Weekend ratings predictions: NFL preseason, PGA Tour and more – SportingNews.com
First, the results of last week’s predictions:
— PGA Tour National, final round. Prediction: 2.4, final rating: 2.1.
— NASCAR Sprint Cup racing from Pocono. Prediction: 2.5, final rating: 2.6.
— Horse racing, Haskell Invitational. Prediction: 1.0, final rating: 1.3.
— Premier Boxing Champions. Prediction: 0.4, final rating: 0.7.
— MLB Sunday Night Baseball, Nationals-Mets. Prediction: 1.4, final rating: 1.3.
This week’s predictions:
NFL Hall of Fame Game, Steelers-Vikings (8 p.m. Sunday, NBC). The NFL season gets off to an unofficial start with Sunday’s Hall of Fame Game. After topping a six rating each year from 1999 to 2006, ratings for the annual exhibition have only exceeded that mark twice since – both in years involving the Cowboys (2010 and 2013). Last year’s game had a 5.2. Prediction: 5.0.
Pro Football Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony (7 p.m. Saturday, ESPN, NFLN). Moving up the dial from ESPN2 to ESPN, look for the Pro Football Hall of Fame induction to have a modest increase in ratings. Last year’s event had a 0.5 on ESPN2 and a 0.3 on NFL Network. Predictions: 0.7 and 0.3.
PGA Tour/WGC Bridgestone Invitational, final round (2 p.m. Sunday, CBS). The PGA Tour has been on a months-long hot streak, and the good times figure to continue into this week’s Bridgestone Invitational. Last year’s final round drew a 2.5 rating, among the lowest since the tournament began its current format in 1999. This year’s tournament is unlikely to do much better, but given the recent trend should have at least a modest uptick. Prediction: 2.7.
Breeders Cup Challenge, Whitney Handicap (5 p.m. Saturday, NBC). Triple Crown winner American Pharoah boosted ratings for last weekend’s Haskell Invitational by a whopping 86 percent. Do not expect much momentum to carry into this weekend’s Whitney Handicap, though the ratings should at least top last year’s subterranean 0.5. Prediction: 0.7.
English Premier League, Chelsea-Swansea (12:30 p.m. Saturday, NBC). The English Premier League returns this weekend with defending champion Chelsea facing Swansea City on NBC. Look for an uptick over last year’s NBC opener between Arsenal and Crystal Palace (0.5). Prediction: 0.6.
MLB Sunday Night Baseball, Pirates-Dodgers (8 p.m. Sunday, ESPN). For the second straight week, Sunday Night Baseball features a battle of National League playoff contenders. The Pirates’ last SNB appearance — against the Cardinals before the All-Star break — had a 1.5 rating, the best for a Sunday night game since mid-May. Expect another solid number this week, though just shy of Yankees/Red Sox last year (1.5). Prediction: 1.4.
Paulsen is the founder of Sports Media Watch and a contributor for Sporting News. Follow him on Twitter @Paulsen_SMW.
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