Worth the replay?

Tuesday, November 18'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
    E MichiganatDetroit Mercy
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBig comebackBack and forth
    A
    75/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback20/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

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

  2. #2
    MD EasternatLongwood
    CBB· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wireBig comeback
    A
    75/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback17/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth8/10
    Overtime+8

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

  3. #3
    SouthernatWashington
    CBB· PeacockOvertimeDown to the wireBig comebackBack and forth
    A
    75/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback19/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10
    Overtime+8

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

  4. #4
    TroyatSan Diego St
    CBBOvertimeDown to the wireBig comebackBack and forth
    A
    75/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback19/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10
    Overtime+8

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

  5. #5
    SF AustinatFresno St
    CBBDown to the wireBig comebackBack and forth
    B+
    72/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback16/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 96 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 72

  6. #6
    WinthropatArkansas
    CBB· SECN+Down to the wireBig comebackBack and forth
    B+
    71/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback14/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 94 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 71

  7. #7
    UC DavisatNevada
    CBBDown to the wireBig comebackBack and forth
    B+
    70/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings22/25
    Comeback17/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 94 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 70

  8. #8
    VermontatBuffalo
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBack and forth
    B+
    65/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings21/25
    Comeback11/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 87 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 65

  9. #9
    Rhode IslandatYale
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBig comeback
    B
    64/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback16/20
    Decided late9/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

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

  10. #10
    GrizzliesatSpurs
    NBA· NBC/PeacockDown to the wireBack and forth
    B
    63/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings22/25
    Comeback7/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

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

  11. #11
    BluesatMaple Leafs
    NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wire
    B
    62/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings18/25
    Comeback6/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth7/10
    Overtime+8

    Drama 83 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 62

  12. #12
    TowsonatJames Madison
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wire
    B
    61/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings20/25
    Comeback13/20
    Decided late13/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 82 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 61

  13. #13
    NC A&TatMorgan St
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBack and forth
    B
    61/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings21/25
    Comeback4/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 81 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 61

  14. #14
    AkronatBowling Green
    CFB· ESPNUDown to the wireBack and forth
    B
    59/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings16/25
    Comeback13/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 84 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 59

  15. #15
    UT ArlingtonatEvansville
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wire
    B
    57/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings20/25
    Comeback9/20
    Decided late9/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

    Drama 76 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 57

  16. #16
    MammothatSharks
    NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wire
    B
    56/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings19/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth3/10
    Overtime+8

    Drama 75 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 56

  17. #17
    PistonsatHawks
    NBADown to the wire
    C+
    53/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings19/25
    Comeback5/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 71 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 53

  18. #18
    GA SouthernatGeorgia Tech
    CBB· ACCNXDown to the wire
    C+
    50/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings17/25
    Comeback1/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 66 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 50

  19. #19
    LSU N OrleansatPepperdine
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wire
    C+
    48/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings19/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late13/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 65 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 48

  20. #20
    Boston UatColumbia
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wire
    C+
    47/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings17/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 62 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 47

  21. #21
    GramblingatSan Diego
    CBB· ESPN+
    C
    45/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension26/30
    Swings17/25
    Comeback2/20
    Decided late12/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

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

  22. #22
    CelticsatNets
    NBABack and forth
    C
    44/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension22/30
    Swings18/25
    Comeback2/20
    Decided late6/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 59 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 44

  23. #23
    MonmouthatSyracuse
    CBB· ACC Network
    C
    42/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension25/30
    Swings11/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 56 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 42

  24. #24
    KrakenatRed Wings
    NHL· ESPN+
    C
    42/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension20/30
    Swings18/25
    Comeback7/20
    Decided late4/15
    Back-and-forth7/10

    Drama 56 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 42

  25. #25
    PresbyterianatCalifornia
    CBB· ACCNX
    C
    40/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension28/30
    Swings12/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late6/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

    Drama 54 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 40

  26. #26
    KansasatDuke
    CBB· ESPN
    C
    40/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension29/30
    Swings15/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late7/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 54 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 40

  27. #27
    FlamesatBlackhawks
    NHL· ESPN+
    C
    37/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension20/30
    Swings22/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late4/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 50 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 37

  28. #28
    Wichita StatBoise St
    CBB
    C
    36/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension23/30
    Swings15/25
    Comeback2/20
    Decided late5/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 47 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 36

  29. #29
    N IllinoisatNorthern Iowa
    CBB· ESPN+
    C
    36/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension22/30
    Swings13/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late5/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

    Drama 47 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 36

  30. #30
    MontanaatTexas A&M
    CBB· SECN+
    D
    34/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension23/30
    Swings7/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

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

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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