Worth the replay?

Sunday, December 7'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
    Texas A&MatSMU
    CBB· ESPN2OvertimeDown to the wireBig comeback
    A
    75/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback15/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth8/10
    Overtime+8

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

  2. #2
    CornellatSamford
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBig comebackBack and forth
    B+
    74/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback18/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 98 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 74

  3. #3
    FAUatFGCU
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBig comebackBack and forth
    B+
    71/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings24/25
    Comeback16/20
    Decided late14/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 95 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 71

  4. #4
    UNLVatStanford
    CBB· ACCNXDown to the wireBig comebackBack and forth
    B+
    69/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings22/25
    Comeback15/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 92 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 69

  5. #5
    San FranciscoatMississippi St
    CBB· SEC NetworkDown to the wire
    B+
    67/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback12/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

    Drama 90 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 67

  6. #6
    N'Western StatSE Louisiana
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBig comeback
    B+
    66/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings22/25
    Comeback17/20
    Decided late14/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 88 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 66

  7. #7
    Lakersat76ers
    NBADown to the wire
    B
    64/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings20/25
    Comeback12/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

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

  8. #8
    BengalsatBills
    NFL· FoxBig comeback
    B
    63/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback17/20
    Decided late10/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

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

  9. #9
    Air ForceatNavy
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wire
    B
    63/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback13/20
    Decided late11/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

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

  10. #10
    Austin PeayatUT Rio Grande
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBack and forth
    B
    62/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback11/20
    Decided late7/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

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

  11. #11
    Golden KnightsatRangers
    NHL· NHL NetOvertimeDown to the wire
    B
    62/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings17/25
    Comeback5/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth7/10
    Overtime+8

    Drama 82 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 62

  12. #12
    C ArkansasatEast Texas A&M
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBack and forth
    B
    61/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings22/25
    Comeback5/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

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

  13. #13
    PenguinsatStars
    NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wire
    B
    60/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings17/25
    Comeback4/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth7/10
    Overtime+8

    Drama 81 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 60

  14. #14
    SaintsatBuccaneers
    NFL· CBSDown to the wireBack and forth
    B
    60/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings16/25
    Comeback12/20
    Decided late12/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 80 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 60

  15. #15
    SteelersatRavens
    NFL· CBSDown to the wire
    B
    57/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings19/25
    Comeback10/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

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

  16. #16
    UTEPatSeattle U
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wire
    B
    55/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings20/25
    Comeback4/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 74 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 55

  17. #17
    TitansatBrowns
    NFL· Fox
    C+
    51/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension20/30
    Swings19/25
    Comeback9/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 68 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 51

  18. #18
    CelticsatRaptors
    NBA
    C+
    51/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings21/25
    Comeback5/20
    Decided late10/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 68 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 51

  19. #19
    TexansatChiefs
    NFL· NBC/Peacock
    C+
    49/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings19/25
    Comeback7/20
    Decided late7/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 66 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 49

  20. #20
    UICatYale
    CBB· ESPN+Back and forth
    C+
    48/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension24/30
    Swings16/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

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

  21. #21
    Saint Mary'satDavidson
    CBB· ESPN+
    C
    45/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension24/30
    Swings15/25
    Comeback2/20
    Decided late14/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

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

  22. #22
    BearsatPackers
    NFL· FoxDown to the wire
    C
    45/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings12/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

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

  23. #23
    HofstraatPitt
    CBB· ACC NetworkBig comeback
    C
    44/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension16/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback15/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 58 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 44

  24. #24
    TCUatNorth Texas
    CBB· ESPN+Back and forth
    C
    42/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension17/30
    Swings19/25
    Comeback5/20
    Decided late4/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 55 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 42

  25. #25
    IonaatSacred Heart
    CBB· ESPN+Back and forth
    C
    41/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension14/30
    Swings22/25
    Comeback9/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 55 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 41

  26. #26
    Alabama StatUT Martin
    CBB· ESPN+
    C
    39/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension16/30
    Swings19/25
    Comeback8/20
    Decided late2/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

    Drama 53 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 39

  27. #27
    BluesatCanadiens
    NHL· ESPN+
    C
    37/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension13/30
    Swings20/25
    Comeback8/20
    Decided late3/15
    Back-and-forth7/10

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

  28. #28
    ManhattanatMarist
    CBB· ESPN+Back and forth
    D
    33/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension13/30
    Swings17/25
    Comeback2/20
    Decided late2/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 44 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 33

  29. #29
    BelmontatMTSU
    CBB· ESPN+
    D
    25/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension0/30
    Swings20/25
    Comeback9/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 34 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 25

  30. #30
    SharksatHurricanes
    NHL· ESPN+
    D
    25/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension7/30
    Swings13/25
    Comeback10/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 34 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 25

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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