Worth the replay?

Thursday, November 6's games ranked by how good they turned out to be: late drama, comebacks, lead swaps and overtime. No scores, no winners, so you can decide what to watch without spoilers.

Best games of the season →
  1. #1
    CanadiensatDevils
    NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wireBack and forth
    B+
    75/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback12/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10
    Overtime+8

    Drama 100 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 75

  2. #2
    Robert MorrisatDrake
    CBB· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wire
    B+
    75/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback14/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth8/10
    Overtime+8

    Drama 99 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 75

  3. #3
    Long IslandatIU Indy
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBack and forth
    B+
    68/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings23/25
    Comeback13/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 91 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 68

  4. #4
    Alcorn StatSouth Alabama
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wire
    B
    64/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback8/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

    Drama 86 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 64

  5. #5
    Illinois StatOhio
    CBB· ESPN+
    B
    64/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension27/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback13/20
    Decided late12/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

    Drama 85 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 64

  6. #6
    SenatorsatBruins
    NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wire
    B
    63/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings19/25
    Comeback6/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth7/10
    Overtime+8

    Drama 84 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 63

  7. #7
    NorthwoodatW Michigan
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBig comeback
    B
    63/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings17/25
    Comeback20/20
    Decided late14/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 84 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 63

  8. #8
    OmahaatAbilene Chrstn
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wire
    B
    63/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback6/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

    Drama 84 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 63

  9. #9
    UC RiversideatNorth Dakota
    CBBDown to the wire
    B
    59/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings24/25
    Comeback5/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 78 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 59

  10. #10
    CapitalatCleveland St
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wire
    C+
    52/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings17/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

    Drama 69 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 52

  11. #11
    LightningatGolden Knights
    NHL· ESPN+
    C+
    50/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension20/30
    Swings24/25
    Comeback12/20
    Decided late4/15
    Back-and-forth7/10

    Drama 67 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 50

  12. #12
    MercyhurstatLoyola Chicago
    CBB· ESPN+Big comeback
    C+
    48/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension16/30
    Swings24/25
    Comeback19/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 64 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 48

  13. #13
    CapitalsatPenguins
    NHL· ESPN+/HuluDown to the wire
    C+
    46/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings23/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late4/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 61 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 46

  14. #14
    Texas A&M-CCatSMU
    CBB· ACCNXDown to the wire
    C+
    45/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings14/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late11/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 61 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 45

  15. #15
    RaidersatBroncos
    NFL· Prime VideoDown to the wire
    C+
    45/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings13/25
    Comeback3/20
    Decided late11/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 60 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 45

  16. #16
    WildatHurricanes
    NHL· ESPN+Back and forth
    C
    39/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension20/30
    Swings11/25
    Comeback6/20
    Decided late4/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 52 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 39

  17. #17
    GA SouthernatApp State
    CFB· ESPN2
    C
    39/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension23/30
    Swings14/25
    Comeback3/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 56 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 39

  18. #18
    DucksatStars
    NHL· ESPN+
    C
    39/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension11/30
    Swings21/25
    Comeback12/20
    Decided late2/15
    Back-and-forth7/10

    Drama 52 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 39

  19. #19
    Le MoyneatXavier
    CBB· ESPN+
    C
    36/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension25/30
    Swings7/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late13/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 48 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 36

  20. #20
    Dakota StatS Dakota St
    CBB
    D
    34/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension24/30
    Swings7/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late10/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 46 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 34

  21. #21
    FlyersatPredators
    NHL· ESPN+
    D
    34/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension20/30
    Swings11/25
    Comeback6/20
    Decided late4/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 45 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 34

  22. #22
    PanthersatKings
    NHL· ESPN+/Hulu
    D
    26/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension5/30
    Swings17/25
    Comeback6/20
    Decided late1/15
    Back-and-forth7/10

    Drama 35 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 26

  23. #23
    Wright StatCalifornia
    CBB· ACCNX
    D
    25/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension19/30
    Swings9/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 33 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 25

  24. #24
    ClippersatSuns
    NBA· NBA TV
    D
    21/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension2/30
    Swings17/25
    Comeback7/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 28 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 21

  25. #25
    CampbellatWest Virginia
    CBB· ESPN+
    D
    20/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension19/30
    Swings8/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 27 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 20

  26. #26
    C ConnecticutatQuinnipiac
    CBB· ESPN+One-sided
    D
    14/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension0/30
    Swings11/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

    Drama 19 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 14

  27. #27
    DenveratWashington
    CBB· BTNOne-sided
    D
    11/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension9/30
    Swings0/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 14 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 11

  28. #28
    BluesatSabres
    NHL· ESPN+One-sided
    D
    10/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension5/30
    Swings9/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 14 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 10

  29. #29
    N'Western StatNorth Texas
    CBB· ESPN+One-sided
    D
    9/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension3/30
    Swings6/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 11 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 9

  30. #30
    The CitadelatBoston College
    CBB· ACCNXOne-sided
    D
    7/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension0/30
    Swings7/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 10 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 7

Ranked from each game's win probability as it was played (ESPN's for football and basketball; ours, from the goals, for hockey): how in doubt it was near the end, how far the winner came back from, how late it was decided, how big its momentum swings were and how often a team erased a deficit, with a bonus for overtime. That drama is then weighted by how good a matchup it was going in (its pre-game Watchability score), so a thriller between top teams ranks above an equally wild game between minor ones.

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