33 games played, by sport.
MLB The marquee game is Game 1 of the World Series, Milwaukee Brewers at Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field, and the Brewers roll in as betting favorites at minus-144 despite the road trip. This is a true heart-of-the-order showdown, with the Rays needing their starter to go deep and keep the bullpen fresh on what's effectively a getaway day into this series. Watch Milwaukee's lineup early, since if their ace got into his stuff in the first few innings, Tampa Bay's margin for error shrinks fast.
MLS This is MLS decision day across the whole league, with every club chasing the final playoff seeds and seeding on the last day of the regular season. The marquee matchup is Nashville SC hosting Philadelphia Union, where Nashville's league-best record is on the line against a Union side that can still climb the table with a win. Also watch Inter Miami at home against FC Cincinnati, since a draw or a clean sheet for either side could shuffle the standings before the playoff bracket locks in.
NBA The marquee matchup is Oklahoma City Thunder at Dallas Mavericks, with the undefeated Thunder putting their 4-0 start on the line against a Mavericks team trying to find its footing. Also keep an eye on Houston Rockets at Milwaukee Bucks, since Houston is the league's last unbeaten squad heading into Fiserv Forum looking to keep the buckets flowing. If you want a potential track meet, Golden State Warriors at Minnesota Timberwolves could turn into a shootout with both sides trading splash plays and daggers all night.
NCAA Football The headliner tonight is James Madison hosting Troy, with the unbeaten-in-conference Dukes favored by nearly three touchdowns and the over sitting at 49.5, so watch for garbage-time stats piling up if James Madison jumps out early. Keep an eye on North Texas versus Florida Atlantic too, a pick-your-poison shootout with a 76.5 over-under where whichever defense can't get off the field in the red zone will decide if the Mean Green cover easily at home. Jacksonville State visiting New Mexico State rounds out the slate as a tighter third-and-long grind, with Jacksonville State favored by just three and time of possession likely to be the deciding factor.
NFL The marquee game is the Carolina Panthers heading to Lambeau Field to face the Green Bay Packers on Thursday night, with Green Bay favored by three and a half points and the over sitting at 47.5. The Packers need to get smashmouth early and control time of possession, since Carolina's defense has been stout enough to make teams work for every yard near the line of scrimmage. Watch whether Carolina can convert on third-and-long against that Green Bay front, because if they can't move the ball consistently this one could turn into garbage-time stats for the Packers by the fourth quarter.
NHL The marquee game tonight is Toronto Maple Leafs at Seattle Kraken on national TV, a tight pick'em between two teams fighting to stay above .500. Keep an eye on Carolina Hurricanes hosting Columbus Blue Jackets tomorrow too, since Carolina has been lighting the lamp all season and sits atop the league. If either goalie gets pulled late, watch for a scramble in the slot and a potential empty-net snipe to seal it.
WNBA The marquee game is Golden State Valkyries at Atlanta Dream, a top-heavy showdown between two of the WNBA's best records at 32-12 and 30-14. Atlanta's favored by 4.5 at home, but the Valkyries have been racking up buckets all season and will look to steal one on the road. Watch for both squads to get after it in the paint, with the over/under sitting at a fat 147.5 suggesting this one could come down to who hits the last dagger.