YANNI – Status – Did Not Survive (3 misses)
JJ – Status – Did Not Survive (3 misses)

Teams Used:

YANNI
Baltimore Ravens
Carolina Panthers (miss)
Green Bay Packers
Los Angeles Chargers
Kansas City Chiefs (miss)
Dallas Cowboys (miss)
Buffalo Bills
Pittsburgh Steelers
San Francisco 49ers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Oakland Raiders
Cleveland Browns

JJ
Philadelphia Eagles
Baltimore Ravens
Dallas Cowboys
Los Angeles Chargers
Kansas City Chiefs (miss)
Washington Redskins
Buffalo Bills
Pittsburgh Steelers
San Francisco 49ers
New Orleans Saints (miss)
Oakland Raiders
Detroit Lions (miss)

Overview:

Early on in the season JJ was cruising having missed only once in the first nine weeks of the season. It’s been a bit of a reversal as a missed pick last week now has he and Yanni each with the same survivor record and missed picks. A quick review from the past weekend showed a no-sweater if you had the Cleveland Browns as they jumped out to a four touchdown lead and never looked back. JJ took a bit of a chance with a backup quarterback in a road contest and it ultimately cost him as the Redskins came away with a win and slight upset.

Strategy / Odds:

The Browns were the highest played Survivor team in week twelve and didn’t disappoint for those who are still going. Week thirteen offers five teams with a touchdown spread or greater, but of course the odds that you’ve played some of these teams increase each week and that is the case for us as well. Three of those high spreads are home teams which is helpful, although two of the five are divisional matchups which is not the most ideal scenario.

Here is a quick glance at the four largest spreads for the week:
(Bovada Sportsbook 11/26/19)

Washington Redskins +10 at Carolina Panthers
Oakland Raiders +10 at Kansas City Chiefs
Philadelphia Eagles -9 at Miami Dolphins
Buffalo Bills +7 at Dallas Cowboys / New Orleans Saints -7 at Atlanta Falcons

One of the popular thoughts with survivor picks is to ride a team that is playing really well as you simply need a team to win. If you’re taking a team that has been struggling to find the win column, you could potentially reap what you sow. Ultimately though, finding a pick can be as much about picking against a team that you think cannot win, instead of finding a team you think can’t lose. Having used both of the ten point favorites already Yanni is going down to the next tier and taking the faltering and banged up Philadelphia Eagles in what is a must-win game for them against the Dolphins. After a couple of wins the Dolphins weren’t the lock “pick against” team for a couple of weeks, but he’s back on that bandwagon.

The BetCrushers are looking at a Thanksgiving play involving the Dallas Cowboys as it’s a spot that they seem they are practically guaranteed to win. However, picking against a solid 8-3 team that can play consistent defense is certainly taking a bit of a chance. Having taken the Eagles, Chiefs and Saints already, it was about as clear of a no-brainer as there can be that JJ would have to look at the Carolina Panthers playing at home against a Washington Redskins team that is still reeling a bit, despite squeezing out a win at home last week. The Panthers are coming off of a heartbreaking loss due in part to some poor special teams and field goal kicking, but should be able to score against the Skins’ and put pressure on rookie Dwayne Haskins holding them down. If you’ve got Carolina available, we’d strongly suggest playing them.

Our Picks: