins Glen race, which is making the same move from cable to broadcast, should post the third increase of the season. Last year’s race had a 2.0 rating on NBCSN. Prediction: 2.2.
WOMEN’S BRITISH OPEN, FINAL ROUND (11:30 AM SUN NBC)
Last year’s Women’s British Open scored its highest rating in years — a 0.8 for final round coverage. That number will be hard to match, but do not expect too big of a drop. Prediction: 0.7.
PRO FOOTBALL HOF INDUCTION (7 PM ESPN/NFLN)
This year’s Pro Football Hall of Fame class is a who’s who of 2000s stars, including the likes of Randy Moss, Ray Lewis and Brian Urlacher. Terrell Owens decision not to attend his own induction provides a bit more controversy than usual as well. Ratings for the ceremony have dropped in consecutive years, falling to a 0.7 last year. Expect the numbers to bounce back. Prediction: 0.9.
PREVIOUS RESULTS
— British Open weekend rounds. Predictions: 2.6 and 3.7;results: 2.6 and 4.3.
— MLB: Mostly Cardinals-Cubs. Prediction: 1.6; result: 1.4.
— MLB: Mets-Yankees. Prediction: 1.4; result: PPD.
— NASCAR Cup Series: New Hampshire. Prediction: 1.5; result: 1.5.
