We've reached Week 9 of the 2020 NFL Eliminator Challenge, with 14.5% of entries still perfect. So there's work to do yet!
The rules are simple: Pick a winner each week, and don't use the same team twice. If you win all 17 weeks (or outlast your fellow group members), you're the champ. You can find all the rules here.
We will look at the top Eliminator options each week, using betting lines (Caesars Sportsbook by William Hill), ESPN's Football Power Index (FPI) and more. (For more on how FPI is calculated, click here and here.)
Here are our recommendations for Week 9:
Kansas City Chiefs vs. Carolina Panthers
If you've been saving the defending champs, here's another week where they're the top choice according to the FPI, and favored by double digits. Kansas City is now 7-1 following its blowout of the Jets in Week 8. Carolina is 3-5, and has lost three straight games.
Line: Chiefs -10.5
FPI favorite: Chiefs 84.1%
Eliminator Challenge: 7% selected
Pittsburgh Steelers at Dallas Cowboys
Pittsburgh remains the lone unbeaten team in the league, now 7-0 following its impressive victory in Baltimore. Dallas is 2-6 and has three straight losses, each by at least two touchdowns. The Steelers are the second-biggest favorite of the week according to the FPI, and the biggest according to the bookmakers, despite being on the road. In fact, it's a historic point spread.
Line: Steelers -13.5
FPI favorite: Steelers 78.0%
Eliminator Challenge: 28% selected
New England Patriots at New York Jets
The Patriots are 2-5 and have lost four straight games ... but they're playing the 0-8 Jets. Enough said? If you need more, New England is the third-biggest favorite this week according to the FPI, and the bookmakers as well.
Line: Patriots -7
FPI favorite: Patriots 72.6%
Eliminator Challenge: 26% selected
Others to consider: Texans (-6.5) at Jaguars