Best NFL football knockout, survivor pool picks, strategy, advice for Week 3, 2024: Fade this undefeated team

SportsLine's advanced computer model just locked in its top Week 3 NFL survivor picks

Can the Arizona Cardinals stay hot and should you back them with your Week 3 NFL bets? Arizona is 1-1 on the season following a surprise 41-10 win against the Los Angeles Rams. Kyler Murray threw for 266 yards and three touchdowns in that game, connecting with rookie wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. for two of those scores. It could be hard for them to repeat that success in Week 3, however, as they welcome the Detroit Lions to University of Phoenix Stadium. The Lions are hungry for revenge after falling 20-16 to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 2, upending many NFL knockout pool picks. They are 3-point favorites in the NFL odds to beat the Cardinals, like they have in four of the last five meetings between these teams, and could be popular Week 3 NFL survivor pool picks. Before finalizing any Week 3 NFL survivor picks, see which team the red-hot SportsLine Projection Model just went all-in on.

The model, which simulates every NFL game 10,000 times, is up well over $7,000 for $100 players on top-rated NFL picks since its inception. The model enters Week 3 of the 2024 NFL season on an incredible 187-130 run on top-rated NFL picks that dates back to the 2017 season. It is also on a 41-22 roll on top-rated NFL picks since Week 7 of 2022. 

The model also ranked in the top 10 on NFLPickWatch four of the past six years on straight-up NFL picks and beat more than 94 percent of CBS Sports Football Pick'em players four times during that span. Anyone who has followed it is way up.

The model can be used to crush the Survivor Pool format, which calls for picking one team to win each week but never using the same team twice. In Week 1, the model recommended the Saints as its top survivor pick. New Orleans won in 79% of SportsLine's simulations, and the Saints dominated Carolina, 47-10, in what was the most lopsided game of the opening week. Then in Week 2, the model recommended the Chargers, who were also picked to win in 79% of simulations, and L.A. also manhandled the Panthers, 26-3.

Now, it has turned its attention to the latest Week 3 NFL odds and locked in its Week 3 survivor pool pick. You can only see who the model is backing this week at SportsLine.

Top Week 3 NFL survivor pool predictions 

In Week 3 of the 2024 NFL season, the model is shying away from the Chiefs (-3, 46.5) versus Atlanta, even though the reigning champs have started off 2-0, with wins over preseason Super Bowl contenders in the Ravens and Bengals. Patrick Mahomes may have won back-to-back Super Bowls, but Kirk Cousins has been the more productive quarterback two games into the season. In Week 2, Cousins threw for 241 yards and two touchdowns in a 22-21 upset win against the Philadelphia Eagles while Mahomes threw for 152 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions in a narrow 26-25 win against the Cincinnati Bengals.

Mahomes will also be without some of this key weapons in Week 3. Star running back Isiah Pacheco (ankle) will miss at least six weeks and receiver Marquise Brown (collarbone) is still sidelined. Tight end Travis Kelce is having a slow start to the season and only had one catch in Week 2 and is about to go up against a Falcons pass defense that has only allowed one touchdown so far this season. See which team to pick instead here.

How to make Week 3 NFL survivor pool picks 

Instead, the model is backing a surprising team that wins outright in well over 70% of simulations. The time to pick this team is now, and you can only see the play over at SportsLine.

Which surprising team is a must-back in your Week 3 NFL survivor pool? Visit SportsLine now to see which team carries you to victory in Week 3, all from the advanced computer model that nailed both its Weeks 1 and 2 survivor picks and is up well over $7,000 since its inception.