In the aftermath of NFL Week 1, over 8,000 participants in the Circa Survivor contest in Las Vegas faced elimination when the Los Angeles Chargers suffered an unexpected defeat against the Arizona Cardinals.
As the week’s biggest favorite, the Chargers were favored by 8.5 points, alongside the Jaguars. With 7,585 entries backing them, they were the second most popular choice. However, the Chargers fell short, losing 26-14 without ever leading the game. In contrast, the Jacksonville Jaguars advanced their 8,127 entries with a convincing 34-10 victory over the Cleveland Browns.
Overall, 8,039 entries were eliminated in this round:
- 213 entries were lost when the Titans fell to the Jets.
- 81 entries were knocked out as the Cowboys lost to the Giants on Sunday night.
- 18 participants failed to submit their picks for Week 1, forfeiting their $1,000 entry fee.
No other teams with over 50 entries faced defeat in Week 1, but the Lions kept their supporters on edge, narrowly winning 31-30 against the Saints in overtime. Currently, 16,978 entries remain in the hunt for the grand prize of $25,017,000.
In Circa’s high-stakes Grandissimo contest, which has a hefty $100,000 entry fee, the Chargers eliminated 28 out of 77 entries, accounting for 36.4% of the total. These were the only entries to be lost, leaving 49 still competing for the $7.7 million payout.
Mike Palm, Vice President of Circa Sports, remarked that the $10.3 million in entry fees lost due to the Chargers in both Circa Survivor and Circa Grandissimo marks the highest amount ever lost on a single team in one week.
Looking ahead to Week 2, the 49ers emerge as the top favorite, favored by 12.5 points against the Dolphins. This matchup is one of the most advantageous for San Francisco, taking place at their home ground, Levi’s Stadium. With a moneyline of -950, the 49ers boast a 90.5% implied probability of winning.
One strategy for Survivor pools involves selecting a consistently poor-performing team to lose each week. Based on the previous week’s performance, Miami fits this description after losing by two touchdowns to the struggling Raiders.
The Ravens also present an interesting option in Week 2. Following a 41-23 victory over Indianapolis, they are favored by 8.5 points against the Saints. However, New Orleans showed promise in their Week 1 match against the Lions, where they were 6.5- to 7-point underdogs.
Tampa Bay is similarly favored by 8.5 points against Cleveland, which struggled significantly in their opener under quarterback Deshaun Watson. The Jaguars easily defeated the Browns 34-10. The Buccaneers fought hard in their opener against the Bengals but ultimately lost 33-27 on the road.
In terms of future matchups, the 49ers will face the Cardinals in Week 3, with San Francisco currently favored by 11.5 points. They will also meet the Cardinals again in their season finale, leading us to favor Tampa Bay for Week 2.
Pick: Buccaneers over Browns
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