First, the results of last week's predictions:
— NBA All-Star Game. Prediction: 4.7; final rating: 4.3.
— NBA All-Star Saturday Night. Prediction: 3.6; final rating: 3.2.
— NASCAR Sprint Unlimited. Prediction: 2.9; final rating: 2.8.
— PGA Tour from Pebble Beach, final round. Prediction: 2.1; final rating: N/A.
— NHL on NBC, Bruins-Red Wings. Prediction: 0.9; final rating: 1.0.
This week's predictions:
NASCAR Daytona 500 (1 p.m. Sunday, FOX). After topping a 9.0 rating each year from 2001 to 2009, the Daytona 500 has hit that mark just once in the past six — 2013, when Danica Patrick’s near win netted a 9.9. Last year’s race had a 7.7 rating, tying the second-lowest mark since 1991. Considering the general downward trend for NASCAR, look for even lower numbers this year. Prediction: 7.4.
NBA regular season, Warriors-Clippers (8 p.m. Saturday, ABC). While the Warriors have for the most part dominated their marquee matchups this season, their two games against the Clippers have been hotly contested. If Los Angeles can keep Saturday’s game close, look for ABC to score its highest rating yet for the new NBA Saturday Primetime franchise. Prediction: 2.6.
NBA regular season, Cavaliers-Thunder (3:30 p.m. Sunday, ABC). Neither of ABC’s Sunday afternoon games this season has managed to crack a 2.0 rating, but that should change with this week’s LeBron James-Kevin Durant matchup. The last time the stars played each other on ABC, January of last year, the game had a 2.8 rating. Daytona 500 competition will likely put a dent in that number, but still expect a solid performance. Prediction: 2.5.
NHL Stadium Series, Blackhawks-Wild (3:30 p.m. Sunday, NBC). Coming off of a record-low 1.6 rating for the Winter Classic, NBC airs its second outdoor game of the season on Sunday. The last time the network aired Stadium Series games was in 2014, when it scored a 1.6 for Penguins-Blackhawks on a Saturday night and a 1.3 for Rangers-Devils on a Sunday afternoon. With outdoor games seeming to lose their appeal, expect lower numbers for Sunday’s matchup. Prediction: 1.2.
PGA Tour from Riviera, final round (3 p.m. Sunday, CBS). Last week, Phil Mickelson helped PGA ratings overcome a poor showing by Jordan Spieth. Mickelson is not around this week, and with Spieth tied for 142nd place after round one, CBS should have a tougher go of things this time around. Last year’s final round had a 2.5 rating, up from an Olympic-fueled 1.6 the previous year. Prediction: 2.1.
Paulsen is the founder of Sports Media Watch and a contributor for Sporting News. Follow him on Twitter @Paulsen_SMW .