Survivor pools are fun, and they seem easy, but it’s actually very hard to last longer than a few weeks. For those who have never done a survivor pool, the rules are simple. Each week you pick one team to win outright -- usually, survivor pools do not use spreads. Once you’ve picked that team, they’re unavailable to you for the rest of the season.

These are three picks that will keep you alive.

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The Sure Thing: Bengals over BROWNS

If you’re still alive, you most likely have used the Bengals already. However, if by some miracle you’ve avoided that, the time is now. Cleveland has one of the worst run defenses in football, so expect Cincinnati to grind them up with Jeremy Hill and Giovani Bernard.

On top of the strong running game, Cleveland hasn’t handled No. 1 receivers well, and the Bengals boast one of the NFL’s best in A.J. Green. To top that off, the Browns are in complete disarray at the quarterback position. They’re awaiting an update on Josh McCown’s collarbone, but he’s likely out for Week 13, leaving them with the enviable choices of Austin Davis, or swallowing their dignity and giving Johnny Manziel yet another chance.

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The Next Best Thing: STEELERS over Colts

Big Ben Roethlisberger should be all systems go for this one, which is just an ugly matchup for the Colts with Matt Hasselbeck running the show. Pittsburgh has shut down opposing running games all year, and the Colts won’t be able to buck that trend behind the ancient Frank Gore. That puts too much pressure on Hasselbeck’s 40-year-old arm, especially at Heinz Field, a horror house of wind where the Steelers are 4-2 this season.

Both teams are desperate for a win, but the Steelers need it more since they’re a total long shot for the AFC North title.

If You Want To Get Cute: Jets over GIANTS


This would be very risky, but the Jets have several advantages. If CB Darrelle Revis is able to play, he should be able to slow down Giants receiver Odell Beckham Jr., the only reliable weapon for Eli Manning in the passing game. After seeing what DeAndre Hopkins was able to accomplish on Revis Island two weeks ago, Todd Bowles likely will give No. 24 a bit of extra help.

The Giants’ offensive line is decimated by injury, which is bad news against one of the NFL’s finest defensive lines. Muhammad Wilkerson, Sheldon Richardson and Leonard Williams will feast on Manning if the Giants don’t have extra help in protection, which limits their high-octane passing game.

Defensively, the Giants are soft against the pass (21st per Football Outsiders), and Jets QB Ryan Fitzpatrick has been held to fewer than two touchdown passes just three times in 2015. Finally, the Jets are technically the “road” team, but since these clubs share MetLife Stadium, it’s a de facto home game.

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