NFL Survivor Pool Tips - 2019 Week 5

While you will want to consider the entire 2019 NFL season before making your Week 1 Survivor Pool picks, here are some good tips that should help you along with your decision.  Remember, picks are Straight Up.  There are no spreads used with most NFL Survivor Pools, including the best Survivor Pool on the planet - Joe Montana's PlayBalto.com. 

WEEK 11

A little late posting this but still ahead of the game we are looking at.

Unfortunately we lost our second pick of the season, this time with the Colts.  We suspect a lot of folks Survivor Pool took a hit with the Colts losing to Miami.

We were eyeing the Panthers early but in the end, we'll take the Rams for their Sunday night game against the Bears.

Gambling911.com Teams Already Used: Week 1 Baltimore, Week 2 Kansas City Week 3 Dallas Week 4 San Diego Week 5 Chicago Week 6 New Orleans Week 7 Buffalo Week 8 Minnesota Week 9 Seattle Week 10 Indianapolis

WEEK 10

Things are getting tougher as so many good teams are no longer available.

Indianapolis is still a good play against the Miami Dolphins.  The Colts just barely lost to Pittsburgh on the road last week. 

The hot Panthers are still available for us but are playing in Green Bay.

Ultimately we are going to jump on the Colts this week.

Now we have seven weeks to go so let's look at some potential outcomes for the remainder of this season.

Week 11

The Panthers could be a good pick hosting the 1-7 Atlanta Falcons

The Raiders may also be an option.  They host the dismal Cincinnati Bengals.

The Rams could be a selection as well hosting the Chicago Bears, but this one is less attractive.

Week 12

The Steelers are looking much better and face off against Cincinnati on the road.

This could be the time to pick the Browns.  They host Miami.

The Titans may deserve a look as they host Jacksonville.

Week 13

This may be the week to take the Eagles as they will play Miami on the road.

We will likely still have the Packers coming into Week 13 and they play the Giants on the road.

We may also want to save the Panthers as they host the Washington Redskins this week.

Week 14

Another opportunity to take the Browns as they go up against lowly Cincinnati.

The Packers hosting Washington should be a certain win.

The Texans taking on the Broncos at home may want to be considered.

Week 15

Patriots taking on Cincinnati looks good.

49ers hosting Atlanta should have San Francisco as a big favorite.

Week 16

Texans at the Bucs

Patriots hosting the Bills

Steelers at the Jets

Rams hosting the Cardinals

Gambling911.com Teams Already Used: Week 1 Baltimore, Week 2 Kansas City Week 3 Dallas Week 4 San Diego Week 5 Chicago Week 6 New Orleans Week 7 Buffalo Week 8 Minnesota Week 8 Seattle

WEEK 9

We are starting to run out of easy options coming into the second half of the NFL season. 

New England is probably not a good play this week as we are seeing the potential for Baltimore to win this one.

Choosing a team that is playing against the Dolphins or Jets isn't an option as they play each other.

The Bills play Washington but we've already picked Buffalo in Week 7.

Seattle in the past would be an ideal pick at home playing a subpar team the likes of Tampa Bay, but the Seahawks are 0-5 Against The Spread in their last 5 home games.

The teams they lost against so far this season are the Ravens and Saints, both of which have winning records.

For us the Seahawks represent the best play of the week and they will be our pick.

Gambling911.com Teams Already Used: Week 1 Baltimore, Week 2 Kansas City Week 3 Dallas Week 4 San Diego Week 5 Chicago Week 6 New Orleans Week 7 Buffalo Week 8 Minnesota

WEEK 8 

This is the week we latch onto the Minnesota Vikings, who hosted the Washington Redskins as a -16.5 favorite. This is the Thursday Night Football game. 

A few other teams to consider: The Rams, who host Cincinnati, the Texans hosting Oakland and perhaps New England hosting Cleveland.  One can also consider the Steelers hosting Miami Monday night. 

Gambling911.com Teams Already Used: Week 1 Baltimore, Week 2 Kansas City Week 3 Dallas Week 4 San Diego Week 5 Chicago Week 6 New Orleans Week 7 Buffalo

WEEK 7 

This is an easy one for us.  Buffalo (4-1) is a -17 point favorite at home against the Miami Dolphins.  It's a great week to take the Bills, and this will be our main play for Week 7.

Other potential good plays include the Green Bay Packers hosting Oakland, the Jaguars in Cincinnati, The Giants hosting Arizona, the 49ers in Washington, and the Seahawks hosting Baltimore.

Next week we have an opportunity to take the Vikings, who host Washington, the Rams, who host Cincinnati, the Texans hosting Oakland and perhaps New England hosting Cleveland.  One can also consider the Steelers hosting Miami Monday night.  The Steelers are a -16.5 early favorite.

Gambling911.com Teams Already Used: Week 1 Baltimore, Week 2 Kansas City Week 3 Dallas Week 4 San Diego Week 5 Chicago Week 6 New Orleans

WEEK 6 

That didn't take long.  Chicago knocked us out in Week 5 with their shock loss to the Oakland Raiders. Oh well.

This week is particularly difficult depending on whether you've selected winning teams already.

As an example, do you really want to pick either the Redskins or Dolphins in thei Sunday matchup?  Washington is a -3.5 favorite after opening at -4.5.  The public is backing Miami heavily on the spread.

We already picked Kansas City - PLAY - a team that we believe will rebound in a big way in Week 6.

We'd also likely be on Baltimore - PLAY - if we hadn't already chosen them in Week 1.

The Saints - PLAY - are number 2 in the consensus power rankings across the Net, including NFL.com and ESPN.com.  They are a +2.5 underdog in Jacksonville.  The public is backing the Jaguars on the spread.  They are temping to pull the trigger.

The Chargers have one of the largest spreads this week but they just lost to Denver (at home no less).  Pittsburgh has lost its game by very narrow margins (hence the 3-2 record Against The Spread).

In the end, we just keep coming back to the Saints as our play of the week.

Gambling911.com Teams Already Used: Week 1 Baltimore, Week 2 Kansas City Week 3 Dallas Week 4 San Diego Week 5 Chicago

WEEK 5

The Bears - As an underdog of 3.5 to 9.5 points, Oakland is 3-12 Straight Up over the last three seasons.  Chicago looks like the better team here, playing in London.  The Bears will be today's Survivor Poll play

The Saints - PLAY - In road games, Tampa Bay has gone 4-14 Straight Up over the last three seasons.  As a favorite, New Orleans is 23-5 Straight Up over the last three seasons.  In home games, the Saints are 17-4 SU.

Minnesota - PLAY - As an underdog of 3.5 to 9.5 points, the Giants are 4-13 Straight Up over the last three seasons.  As a favorite, Minnesota is 20-5 over the last three seasons.

Gambling911.com Teams Already Used: Week 1 Baltimore, Week 2 Kansas City Week 3 Dallas Week 4 San Diego

WEEK 4

The Chargers, while not as convincing a play this season as say last year, will come into Week 4 as the biggest favorite of the week at -14.  That's because they are playing the Miami Dolphins, in Miami no less.

We can't think of a better time to take the LA Chargers and, as such, they will be our play for this weekend. 

Seattle - PLAY - Coming off a home field smackdown last week, the Seahawks head to Arizona.  They are 14-5 Straight Up as a favorite over the past three seasons.

Jacksonville - PLAY - As a favorite the last three seasons, Denver is just 4-12 Against The Spread. 

Gambling911.com Teams Already Used: Week 1 Baltimore, Week 2 Kansas City Week 3 Dallas

WEEK 3

Gambling911.com Teams Already Used: Week 1 Baltimore, Week 2 Kansas City

We came through nicely with our Week 2 pick on the Chiefs.  This week it's all about getting a team that is a -20 plus favorite and playing a team that is considered the worst in the NFL, the Miami Dolphins.

Yes, we will be on the Dallas Cowboys this day.  This is not a team we are hundred percent confident will be able to deliver they way they have these first two weeks, beyond Week 3 that is. 

The Ravens and Cowboys were two teams we suggested last week and came through nicely.

WEEK 2

Gambling911.com Teams Already Used: Week 1 Baltimore

Our favorite play from last week was Baltimore, and boy did they come through big time.  As such, we will note the Ravens whenever they look good in a particular week, but they can no longer be our top play.

Dallas Cowboys - PLAY - Sure Washington played well versus the Eagles last week, but Dallas is an impressive 11-2 Against The Spread versus division opponents over the last 3 seasons.  Dallas has won seven of the last ten outright versus Washington.

Baltimore Ravens - PLAY - As noted, we can't use the Ravens again since they were last week's top play.  But the Cardinals are a 2-13 ATS in all games where the total is between 42.5 and 49 points over the last 3 seasons.  It helps that the Ravens are a -13 favorite versus Arizona.

Kansas City Chiefs - PLAY - Let's do this.  The Chiefs will be our TOP PLAY OF THE WEEK.  The Raiders won against Denver and the letdown should be upcoming against this solid Chiefs squad that has beaten the Raiders in eight of their last ten.  The home team is 5-0 Against The Spread, but WHAT HOME when it comes to the Raiders as they are essentially homeless for the moment while getting ready to move to Vegas. Versus division opponents, the Chiefs are 10-2 over the last three seasons. 

WEEK 1

Chicago Bears - PASS - Though the line is -3.5 on Chicago playing at home and they do look like the better team on paper, Green Bay has dominated the Bears in recent years, going 8-10 Straight Up.

Phildelphia Eagles - PLAY - A lot of NFL Survivor Pool players are going to look to get their Eagles pick out of the way in Week 1, and why not?  Philadelphia is a -9 home favorite against the Redskins.

Baltimore Ravens - PLAY - Sure you can wait for a better team to face and crush the Dolphins, but why not hold onto your Patriots, Chiefs and Rams picks for more competitive matchups?  Baltimore is at 33/1 odds to win the Super Bowl.  The Dolphins have the longest odds and are favored to win four or fewer games this season (and that's probably being a little too generous).  Did we mention the Ravens destroyed Miami 40-0 two years ago?  This was our play of Week 1.

Our Podcast Interview With PlayBalto.com Co-Founder Spencer Cassidy

New York Jets - PLAY - In our interview with Spencer Cassidy of PlayBalto.com the site's co-founder predicts these Jets will likely make the Playoffs.  The Jets won the last meeting, on the road in Buffalo.  While the Bills won last year at the Meadowlands, New York won their two previous home games in the series. 

Seattle Seahawks - PLAY - Seahawks are 9-3-1 ATS in their last 13 games overall, so playing at home against the lowly Bengals as a big -8 favorite without even having to cover is certainly a sweet position to be in for NFL Survivor Pool players.  Without even looking ahead at the rest of the season, this is probably a good pick to make on a team favored to win at least 9 regular season games.   The Bengals have the third longest odds of winning the Super Bowl.

- Don Shapiro, Gambling911.com