We’ve made it to October, which is not something many NFL survivor pool players can say this season.
The first four weeks of football were like the bubonic plague for pools, with the Covers 10K Pro Football Survivor Contest down to just 75 of its original 3,789 entries. That’s less than a 2% survival rate. Perhaps I’m giving the “Black Death” too much credit.
(BTW: if you’re among the 98% of survivor pool players who got wrecked in September, the good guys at Covers are offering redemption. Check out the “Second Chance Survivor Contest” for a shot at $5,000.)
While Week 4 wasn’t as bat-shit crazy as the previous slates, a good chunk of remaining players were dusted by the Denver Broncos’ upset win over the New York Jets.
I barely got by with my pick on the Houston Texans, who scored a last-minute touchdown to beat the Jacksonville Jaguars. Close calls aside, I’m in pretty good shape with some heavyweights still available for tight spots down the road.
As for Week 5, it’s tougher board to choose from. There are only a few sizable favorites and just four teams with an implied win probability greater than 65%.
At this point, my NFL picks are not just backing teams to win, but also counting on teams to lose.
Here’s my NFL Week 5 survivor pick and the “safest” option, according to the latest NFL odds.
(Teams used: Buffalo, L.A. Chargers, Seattle, Houston)
