First, the results of last week’s predictions.
- NASCAR on ABC, Ford 400. Prediction: 3.9. Final rating: 4.0. The 4.0 final rating for the last race of the NASCAR season was off 5% from a 4.2 for the same race last year, and down 15% from a 4.7 for the 2006 race, which aired on NBC. ABC averaged a 3.7 rating for 10 NASCAR races this year, down 2% from a 3.8 for the same ten races last year, and down 12% from ’06.
- College football on CBS, Notre Dame/Navy. Prediction: 2.5. Final rating: 1.9. The 1.9 for Notre Dame’s win over Navy last Saturday was down 17% from a 2.3 rating for the last two meetings between the teams.
- SEC on CBS, South Carolina/Florida. Prediction: 3.5. Final rating: 3.3. The 3.3 rating for Florida’s win last Saturday marks a 27% increase from a 2.6 for the comparable LSU/Ole Miss game in ’07.
- Saturday Night Football on ABC, BC/FSU or OK St./Colorado. Prediction: 3.5. Final rating: 2.9. The 2.9 rating for last week’s regional matchups on Saturday Night Football was down 12% from a 3.3 for last year’s comparable Oklahoma/Texas Tech battle.
- NFL on CBS, Chargers/Steelers. Prediction: 12.4. Final rating: 12.1. Last Sunday’s run of the mill Chargers/Steelers battle drew a 12.1 final rating, off 19% from a 15.0 for last year’s higher profile clash between Dallas and Washington.
- Sunday Night Football on NBC, Cowboys/Washington. Prediction: 13.7. Final rating: 11.6. Compared to the ratings for other nationally televised Cowboys games, the 11.6 for Dallas/Washington last Sunday night is somewhat lackluster. However, the 11.6 marks a 25% increase from the game in the comparable timeslot last year, and is the second-best Sunday Night Football rating of the season.
This week’s predictions:
- College football on ABC, Michigan/Ohio State, 12 PM Saturday — In recent years, this matchup has drawn strong ratings. In 2006, when the teams were ranked #1 and #2, the game drew a 13.7. Last year’s matchup drew a less impressive, but still stellar 6.0. Expect ratings to decline again for this year’s game, but remain more than respectable. Prediction: 4.7.
- College football on ABC, Mich. St./Penn. St. or other regional action, 3:30 PM Saturday — With Michigan/Ohio State likely providing a decent lead in, look for good ratings for the second game of ABC’s college football tripleheader. Prediction: 4.5.
- Saturday Night Football on ABC, Texas Tech/Oklahoma, 8 PM Saturday — So far this season, ABC has drawn big numbers for several marquee Saturday night matchups, including a 7.5 rating for Texas/Texas Tech earlier in the season. Look for this top 5 matchup to come close to topping that number. Prediction: 7.3.
- LPGA on NBC, ADT Championship, Final Round, 3 PM Sunday — NBC was hyping this event as Annika Sorenstam‘s swan song. Unfortunately for the network, Sorenstam missed the cut, likely eliminating any curiosity factor that may have attracted casual fans. Last year, the final round of the ADT Championship drew a 0.8 final rating. Prediction: 0.7.
- MLS on ABC, Crew/Red Bulls, 3:30 PM Sunday — The MLS Cup has drawn a 0.8 final rating each of the past four years. Will there be more of the same this year? Prediction: 0.7.
- NFL on FOX, Giants/Cardinals, 4:15 PM Sunday — The Cardinals have been a decent draw this season; their tilt against the Cowboys drew the second highest rating of the season, and their game against the 49ers was the fifth most-viewed Monday night game of the season. Look for Sunday’s battle against the defending Super Bowl champions to draw strong numbers. Prediction: 13.7.
- Sunday Night Football on NBC, Colts/Chargers, 8:15 PM Sunday — While NBC should draw decent ratings for this Sunday night matchup, the numbers will not come close to the 13.4 for last year’s Patriots/Eagles game. Prediction: 10.5.
