18 games played, by sport.
MLB This is a World Series game, and it is marquee by default: the Milwaukee Brewers, owners of the best record in baseball, head to Tropicana Field with a chance to put the Tampa Bay Rays in a deeper hole. Watch how far the Brewers starter can stretch things before the manager goes to the bullpen, since both clubs have arms that can get into trouble if a southpaw loses his stuff early. With the heart of each order looking to put a crooked number on the board, keep an eye out for anything that could leave the yard and flip this series on its head.
MLS This is the final night of the MLS regular season, so almost every match is a playoff-positioning fight, but the one to watch is Philadelphia Union at Nashville SC, where Nashville can lock up a top seed with a win or draw. Keep an eye on New England Revolution hosting Red Bull New York too, a tight affair where a single through ball finding the net could flip the standings. Expect a lot of cagey, nil-nil-leaning soccer early with teams playing not to concede, since a clean sheet on the road could matter more than a win at home for several clubs still scrapping for the last playoff spots.
NBA The marquee game tonight is Oklahoma City Thunder at Dallas Mavericks, with the undefeated Thunder riding a 4-0 start into Dallas looking to keep the buckets flowing and stay the last unbeaten squad standing. Earlier, keep an eye on Brooklyn Nets at Boston Celtics, where the Nets are winless and Boston is favored to just eat them up at TD Garden. Don't sleep on Los Angeles Lakers at LA Clippers either, a crosstown clash where the Lakers come in undefeated and looking to splash their way to 4-0.
NCAA Football The marquee matchup tonight is Delaware at Western Kentucky, a pick-'em affair between two 3-4 teams where the Hilltoppers are favored by just 2.5 and the over sits at a brisk 55.5. Over on ESPN2, keep an eye on Sam Houston at Missouri State, where the Bears are a 6-point favorite but have struggled to move the ball all season, so a slow, smashmouth clock-killer wouldn't be a surprise. Both games lack marquee stakes beyond bowl positioning, but if either defense bails out an offense stuck in third-and-long situations, don't be shocked if garbage-time stats pad the final score without covering the spread.
NHL The night's marquee matchup is the Boston Bruins visiting the Carolina Hurricanes on ESPN, with both clubs sitting atop their divisions and Carolina favored at home on the strength of a nine-win start. Keep an eye on the power play battle in that one, since both teams lean on it heavily, and a shorthanded goal or a stick save in the crease could decide things late. Also worth a glance is Vegas hosting Ottawa, a tight matchup between two red-hot teams where a snipe top shelf with the goalie pulled in the third wouldn't be a surprise.