Worth the replay?

1. #1

   StanfordatWest Virginia

   CBB· FS1OvertimeDown to the wireBig comeback

   A

   75/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings25/25

   Comeback18/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth8/10

   Overtime+8

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

2. #2

   TulsaatNew Mexico

   CBB· ESPNDown to the wire

   B

   57/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings20/25

   Comeback6/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth5/10

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

3. #3

   RutgersatCreighton

   CBB· FS1Back and forth

   C

   39/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension18/30

   Swings19/25

   Comeback6/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth10/10

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

4. #4

   Illinois StatAuburn

   CBB· ESPNOne-sided

   D

   7/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension0/30

   Swings4/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth5/10

   Drama 9 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 7

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.