88 games played, by sport.
EPL The marquee match is Manchester City visiting Liverpool at Anfield, a heavyweight clash with City undefeated so far this season and Liverpool desperate to find their footing on home turf. Don't sleep on the chance of a tight, low-scoring affair here, with goalkeepers earning their paychecks and a clean sheet very much in play. Elsewhere, Everton hits the road to Hull City and Nottingham Forest heads to Crystal Palace, two matchups where a draw or a scrappy nil-nil wouldn't surprise anyone.
MLB The marquee matchup is the Chicago White Sox at the Cleveland Guardians, with Cleveland favored at home and the over-under sitting at a modest 7.5, suggesting both starters will need to work deep into the game to keep this close. But the real can't-miss is still a day off: Los Angeles Dodgers at Milwaukee Brewers looms as the heavyweight series, two 100-win clubs with loaded lineups where whoever controls the heart of the order and avoids leaning on the bullpen too early will likely take it. Watch Milwaukee's home crowd on a getaway day atmosphere even though it's not literally one, since a late lead could easily turn into a walk-off script against a Dodgers staff that can't afford to get into trouble early.”
MLS It's the final full slate of the MLS regular season, and D.C. United visiting Inter Miami CF is the marquee draw, with Miami heavily favored to keep pace with the top of the Eastern Conference table. Keep an eye on Nashville SC traveling to Austin FC, since Nashville's gaudy record makes them a near lock to pad their seed, while Vancouver Whitecaps head into LAFC looking to protect a strong playoff position. With so many teams still jockeying for playoff positioning, do not be surprised if a late own goal or a converted sitter in stoppage time flips a game that looked headed for a nil-nil draw.
NBA The game to circle is Philadelphia at Boston on NBA TV, with Boston favored by 8.5 as they try to stay unbeaten and Philadelphia looks to prove last year's playoff ugliness is behind them. Earlier in the night keep an eye on Atlanta at Indiana, a pick'em-flavored tilt where Indiana is trying to open 2-0 against a Hawks squad hunting its first win. If you want buckets, the late Dallas-Houston window and Denver hosting Chicago on ESPN both have the kind of up-tempo, paint-scoring firepower that could end in a dagger three or an and-one to shut the door.
NCAA Football The marquee game tonight is Georgia at Alabama, a clash of unbeatens with College Football Playoff seeding on the line, and Alabama's laying just 2.5 points, so expect a smashmouth fight at the line of scrimmage. Earlier in the day Texas and Oklahoma are tangling in a 24-24 fourth-quarter dogfight in the Cotton Bowl, while Ole Miss is piling up garbage-time stats in a 52-10 blowout over Vanderbilt. Later, keep an eye on USC at Penn State, a near pick'em that should go down to the wire, and LSU favored by 9.5 on the road against Kentucky.
NFL The marquee matchup is San Francisco at Seattle, a battle of unbeaten-versus-one-loss division rivals with first place in the NFC West on the line, and the Seahawks are favored by three at home despite the 49ers' 4-0 record. Also circle Minnesota at New Orleans, where the undefeated Vikings try to avoid a letdown spot against a Saints team that could keep it close in garbage time but has struggled to move the ball all year. If you want a smashmouth, run-heavy affair, Chicago at Green Bay at Lambeau is the pick, with the total sitting at 46.5 and the line of scrimmage likely deciding time of possession.
NHL The marquee action is already underway in Florida, where the Minnesota Wild grabbed a 2-0 lead on the Panthers after one period, putting an early dent in Florida's bid to stay unbeaten at home. Later tonight, keep an eye on Toronto at Colorado and Tampa Bay at the Islanders, two tests for teams trying to prove their hot starts are real. If either game is still tight late, watch for power play chances to decide it, since a shorthanded breakdown or a snipe top shelf with the goalie pulled can flip a game in the final minutes of the third.