Behind the Defaults: How We Designed Skore's Spoiler-Free Filters

At skore.info, our mission is simple: help sports fans discover thrilling games to watch without spoilers. But what defines a "thrilling" game varies widely across different sports. That's why we've carefully crafted default excitement parameters for each sport based on historical data and fan preferences.

How Our Default Values Work

Our default filters are designed to strike the perfect balance—showing you enough exciting games without overwhelming you with too many options. Here's how we calibrate these parameters for each sport:

🏀 NBA: Point Difference ≤ 10 Points

Basketball games are most exciting when teams are closely matched. Our data shows that:

Games with a final score difference of 10 points or less account for approximately 45% of all NBA games
These games typically feature multiple lead changes and competitive play throughout
The 10-point threshold captures nearly all "buzzer-beater" finishes and overtime games
Games with larger point differences often feature extended "garbage time" where the outcome is no longer in doubt

According to Basketball Reference data, games with smaller point differentials are significantly more likely to feature clutch time minutes, defined as the last five minutes of a game with a scoring margin of five points or fewer.

By filtering for games with point differences of 10 or less, you're essentially filtering out blowouts while retaining contests that remained competitive until the final minutes.

⚽ Soccer: Total Goals ≥ 1

While high-scoring games are rare in soccer, our default of showing matches with at least 1 goal ensures you don't waste time on scoreless draws unless you specifically want to see defensive masterclasses:

The average soccer match has 2.6 goals total across major European leagues, according to FBref data
Approximately 73% of professional soccer matches have at least 1 goal, based on historical data from the top five European leagues
This filter eliminates 0-0 draws while still showing the majority of matches
For fans of tactical battles, you can always adjust the filter to include scoreless matches

FBref data also shows that matches with goals tend to have more shots on target, higher expected goals (xG), and generally more attacking play than scoreless draws.

This default value ensures you'll see matches where at least one team found the back of the net, while still providing plenty of options across competitions.

🏈 NFL: Point Difference ≤ 14 Points

Football games can swing dramatically on a single play, which is why our NFL filter is set at a two-touchdown (14-point) difference:

A 14-point margin represents two scoring possessions, a deficit that's frequently overcome
Approximately 64% of NFL games end with point differences of 14 or less, according to historical NFL data
This threshold captures most games that remained competitive into the fourth quarter
The higher threshold (compared to NBA) reflects the higher scoring nature of football

Pro Football Reference data shows that games within a 14-point margin are significantly more likely to feature fourth-quarter lead changes and critical scoring drives.

This filter ensures you'll see games where both teams had a realistic chance of winning deep into the contest.

⚾ MLB: Run Difference ≤ 6 Runs

Baseball's scoring dynamics are unique, which is reflected in our 6-run difference default:

The average MLB game has around 9.3 total runs scored, based on data from Baseball Reference
A 6-run difference represents a game that could potentially be overcome with a big inning
This threshold captures roughly 80% of all MLB games, according to FanGraphs data
It eliminates only the most lopsided contests while preserving games that remained within striking distance

FanGraphs data indicates that games with run differentials of six or fewer are three times more likely to see high-leverage at-bats in the late innings.

This filter ensures you'll see most baseball games where the trailing team still had hope in the later innings.

🏒 NHL: Goal Difference ≤ 3 Goals

Hockey is typically low-scoring, making our 3-goal default particularly selective:

NHL games average around 6.0 total goals per game, according to Hockey Reference data
A 3-goal difference (typically requiring at least 3 unanswered goals to overcome) represents a significant margin
This threshold captures roughly 85% of NHL games based on historical data
It eliminates only the most decisive blowouts

Hockey Reference data shows that games with a goal differential of three or fewer account for the vast majority of contests that maintain competitive tension into the third period.

With this filter, you'll see hockey games that remained competitive throughout most of the contest.

🎛️ Customizing Your Experience

While our default parameters are carefully calibrated to balance quality and quantity, we understand that every fan has different preferences. That's why skore.info makes it easy to adjust these thresholds to match your personal definition of "exciting":

Looking for only the closest contests? Lower the point/goal difference thresholds
Want more games to choose from? Increase the thresholds to see more options
Your preferences are saved for your next visit, creating a personalized experience

🌟 Why These Defaults Matter

Our default excitement parameters serve as more than just convenient starting points—they fundamentally change how you discover sports content:

⏱️ Time Efficiency: By filtering out less competitive games, you spend more time watching truly exciting contests
🎭 Preservation of Suspense: Unlike highlight shows that give away the outcome, our filters preserve the suspense while still steering you toward worthwhile games
🏆 Sport-Specific Optimization: Each sport has unique scoring dynamics, which is why we've tailored our filters specifically for each one
📊 Data-Driven Discovery: Our defaults are continuously refined based on user behavior and game outcomes

🎯 Conclusion

The next time you visit skore.info, remember that those default values aren't arbitrary—they're the result of careful analysis designed to maximize your enjoyment of sports without spoilers. Whether you stick with our recommendations or customize your experience, you're in control of discovering games that match your definition of excitement.

We're constantly refining these parameters based on fan feedback and new data. Have suggestions for improving our default values? We'd love to hear from you at support@ginylil.com.