NFL Survivor Pool Picks Week 10: Opening Line Report

NFL Week 9 was another easy one for Survivor Pool players. This continues to be a bizarre season for pro football and Survivor Pools in particular. There are a handful of really good teams and a bunch of really bad ones. There are eight teams with two wins or fewer heading into Week 9. I have stated it before, but I will reemphasize the point: if you make it through Week 17 this season you will likely be splitting the pot with a handful of other competitors. The Dolphins finally got their first win of the season against the similarly pathetic Jets, and now the winless Bengals night be the best fade team for Survivor Pools in the NFL, even though I can’t see too many this trio of losers could win down the stretch.

Every week I run down the NFL matchups here in my Opening Line Report and give some predictions on the best teams to use for Survivor Pools. As always, I will start with the largest favorites first.

New Orleans -13 vs. Atlanta: We are seeing multiple double-digit favorites every week in the NFL. That really underscores the disparity of talent between many teams in pro football. With Drew Brees back under center, this could possibly be the top team in the entire league. They showed what kind of talent they had as they continued to win while Brees was injured. Atlanta is one of the most disappointing teams in the league. I really think the problem here is coaching as the talent on the field should have them playing better. This is a division matchup, which is mildly concerning, but the Saints look like the clear-cut best option for Week 10 Survivor Pools for those that have them available.

Indianapolis -10.5 vs. Miami: This is the second of three double-digit favorites for Week 10. Many people thought Miami wouldn’t win a game all season. But I have stated over and over that the Browns recent winless season was an anomaly and that even the worst of the worst teams in the league will still win a game or two. I still think the Dolphins are the worst team in the league from a talent standpoint. I will have to say the players on the field have played with a lot of heart, and they have been covering numbers for point spread bettors. Colts QB Jacoby Brissett is questionable here but likely to play. The Colts seem like a very safe pick for Week 10 Survivor Pools.

Baltimore -10 at Cincinnati: I have a bad feeling about this game. It’s unlikely that the Ravens could lose, but this could be a big letdown spot after their big win over New England on Sunday night. That’s a red flag for me. Plus, two more strikes against them that this is a divisional matchup and on the road. This is the clear third choice for me from the three double-digit favorites.

San Francisco -6 vs. Seattle: This NFC East matchup is on Monday Night Football. The Niners are 8-0 on the season, while the Hawks stand at 7-2. I have to give credit to San Francisco for their strong efforts, but they have played an easy schedule thus far. I can’t help but think this team is still a year or two away from contention. I think they will be vulnerable in the playoff to more experienced teams. I also think they could be on upset alert here in Week 10.

Green Bay -5 vs. Carolina: Green Bay is definitely the better team here. But that loss in Los Angeles on Sunday was concerning. Like San Francisco, I think this Packers team is a bit overhyped. But they are coming off a loss and are at home to an inferior team, and they have a much better QB behind center, so we think they will get the win. However, we think this one could be a close game.

Tampa Bay -4.5 vs. Arizona: Not too anxious to put my Survivor Pool life on the line for a 2-6 team here in the Buccaneers. This team has had a really tough schedule and they are surely better than their record would indicate. But they just don’t know how to win games, and their QB is a turnover machine. I do think Tampa Bay will win, but I don’t recommend this one for Survivor Pools when better options are available for Week 10.

Kansas City -4 at Tennessee: This line is off the board at most sportsbooks. If Pat Mahomes plays for the Chiefs, this line will probably be around 6 or 7. Last week showed that the Chiefs have a good team around their MVP QB, and they need this win on Sunday whether Mahomes plays or not with some teams suddenly breathing down their neck in the AFC West. Many have used the Chiefs for Survivor Pools, however, but if Mahomes plays, I think they are a decent pick.

LA Rams -3.5 at Pittsburgh: The Rams are coming off a bye, and the Steelers have won three straight, and they played to OT with the Ravens as well. So, they are playing well above expectations since Big Ben went down. Three of their last four games have been close, and their only comfortable win was over the Dolphins. Just not a believer in this team, and I have a feeling Los Angeles could win this one going away.

Dallas -3 vs. Minnesota: The Vikings are getting the standard three points for the road team here. I tend to think that overall this team is a little stronger than the Cowboys. They lost last week in heartbreaking fashion to Kansas City, and this is one they need to win very badly. I think that this will be a very close game, and the underdog certainly looks capable for the win.

Cleveland -2.5 vs. Buffalo: A 2-6 team laying points to a 6-2 team? This just goes to show you how much public perception plays into the lines. I have this one handicapped as a “pick’em”, meaning I have no earthly idea who wins. With the way the Browns have been playing, however, I slightly lean to the underdog here.

NY Giants -2.5 at NY Jets: The Jets are a really, really bad team as they showed on Sunday in their loss to Miami. The Giants are certainly a viable favorite here on the road, and I probably like them as much as some of these other favorites in the three-point range. They seem to have it together a lot more than the Jets, and they play hard on the field every week.

Chicago -2.5 vs. Detroit: Another situation where the clear-cut better team is getting points. The Bears still seem to be living off their 2018 performance and are getting too much respect from the bookies here in Week 10.

LA Chargers -1 at Oakland: These two teams suddenly look good, and this should be a solid Thursday game. The Chargers are deserving favorites, but as the line indicates, this one is probably a coin flip as either team could win and it might come down to a lucky bounce to determine who comes out ahead.