Worth the replay?

1. #1

   IowaatIllinois

   CBB· TBS/truTVDown to the wireBack and forth

   C+

   54/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings18/25

   Comeback3/20

   Decided late10/15

   Back-and-forth10/10

   Drama 72 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 54

2. #2

   PurdueatArizona

   CBB· TBS/truTVBack and forth

   C

   41/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension17/30

   Swings20/25

   Comeback8/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth10/10

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

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.