BTSC Survivor Pool Update: Picking the obvious games

The Behind The Steel Curtain survivor pool finished up its seventh week with an overwhelming number of contestants correctly choosing the same team. While technically we started with 592 entries, I have one entry in each league as the commissioner so there were 587 different contestants. Hundreds have entered, but only one can go home with the autographed David DeCastro football. Entering Week 7, there were 103 contestants still alive.

The most common selection for Week 7 was the Buffalo Bills defeating the Miami Dolphins which led all six leagues as the choice for over two-thirds of all the remaining entries. The Bills had a lot of people concerned as they trailed the Dolphins 14-9 entering the fourth quarter. After the Bills scored two touchdowns and a 2-point conversion with 6:30 remaining in the game, the Dolphins had to attempt and onside kick after scoring a TD inside the last two minutes. The Bills returned the onside kick for a touchdown to secure the 31-21 victory.

The other most popular choice was the San Francisco 49ers over the Washington Redskins. Playing in a monsoon, the 49ers kicked three field goals and won the game 9-0. So while both of the top choices won their games, neither team managed to cover the point spread.

This week saw almost every team move on to Week 8. In all, only three people were eliminated across all six leagues. The three failed choices were were the New York Giants, the Seattle Seahawks, and one entry which did not make a choice.

After seven weeks, 16.2% of contestants still remain since only three people of those who entered Week 7 were eliminated. Since I am still alive in all six leagues, it means we have less than a hundred contestants remaining from exactly 100 entries still alive. If you are still in the contest, make sure you enter your pick early so you don’t get knocked out due to a lack of selection. In fact, go do it right now if you are still alive!

As the season moves forward, it does become slightly easier to know what a team is supposedly capable of based on their body of work, but the choices become fewer as many contestants have already used the NFL’s top teams. With the Dolphins taking on the Steelers this week, two teams being on bye, and a handful of matchups of teams with winning records facing teams with losing records, who will be the go-to team of choice?

Weekly Update:

Upcoming Week 8 Games of Note:

• Most heavily favored: Minnesota (-15.5) at home vs Washington
• Closest match up: Buffalo (-1.5) at home vs Philadelphia
• The Steelers match up: Pittsburgh (-14.5) at home vs Miami
• On Bye Week: Dallas, Baltimore

(all lines are courtesy of oddshark.com as of 10/22)

So there you have it! Make sure you check back at Behind The Steel Curtain to stay updated on the contest. Even if you did not enter or have already been eliminated, feel free to check in and see how you would have fared each week.