It was an easy week to pick favorites in Week 9 of the NFL regular season. We had just one underdog win outright, as the Carolina Panthers (+7) toppled the New Orleans Saints 23-22.
Thankfully, we normally pick against the Panthers, but there are two reasons we didn’t. One, we already played the Saints in Week 1 against them in New Orleans, and two, Carolina has been showing some signs of life lately.
In Week 9 of the USA TODAY NFL Survivor Pool contest, there were 8 more players who hit the exit doors, leaving us with 33 of the 10,357 players still alive. Surprisingly, one person elected to take the Tampa Bay Buccaneers against the Kansas City Chiefs on Monday night at Arrowhead. They’re gone, and another player back the Houston Texans, while 6 others had the Saints.
As far as we were concerned, we backed the Chiefs for that Monday night Game against the Bucs, and Kansas City held off Tampa Bay 30-24 in overtime.
In the other game, we selected the Philadelphia Eagles as a 7.5-point favorite over the Jacksonville Jaguars. It was 22-0 at one point, but the Jags stormed back for the backdoor cover with 4:04 to go in regulation, falling 28-23.
Looking ahead to Week 10, we have 7 teams favored by 6 or more points on Sunday. The New York Giants are one of those sides, taking on the aforementioned Panthers at Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany at 9:30 a.m. ET Sunday.
Follow the USA TODAY NFL Survivor Pool.
– Games Sunday and ET unless noted
The pick: Minnesota Vikings
Who they play: At Jacksonville Jaguars – 1 p.m. (FOX)
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list of NFL odds. Lines last updated Thursday at 9:36 p.m. ET.
- Line: Vikings -7 / Moneyline (ML): Vikings -350 | Jaguars +260
The Minnesota Vikings (6-2) travel to meet the Jacksonville Jaguars (2-7) on Sunday at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville.
Surprisingly, we haven’t played the Vikings with either of our 2 options so far this season. That likely has to do with the fact Minnesota has been favored by 2.5 or fewer points in 3 of its 4 games as a favorite, while serving as an underdog in the other games. It was a 5.5-point favorite last week, largest of the season, against the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday Night Football. Minnesota covered in a 21-13 victory.
After serving as a limited participant in practice Thursday, reports surfaced that Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence is nursing a left shoulder injury, and he is unlikely to play.
Conclusion: MINNESOTA IS MY TOP SURVIVOR PLAY IN WEEK 10.
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No. 2 option: LA Chargers
Who they play: Home vs. Tennessee Titans – 4:05 p.m. (FOX)
- Line: Chargers -7.5 / ML: Chargers -375 | Titans +300
The LA Chargers (5-3) are heavy favorites against the last-place Tennessee Titans (2-6).
Tennessee did pick up a win in Week 9, but it was against the New England Patriots in OT, 20-17.
Los Angeles spanked the Cleveland Browns 27-10 on the road, and it has won the past 2 Games by an average margin of 17.5 points. At home, the Bolts have won 2 of 3 Games this season, with the lone loss to the unbeaten Chiefs.
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2024 survivor game log
NO. 1 OPTION
Week 1: LOSS – Patriots 16, Bengals 10
Week 2: LOSS – Falcons 22, Eagles 21
Week 3: LOSS – Panthers 36, Raiders 22
Week 4: WIN – 49ers 30, Patriots 13
Week 5: LOSS – Giants 29, Seahawks 20
Week 6: WIN – Eagles 20, Browns 16
Week 7: WIN – Commanders 40, Panthers 7
Week 8: LOSS – Browns 29, Ravens 24
Week 9: WIN – Chiefs 30, Buccaneers 24 (OT)
NO. 2 OPTION
Week 1: WIN – Saints 47, Panthers 10
Week 2: WIN – Chargers 26, Panthers 3
Week 3: LOSS – Giants 21, Browns 15
Week 4: WIN – Cowboys 20, Giants 15
Week 5: WIN – Commanders 34, Browns 13
Week 6: WIN – Falcons 38, Panthers 20
Week 7: WIN – Bills 34, Titans 10
Week 8: WIN – Lions 52, Titans 14
Week 9: WIN – Eagles 28, Jaguars 23
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