Ratings predictions for Sunday’s matchup of the past two Super Bowl champions and more, including NASCAR’s season finale and the weekend in college football.
NFL: mostly Patriots-Eagles (4:25p Sun CBS)
CBS gets one of the more appetizing matchups of the NFL season: a matchup of the last two Super Bowl champions (and a rematch of Super Bowl 52) between the Patriots and Eagles. Philadelphia is not particularly good this season, but the Eagles are still a contender for the NFC East crown. The defending champion Patriots, meanwhile, remain the class of the NFL.
It will not take much for ratings to hit a multi-year high. Last year’s Week 11 national window had a 10.7 while the 2017 window was not much higher at a 10.9. The real question is whether ratings will top the CBS season-high of 13.0. Prediction: 13.0.
NFL: Bears-Rams (8:20p Sun NBC)
After successful seasons last year, the Bears and Rams have returned to mediocrity so far this season. While neither team is out of playoff contention, it would be a stretch to call either a real contender for now. With that in mind, expect middling numbers for NBC. Last year’s Week 11 game — Vikings-Bears — set a reachable bar with a 10.7. Prediction: 10.1.
NASCAR Cup Series playoffs: Homestead-Miami (3p Sun NBC)
NASCAR ratings have been up-and-down all season, which is a marked improvement from last year, when they were consistently down. Entering Sunday’s season finale at Homestead, 13 races have posted an increase in ratings — the most in any year since 2013 — but a greater number (18) have set or tied a multi-year low.
It is tough to gauge how the season finale will fare, given the inconsistency. Just last week, Phoenix became the lowest rated Cup Series race ever on broadcast television. Go back a few weeks, and Kansas posted a three-year high. Last year, Homestead had a 2.5 rating, the lowest on record for the race. Whether up or down, do not expect the numbers to change too much. Prediction: 2.6.
CFB: #4 Georgia-#12 Auburn (3:30p Sat CBS)
CBS gets a matchup laden with playoff implications Saturday as Georgia faces Auburn. With the Bulldogs favored by just a field goal, a close game — and a field-shaking upset — seem very possible. Expect a strong rating. Outside of last week’s once-in-a-blue-moon Alabama-LSU game (9.7), the highest rated mid-afternoon game this season was Auburn-LSU last month (4.3). Prediction: 4.1.
CFB: #8 Minnesota-#20 Iowa (4p Sat FOX)
The Golden Gophers are one week removed from a highly-rated upset over Penn State, but can they draw against a lower-profile team like #20 Iowa? Signs point to yes. The game is expected to be close (Minnesota is a field goal underdog) and should get a strong lead-in from Michigan State-Michigan (the Wolverines three previous Noon ET games on FOX each topped a 3.0 rating). Last year’s comparable USC-UCLA game had just a 1.3. Prediction: 2.0.
CFB: #10 Oklahoma-#13 Baylor (7:30p Sat ABC)
The one-loss Sooners and undefeated Baylor meet in a matchup at the top of the Big 12 Saturday night. It goes without saying that ratings will jump over last year’s Cincinnati-UCF game (1.9), but how high? Outside of Oklahoma-Texas (4.5), the highest rated Big 12 conference game this season was the Sooners’ upset loss to Kansas State last month (2.7). Prediction: 2.9.
Last week’s results
— CFB: LSU-Alabama. Prediction: 10.5; result: 9.7
— CFB: Penn State-Minnesota. Prediction: 3.0; result: 4.3
— CFB: Maryland-Ohio State. Prediction: 2.0; result: 1.7
— NFL: Vikings-Cowboys. Prediction: 11.9; result: 12.9
— NFL: mostly Panthers-Packers. Prediction: 12.5; result: 13.3
— NASCAR Cup Series: Phoenix. Prediction: 2.0; result: 1.6
— MLS Cup: Seattle-Toronto. Prediction: 0.6; result: 0.5
