NFL Week 1 Survivor Pool: Go Big And Back The Patriots

By Adam Thompson Mar 14th, 2024 7:22 AM EDT

Tap for Promo Visit site

Bet $10, Get $150 If You Win
Promo Code: BOOKIESBG150

Used 44 Times Today

Bonus Bets Expire in 7 Days. One New Customer Offer Only. Must be 21+ to participate. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (CO, DC, IL, IN, KY, LA, MD, MS, NC, NJ, OH, PA, TN, VA, WV, WY) Call 877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY). Call 1-800-NEXT-STEP (AZ), 1-800-522-4700 (KS, NV), 1-800-327-5050 (MA), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA), 1-800-270-7117 for confidential help (MI). Visit BetMGM.com for T&Cs. US promotional offers not available in NY, NV, or Puerto Rico.

NFL Survivor Pools have exploded in popularity, and at levels for all kinds of NFL betting fans, from family pools to those with thousands of dollars in cash prizes on the line.

The simple nature of it is a major draw: Survivor Pools entail picking one team to win each week, but never picking the same team twice.

It's not how much your team wins by in a Survivor Pool. Simply, it's about picking a winner and moving on - and sometimes saving the biggest NFL odds favorite for a future week.

Bookies.com senior handicapper and Survivor Pool veteran Adam Thompson went 16-1 on his Survivor Pool picks in 2020. He shares his NFL picks each week here, revealing his confident pick that gets you to the next week of your Survivor Pool and puts you in good position for future weeks.

Here is the pick for Week 1:

New England Patriots

We’re going big – real big – right at the opening kickoff. The Dolphins went 10-6 last season, the Patriots just 7-9. New England is favored here at home, but by just three points.

But keep in mind, Miami won 10 games despite an offense and a defense that each ranked outside the top 20 overall. QB Tua Tagovailoa struggled mightily, to the point that Miami was reportedly looking to acquire Deshaun Watson from the Texas as recently as this week.

RELATED: Check Out The Latest Betting Lines For All NFL Week 1 Games

New England might be the most-improved team in football, and not just because the uninspired Cam Newton is out and rookie Mac Jones is in. Eight Pats players opted out due to Covid last year, and many of them return. They drastically upgraded the TE position with Jonnu Smith and Hunter Henry, and made a splash on defense too by adding a starting CB and Edge rusher.

Jones and New England’s slew of RBs should benefit from playing against one of the bottom-five D-lines in the game. No Stephon Gilmore hurts for the Pats, but there is value to be found – and value in holding onto the Lions, Texans and other also-rans for later.

Other Week 1 contenders:

San Francisco 49ers: The Niners should be poised for a big season after last year’s injury-plagued disappointment. The Lions are a work-in-progress at best.

Minnesota Vikings: Just as San Francisco would like to forget 2020, Minnesota was a huge underachiever. But the Vikings are stacked, especially on offense and the Bengals are going to struggle slowing them down.

2020 Picks

Week 1: New England Patriots – WIN

Week 2: San Francisco 49ers – WIN

Week 3: Indianapolis Colts – WIN

Week 4: Los Angeles Rams – WIN

Week 5: Dallas Cowboys – WIN

Week 6: Miami Dolphins – WIN

Week 7: Los Angeles Chargers – WIN

Week 8: Kansas City Chiefs – WIN

Week 9: Arizona Cardinals – LOSS

Week 10: Green Bay Packers – WIN

Week 11: Pittsburgh Steelers – WIN

Week 12: Cleveland Browns – WIN

Week 13: Las Vegas Raiders – WIN

Week 14: Seattle Seahawks – WIN

Week 15: Tennessee Titans – WIN

Week 16: Tampa Bay Buccaneers – WIN

Week 17: Baltimore Ravens – WIN

About the Author

Adam Thompson

More About Adam

Long established as one of the nation's premier handicappers, Adam Thompson joined Bookies.com in 2019 after a successful run as senior handicapper for SportsLine & CBSSports.com. He specializes in the NFL and MLB, where he's hit on well over 60% of his picks the past five years. Adam's NBA and horse racing picks have also produced consistent, major winners over the years.