In the fifth week of the NFL’s 2024 season, the New York Giants and Arizona Cardinals surprised many with startling upsets which likely resulted in the elimination of several survivor betting entries. The defeat was quite unexpected given that the Seattle Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers were predicted to emerge victorious from these games.
Throughout the current NFL season, it has become apparent that the underdogs hold the advantage, particularly against the spread. Following the game on Monday Night Football where the Kansas City Chiefs prevailed over the New Orleans Saints, this trend was further solidified with underdogs leading 19-5-1 against the spread.
Moreover, in the first five weeks of the season, underdog teams have managed to clinch outright wins on 13 occasions. This pattern is highly unfavorable for those participating in Survivor betting, as it is difficult to predict the success of these initially undervalued teams. NFL underdogs with a 5.5+ points margin have an impressive record this season of 19-4-1 ATS, with 13 outright wins spread over the first five weeks.
With Week 6 of the 2024 season commencing, the Chiefs and the Minnesota Vikings hold the distinction of being undefeated. The bye week, however, sees them alongside the Miami Dolphins and Los Angeles Rams, both teams looking to recover some injured players during this respite.
In your Survivor Pool, if you’re yet to be eliminated, we commend you highly. The following is a review of the Sports Illustrated Betting team’s outright win predictions as we proceed into Week 7, starting with the Houston Texans.
The Texans have skillfully managed a 4-1 start to the season, despite the absence of key players like Joe Mixon and Tank Dell. A potential hamstring injury might sideline Nico Collins for Week 6, but even then, it seems unwise to discount Houston against the struggling New England Patriots.
The Patriots managed a meager 10 points before succumbing to the Miami Dolphins and Tyler Huntley at their home ground in the fifth week. Now, they are to confront an ascendant 4-1 Houston squad that outranks the Dolphins in both offense and defense.
Even with Jacoby Brissett potentially maintaining his position as the quarterback, it would be challenging to put faith in New England following its defeat to an underpowered Dolphins team. Ranking 31st in points scored and yards per play, the Patriots’ performance leaves much to be desired. Similarly, their defensive game needs work as they are positioned in the league’s bottom 10 in yards per play allowed.
On the flip side, the Texans’ defense is a noteworthy component of their success, seating them as the fourth team conceding the fewest yards per play in the league. Their defensive prowess was evident in Week 5 when they limited Josh Allen to just nine completions out of 30 attempted passes.
Moving to the Philadelphia Eagles, they find themselves facing the Cleveland Browns, a team characterized by dismal performance this season. The Browns’ offensive game has been particularly disappointing, trailing the next worst team by half a yard per snap.
As for the Eagles, they seem to be on the mend with an anticipated comeback of Devonta Smith and A.J. Brown from the bye week. The Eagles’ defense has been performing adequately this season, but there are instances where their potential application in Survivor seems risky.
Nonetheless, in the upcoming home game against the Browns, the team that currently holds the record for the worst offense in the NFL, seems to favor the Eagles. This match taking place right after their bye week looks to offer the promise of a victory.
Therefore, in the Survivor bet for this week, the Eagles, having had the benefit of a bye week rest and facing a Browns team with unimpressive stats, seem to be the smart choice. The return of their key players, namely Smith and Brown, only bolsters their chances.
In a nutshell, the unpredictable nature of this NFL season, characterized by frequent upset wins by underdog teams, makes for an interesting landscape for Survivor betting enthusiasts. Whether this trend of unpredictability continues into Week 7 remains to be seen. Nonetheless, it offers a fascinating setup for the games ahead, keeping the audience on the edge of their seats.
Current predictions favor the Houston Texans and the Philadelphia Eagles, both teams demonstrating the ability to overcome their opponents in spite of various challenges. The former, though plagued by injuries, seems robust against the declining Patriots, while the latter, fresh off a bye week and bolstered by the recovery of their players, is set to face the faltering Browns.
As the 2024 NFL season progresses, it will be intriguing to observe whether these predictions hold true, how these teams will perform, and which Survivor entries will manage to stay afloat amidst the ebbs and flows of the thrilling NFL season.