Classic: Use a Team Once
Once you have used a team, you cannot pick it again in that contest. 18 weeks, 32 teams, no repeats.
An NFL Survivor pool asks one question every week: which team will win? Pick right and you move on. Pick wrong and your run is over.
BracketContest runs public NFL Survivor contests all season in three formats, plus private Survivor groups for friends. Entries and prizes are in BCP, the points you use to play on BracketContest.
How an NFL Survivor Pool Works
Join a Survivor contest
Open the NFL Survivor lobby, choose a contest and review its format, start week, entry and prize pool before you join.
Pick one team each week
Choose one NFL team to win its game that week. Your pick locks at the kickoff of that game, so set it early.
Survive and advance
If your team wins, you move on to the next week. A loss or a tie eliminates you, and so does a week without a pick.
Be the last one standing
The players who survive split the BCP prize pool under the rules of the contest.
Three Survivor Formats
Repeat Teams
The same survival rules, but you can pick the same team as often as you like.
Against the Spread
Your team has to cover the point spread, not just win. Repeats are allowed. A push eliminates you, and a game with no line is graded straight up.
Key Rules to Know
- Your pick locks at the kickoff of the game you picked.
- A tie eliminates you, the same as a loss.
- A cancelled or postponed game voids the pick: you are not eliminated and you pick again.
- No pick in a week eliminates you in that week.
- Each contest shows its entry and prize pool, always in BCP, before you join.
Private Survivor Pools and College Football
Want a pool for your office or group chat? Create a private Survivor group, share the invite code and follow your own standings.
College football fans can also play Big Ten and SEC Survivor contests: one pick a week, one loss and you are out.
Survivor Strategy Basics
Plan ahead
In the Classic format every team can be used only once. Look at the schedule before you spend a strong team early.
Check the lines
Point spreads show how the market rates each game. They help, but they never guarantee a result.
Know your format
Against the Spread changes everything: a big favorite can win the game and still knock you out.
NFL Survivor Pool FAQ
What is an NFL Survivor pool?
A contest where you pick one NFL team to win each week. A correct pick keeps you alive; a loss, a tie or a missed pick eliminates you. The players who survive split the prize pool.
Can I pick the same team twice?
In the Classic format, no. In the Repeat Teams and Against the Spread formats, yes.
When do Survivor picks lock?
Each pick locks at the kickoff of the game you picked.
What happens if my game is postponed?
A cancelled or postponed game voids the pick. You are not eliminated and you make another pick.
What do I play for?
Entries and prizes are in BCP, Bracket Contest Points. BCP are points to play with on BracketContest: they have no cash value and cannot be redeemed.
Ready to Survive the Season?
Pick a format, make your first pick and see how long you can last.