Opinion corner: Perfect storm for TV outlets

Talk about it

Being a bean-counter at KVLY or a local cable TV provider had to have been a beautiful thing this week.

Between NDSU’s second straight appearance in the FCS championship game, to be played at noon today on ESPN2, and then the Vikings-Packers playoff game at 7 p.m., on NBC, it’s the perfect storm for through-the-roof ad rates.

It would be interesting to see the Nielsen TV ratings for Fargo today. This would be the perfect day to go shopping at West Acres. It won’t be lined wall-to-wall with other humans, and the traffic may actually be tolerable in downtown Fargo, which is rare.

As for the games, most expect NDSU to finish off its repeat of back-to-back FCS titles. Probably low-scoring, not terribly exciting, which is the Bison way.

As for the Vikes-Pack affair, which will likely set TV records from Minneapolis to Minot and everywhere in between, opinions seem more split.

The Bison and Vikings play similar styles. Both have to run the ball to be effective and essentially hope for their quarterbacks to just not foul it up.

NDSU’s defense is No. 1 in everything in the FCS, while the Vikings are good at everything, great at nothing, but that formula has led to a 10-win season and their first playoff game since Brett Favre went all Brett Favre against the New Orleans Saints in the 2010 NFC championship game to steal defeat from the jaws of almost certain victory.

It will be interesting to see what happens. Before they kick it off, here’s our best guesses as to how things will turn out.

Dave Selvig

NDSU 20, SHS 10

Packers 27, Vikings 16

Michael Savaloja

NDSU 17, SHS 14

Vikings 28, Packers 17

Chris Aarhus

NDSU 20, SHS 17

Packers 31, Vikings 28

Ben Rodgers

NDSU 24, SHS 21

Vikings 38, Packers 35

Sun sports editor Dave Selvig can be reached at (701) 952-8460 or by e-mail at dselvig@jamestownsun.com

Tags: sports, football, media