The richest sports betting contest in history, worth $9.2 million, heads into Week 18 with four contestants remaining.
What’s left of the 9,267 entries into the Circa Survivor pool made it out of Week 17 despite all four picking different teams. There wasn't as much drama as in Week 16.
LA Joneser, who’s made an improbable run to this point, kept his fourth and final entry alive by selecting the Denver Broncos, who got past the Los Angeles Chargers 16-9 on Sunday.
.@LAJoneser breathes easier after a missed field goal by the Chargers. Broncos still up by 10 with 6 minutes left. https://t.co/EfFa6zeNFJ
— VSiN (@VSiNLive) January 1, 2024
Circus Master had one of the easiest weeks as the Cleveland Browns destroyed the New York Jets on Thursday night.
IndianaJet did little sweating Sunday as the Houston Texans rolled through the Tennessee Titans, and Jax Jags watched his pick, the Indianapolis Colts, hold a 10-point lead late against the Las Vegas Raiders, who were able to cut it to three but unable to complete the comeback.
What’s on the line?
While there were conversations to chop the pot with 13 contestants remaining, it never happened. That doesn’t mean there isn’t a deal in place among the final four, although details have not been made public.
Each contestant’s final pick is worth more than $2.3 million. If multiple contestants survive Week 18, they’ll split whatever is left of an agreed-upon chop.
This is the most entries in the five-year history of the pool run by Circa Sportsbook in Las Vegas. Contestants are allowed up to 10 entries at $1,000 each, and players must pick one team to win outright. Once that team is selected, it’s not available in future weeks. There are 20 legs total, counting extra games on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.
Looking ahead
This is one of the toughest weeks to handicap of the year. With several teams locked into playoff spots or playing for nothing, some of the best players could sit out or be used sparingly.
This has created some interesting favorites in Week 18. Among those teams, the New England Patriots, Cincinnati Bengals, and Raiders are available to all remaining contestants, but none of those teams are playing for anything this week.
The Colts, a 1-point favorite over the Texans, are still alive for three contestants while the favored New Orleans Saints and Green Bay Packers can be picked by two. LA Joneser has both the Chargers and Detroit Lions available among favorites.
