Worth the replay?
Saturday, November 8'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 →- #1AuburnatVanderbiltCFB· SEC NetworkOvertimeDown to the wireBack and forthA82/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings23/25Comeback14/20Decided late15/15Back-and-forth10/10Overtime+8Drama 99 × pre-game weight 0.82 (pre-game Watchability 65, estimated) = 82
- #2CaliforniaatLouisvilleCFB· ESPN2OvertimeDown to the wireBig comebackBack and forthA81/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings17/25Comeback18/20Decided late15/15Back-and-forth10/10Overtime+8Drama 98 × pre-game weight 0.82 (pre-game Watchability 65, estimated) = 81
- #3IndianaatPenn StateCFB· FoxDown to the wireBig comebackA79/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings25/25Comeback18/20Decided late15/15Back-and-forth8/10Drama 96 × pre-game weight 0.82 (pre-game Watchability 65, estimated) = 79
- #4ElonatUNC GreensboroCBB· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wireBig comebackBack and forthA75/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings25/25Comeback20/20Decided late15/15Back-and-forth10/10Overtime+8Drama 100 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 75
- #5Weber StatUtahCBB· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wireBig comebackA75/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings23/25Comeback17/20Decided late15/15Back-and-forth8/10Overtime+8Drama 100 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 75
- #6ProvidenceatVirginia TechCBB· PeacockOvertimeDown to the wireBig comebackB+75/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings25/25Comeback16/20Decided late15/15Back-and-forth5/10Overtime+8Drama 99 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 75
- #7William & MaryatNorfolk StCBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBig comebackBack and forthB+74/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings25/25Comeback18/20Decided late15/15Back-and-forth10/10Drama 98 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 74
- #8BullsatCavaliersNBADown to the wireBig comebackBack and forthB+73/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings25/25Comeback17/20Decided late15/15Back-and-forth10/10Drama 97 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 73
- #9Cal PolyatSeattle UCBB· ESPN+Big comebackBack and forthB+73/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings23/25Comeback18/20Decided late15/15Back-and-forth10/10Drama 97 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 73
- #10OregonatIowaCFB· CBSDown to the wireB+72/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings20/25Comeback4/20Decided late15/15Back-and-forth5/10Drama 74 × pre-game weight 0.97 (pre-game Watchability 95, estimated) = 72
- #11ETSUatPresbyterianCBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBig comebackBack and forthB+72/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings25/25Comeback16/20Decided late15/15Back-and-forth10/10Drama 96 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 72
- #12KrakenatBluesNHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wireB+70/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings23/25Comeback11/20Decided late15/15Back-and-forth7/10Overtime+8Drama 94 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 70
- #13Texas StatTulaneCBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBig comebackB+70/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings25/25Comeback17/20Decided late14/15Back-and-forth8/10Drama 94 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 70
- #14Louisiana TechatDelawareCFB· ESPN+Down to the wireBig comebackBack and forthB+70/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings25/25Comeback20/20Decided late15/15Back-and-forth10/10Drama 100 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 70
- #15NiagaraatBinghamtonCBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBig comebackB+69/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings24/25Comeback17/20Decided late14/15Back-and-forth8/10Drama 93 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 69
- #16WashingtonatWisconsinCFB· BTNDown to the wireBig comebackB+68/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings17/25Comeback15/20Decided late15/15Back-and-forth5/10Drama 83 × pre-game weight 0.82 (pre-game Watchability 65, estimated) = 68
- #17PacificatNevadaCBBDown to the wireBack and forthB+68/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings25/25Comeback10/20Decided late15/15Back-and-forth10/10Drama 90 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 68
- #18DucksatGolden KnightsNHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wireB+67/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings24/25Comeback6/20Decided late15/15Back-and-forth7/10Overtime+8Drama 90 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 67
- #19Wake ForestatVirginiaCFB· ESPNBig comebackB+67/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings18/25Comeback15/20Decided late15/15Back-and-forth3/10Drama 81 × pre-game weight 0.82 (pre-game Watchability 65, estimated) = 67
- #20Missouri StatLibertyCFB· ESPN+Down to the wireBig comebackB+66/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings25/25Comeback17/20Decided late15/15Back-and-forth8/10Drama 95 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 66
- #21MavericksatWizardsNBADown to the wireBig comebackB+66/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings22/25Comeback14/20Decided late14/15Back-and-forth8/10Drama 88 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 66
- #22UNC AshevilleatGA SouthernCBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBack and forthB+65/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings24/25Comeback10/20Decided late14/15Back-and-forth10/10Drama 87 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 65
- #23Jax StateatUTEPCFB· ESPN+Down to the wireBack and forthB64/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings23/25Comeback13/20Decided late15/15Back-and-forth10/10Drama 91 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 64
- #24KansasatArizonaCFB· ESPN2Down to the wireBig comebackB64/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings23/25Comeback15/20Decided late15/15Back-and-forth8/10Drama 91 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 64
- #25AlabamaatSt John'sCBB· FS1Down to the wireBack and forthB63/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings24/25Comeback9/20Decided late11/15Back-and-forth10/10Drama 85 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 63
- #26E WashingtonatColoradoCBB· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wireBack and forthB63/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings18/25Comeback3/20Decided late15/15Back-and-forth10/10Overtime+8Drama 84 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 63
- #27ArkansasatMichigan StCBB· FoxDown to the wireBack and forthB63/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings23/25Comeback6/20Decided late15/15Back-and-forth10/10Drama 83 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 63
- #28Trail BlazersatHeatNBADown to the wireBack and forthB62/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings19/25Comeback9/20Decided late15/15Back-and-forth10/10Drama 83 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 62
- #29DukeatUConnCFB· CBSSNDown to the wireBig comebackBack and forthB62/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings19/25Comeback15/20Decided late15/15Back-and-forth10/10Drama 89 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 62
- #30Sam HoustonatOregon StCFB· CWDown to the wireBig comebackB61/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings21/25Comeback19/20Decided late15/15Back-and-forth3/10Drama 88 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 61
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.