Worth the replay?

Sunday, November 8'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
    Saint Mary'satNevada
    CBB· MW+OvertimeDown to the wire
    A
    84/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings18/25
    Comeback8/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth8/10
    Overtime+8

    Drama 87 × pre-game weight 0.97 (pre-game Watchability 93) = 84

  2. #2
    Wichita StatUSC
    CBB· CWDown to the wireBack and forth
    B+
    74/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings19/25
    Comeback8/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 82 × pre-game weight 0.90 (pre-game Watchability 81) = 74

  3. #3
    PittatPenn State
    CBB· ESPN2
    B+
    69/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension27/30
    Swings17/25
    Comeback7/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

    Drama 73 × pre-game weight 0.94 (pre-game Watchability 89) = 69

  4. #4
    Green BayatSt Thomas
    CBBDown to the wireBig comebackBack and forth
    B+
    68/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings23/25
    Comeback16/20
    Decided late14/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 93 × pre-game weight 0.74 (pre-game Watchability 47) = 68

  5. #5
    LakersatPistons
    NBA· NBA TVDown to the wire
    B+
    66/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings19/25
    Comeback9/20
    Decided late12/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 70 × pre-game weight 0.94 (pre-game Watchability 88) = 66

  6. #6
    BroncosatPanthers
    NFL· CBS
    B
    62/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings20/25
    Comeback8/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 78 × pre-game weight 0.80 (pre-game Watchability 60) = 62

  7. #7
    Sacred HeartatNew Hampshire
    CBB· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wireBig comebackBack and forth
    B
    59/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings22/25
    Comeback20/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10
    Overtime+8

    Drama 100 × pre-game weight 0.59 (pre-game Watchability 18) = 59

  8. #8
    QuinnipiacatVermont
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBig comeback
    B
    59/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings20/25
    Comeback17/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

    Drama 90 × pre-game weight 0.65 (pre-game Watchability 31) = 59

  9. #9
    BrownsatSaints
    NFL· CBSOvertimeDown to the wireBig comebackBack and forth
    B
    58/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback20/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10
    Overtime+8

    Drama 100 × pre-game weight 0.58 (pre-game Watchability 17) = 58

  10. #10
    BuccaneersatBears
    NFL· NBCDown to the wire
    B
    58/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings15/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 62 × pre-game weight 0.93 (pre-game Watchability 86) = 58

  11. #11
    Saint Peter'satNJIT
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBig comeback
    B
    58/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback18/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

    Drama 95 × pre-game weight 0.61 (pre-game Watchability 22) = 58

  12. #12
    Western KYatTennessee Tech
    CBB· ESPN+
    B
    57/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension25/30
    Swings19/25
    Comeback12/20
    Decided late11/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 70 × pre-game weight 0.82 (pre-game Watchability 63) = 57

  13. #13
    LightningatJets
    NHL· ESPN+Down to the wire
    B
    57/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback4/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 77 × pre-game weight 0.74 (pre-game Watchability 49) = 57

  14. #14
    BrownatLehigh
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBack and forth
    B
    56/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings23/25
    Comeback14/20
    Decided late10/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 87 × pre-game weight 0.64 (pre-game Watchability 28) = 56

  15. #15
    N Dakota StatBakersfield
    CBB· ESPN+Back and forth
    C+
    53/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension23/30
    Swings21/25
    Comeback13/20
    Decided late5/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

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

  16. #16
    ManhattanatMaine
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBig comeback
    C+
    53/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback15/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

    Drama 93 × pre-game weight 0.57 (pre-game Watchability 14) = 53

  17. #17
    CowboysatColts
    NFL· FoxDown to the wireBack and forth
    C+
    52/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings22/25
    Comeback13/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 90 × pre-game weight 0.58 (pre-game Watchability 16) = 52

  18. #18
    C ConnecticutatDartmouth
    CBB· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wireBig comebackBack and forth
    C+
    51/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback16/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10
    Overtime+8

    Drama 100 × pre-game weight 0.51 (pre-game Watchability 2) = 51

  19. #19
    FlyersatFlames
    NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wireBack and forth
    C+
    49/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings19/25
    Comeback9/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10
    Overtime+8

    Drama 91 × pre-game weight 0.54 (pre-game Watchability 9) = 49

  20. #20
    MaristatUMass Lowell
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wire
    C+
    47/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings16/25
    Comeback2/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

    Drama 70 × pre-game weight 0.67 (pre-game Watchability 34) = 47

  21. #21
    MerrimackatUAlbany
    CBB· ESPN+
    C
    40/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings16/25
    Comeback2/20
    Decided late8/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 61 × pre-game weight 0.66 (pre-game Watchability 32) = 40

  22. #22
    Idaho StatAir Force
    CBB· MW+Down to the wire
    C
    40/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings22/25
    Comeback9/20
    Decided late9/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

    Drama 78 × pre-game weight 0.52 (pre-game Watchability 4) = 40

  23. #23
    Raidersat49ers
    NFL· Fox
    C
    38/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings11/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late12/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 55 × pre-game weight 0.69 (pre-game Watchability 38) = 38

  24. #24
    76ersatBulls
    NBA
    C
    36/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings11/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late12/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

    Drama 61 × pre-game weight 0.59 (pre-game Watchability 18) = 36

  25. #25
    RamsatCommanders
    NFL· Fox
    C
    36/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension16/30
    Swings13/25
    Comeback5/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

    Drama 41 × pre-game weight 0.88 (pre-game Watchability 76) = 36

  26. #26
    HeatatKings
    NBADown to the wire
    D
    32/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings13/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late11/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

    Drama 62 × pre-game weight 0.51 (pre-game Watchability 2) = 32

  27. #27
    GiantsatEagles
    NFL· Fox
    D
    30/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension20/30
    Swings13/25
    Comeback4/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

    Drama 44 × pre-game weight 0.67 (pre-game Watchability 34) = 30

  28. #28
    FairfieldatBryant
    CBB· ESPN+
    D
    25/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension6/30
    Swings17/25
    Comeback7/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 35 × pre-game weight 0.71 (pre-game Watchability 41) = 25

  29. #29
    UT ArlingtonatHawai'i
    CBB· MW+Back and forth
    D
    24/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension9/30
    Swings15/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 35 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 39) = 24

  30. #30
    ArkansasatVirginia
    CBB· ESPNOne-sided
    D
    24/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension0/30
    Swings15/25
    Comeback6/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 24 × pre-game weight 0.99 (pre-game Watchability 98) = 24

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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