Worth the replay?
Tuesday, January 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 →- #1TCUatKansasCBB· ESPNOvertimeDown to the wireBig comebackA75/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings25/25Comeback20/20Decided late15/15Back-and-forth8/10Overtime+8Drama 100 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 75
- #2Golden KnightsatJetsNHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wireBig comebackB+74/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings25/25Comeback14/20Decided late15/15Back-and-forth7/10Overtime+8Drama 99 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 74
- #3Texas A&MatAuburnCBB· SEC NetworkBig comebackBack and forthB+73/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension28/30Swings25/25Comeback19/20Decided late15/15Back-and-forth10/10Drama 97 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 73
- #4SpursatGrizzliesNBADown to the wireBig comebackBack and forthB+70/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings23/25Comeback15/20Decided late15/15Back-and-forth10/10Drama 93 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 70
- #5CincinnatiatWest VirginiaCBB· ESPN2Down to the wireBack and forthB+70/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings25/25Comeback13/20Decided late15/15Back-and-forth10/10Drama 93 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 70
- #6San Diego StatNevadaCBB· FS1Down to the wireBig comebackB+70/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings25/25Comeback15/20Decided late15/15Back-and-forth8/10Drama 93 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 70
- #7Bowling GreenatKent StateCBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBack and forthB+68/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings25/25Comeback11/20Decided late15/15Back-and-forth10/10Drama 91 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 68
- #8UMassatOhioCBBDown to the wireBack and forthB+67/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings25/25Comeback10/20Decided late15/15Back-and-forth10/10Drama 90 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 67
- #9IowaatMinnesotaCBB· BTNDown to the wireB64/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings24/25Comeback9/20Decided late15/15Back-and-forth8/10Drama 85 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 64
- #10Texas TechatHoustonCBB· FS1Down to the wireBack and forthB64/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings22/25Comeback9/20Decided late15/15Back-and-forth10/10Drama 85 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 64
- #11MavericksatKingsNBA· NBC/PeacockDown to the wireBig comebackB64/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings18/25Comeback15/20Decided late15/15Back-and-forth8/10Drama 85 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 64
- #12CavaliersatPacersNBADown to the wireBig comebackB63/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings19/25Comeback14/20Decided late15/15Back-and-forth5/10Drama 84 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 63
- #13GeorgetownatDePaulCBB· truTVDown to the wireBack and forthB63/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings22/25Comeback7/20Decided late15/15Back-and-forth10/10Drama 83 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 63
- #14LakersatPelicansNBABig comebackBack and forthB63/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings19/25Comeback14/20Decided late10/15Back-and-forth10/10Drama 83 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 63
- #15LindenwoodatSIUECBB· ESPN+Down to the wireB62/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings21/25Comeback12/20Decided late15/15Back-and-forth5/10Drama 83 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 62
- #16G WashingtonatDaytonCBB· CBSSNDown to the wireB57/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings18/25Comeback9/20Decided late15/15Back-and-forth5/10Drama 76 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 57
- #17MagicatWizardsNBAC+52/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings17/25Comeback11/20Decided late10/15Back-and-forth3/10Drama 70 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 52
- #18MichiganatPenn StateCBB· FS1Down to the wireC+48/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30Swings16/25Comeback0/20Decided late15/15Back-and-forth3/10Drama 64 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 48
- #19AvalancheatLightningNHL· ESPN+C+47/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension21/30Swings22/25Comeback8/20Decided late5/15Back-and-forth7/10Drama 62 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 47
- #20DukeatLouisvilleCBB· ESPNBig comebackC43/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension12/30Swings22/25Comeback15/20Decided late0/15Back-and-forth8/10Drama 57 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 43
- #21SyracuseatGeorgia TechCBB· ACC NetworkC39/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension21/30Swings14/25Comeback1/20Decided late12/15Back-and-forth5/10Drama 52 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 39
- #22South CarolinaatLSUCBB· ESPNUC36/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension14/30Swings19/25Comeback12/20Decided late4/15Back-and-forth0/10Drama 48 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 36
- #23New MexicoatColorado StCBBD31/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension17/30Swings17/25Comeback8/20Decided late0/15Back-and-forth0/10Drama 42 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 31
- #24St John'satButlerCBB· PeacockBack and forthD31/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension1/30Swings21/25Comeback9/20Decided late0/15Back-and-forth10/10Drama 41 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 31
- #25Blue JacketsatSharksNHL· ESPN+D31/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension22/30Swings10/25Comeback3/20Decided late6/15Back-and-forth0/10Drama 41 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 31
- #26UCFatOklahoma StCBB· ESPN+D26/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension8/30Swings18/25Comeback5/20Decided late1/15Back-and-forth3/10Drama 34 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 26
- #27E MichiganatBall StateCBB· ESPN+D21/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension0/30Swings15/25Comeback9/20Decided late0/15Back-and-forth3/10Drama 27 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 21
- #28HeatatTimberwolvesNBA· NBC/PeacockD19/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension0/30Swings16/25Comeback7/20Decided late0/15Back-and-forth3/10Drama 25 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 19
- #29BruinsatKrakenNHL· ESPN+One-sidedD18/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension1/30Swings15/25Comeback1/20Decided late0/15Back-and-forth7/10Drama 24 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 18
- #30GeorgiaatFloridaCBB· SEC NetworkOne-sidedD16/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension2/30Swings14/25Comeback0/20Decided late0/15Back-and-forth5/10Drama 21 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 16
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.