Music City Survivor League: Your favorite country singers bet on who's winning in the NFL

Matthew Leimkuehler, Nashville Tennessean
·7 min read
  • Oops!
    Something went wrong.
    Please try again later.
  • Oops!
    Something went wrong.
    Please try again later.
The Tennessean's Pro-Football Music City Survivor League kicks off Sept. 8 with country singers making picks for who they believe should win big in week one.
The Tennessean's Pro-Football Music City Survivor League kicks off Sept. 8 with country singers making picks for who they believe should win big in week one.

The NFL returns this week — and your favorite country singer has thoughts. 

(Don't worry. We've made a place where they can share.)

Welcome to the inaugural Music City Survivor League, a weekly Tennessean series where country music fandom and football nerd-ery collide like a Derrick Henry stiff-arm meeting an open-field defender.

From unshakable Miami Dolphins fan Darius Rucker to longtime Dallas Cowboys follower Chris Young, we'll spend much of the NFL season polling a cohort of who's who Nashville hitmakers on which teams they're betting to win big each week.

The league — and bragging rights for who's Music Row's biggest football fan— kicks off with more than a dozen competitors casting votes for which franchise should score an opening week win (and, yes, a lot of people think Matt Ryan's Colts could clean up against the lowly Texans).

But, wait. What's a survivor league? How's it work? We've got you covered.

Music City Survivor League house rules

  • Artists pick one team a week to win an NFL game.

  • If that team wins or ties? They move on. If that team loses? They're in trouble.

  • We'll play double-elimination. If your favorite artist chokes in week one, they still have a fighting chance.

  • No artist can pick the same team twice in a season.

Music City Survivor League: These Nashville music stars picked their favorite NFL teams, who will make it out of Week 1? Clockwise from top left: Scotty McCreery, Brooke Eden, BRELAND, Jelly Roll, Chris Young, Lainey Wilson, Darius Rucker and Natalie Grant.
Music City Survivor League: These Nashville music stars picked their favorite NFL teams, who will make it out of Week 1? Clockwise from top left: Scotty McCreery, Brooke Eden, BRELAND, Jelly Roll, Chris Young, Lainey Wilson, Darius Rucker and Natalie Grant.

Now, let's strap up for this week's picks. A handful of artists made sensible choices: The Baltimore Ravens (rebounding from a season haunted by injuries) beating a team that may *never* find a serviceable quarterback, the New York Jets; and newcoming QB Trey Lance leading the 49ers to victory against a Chicago Bears team that may finish this year in the gutter.

And a few artists went with a so-called "homer" pick by sticking close to their favorite team. Rucker bought into the Dolphins scoring a win against the New England Patriots (but he's probably used to heartbreak, being a Dolphins fan); and Mitchell Tenpenny elected the hometown Titans to top the New York Giants on Sunday afternoon.

But anything can happen in the NFL, right? A complete look at week one below.

Week one picks

  • Breland: Baltimore Ravens over the New York Jets.

  • Kane Brown: Baltimore Ravens over the New York Jets

  • Brooke Eden: Indianapolis Colts over the Houston Texans.

  • Natalie Grant: Denver Broncos over the Seattle Seahawks.

  • Jelly Roll: Philadelphia Eagles over the Detroit Lions.

  • LOCASH's Chris Lucas: San Francisco 49ers over the Chicago Bears.

  • LOCASH's Preston Brust: Denver Broncos over the Seattle Seahawks

  • Scotty McCreery: Cincinnati Bengals over the Pittsburgh Steelers.

  • Old Dominion's Matthew Ramsey: San Francisco 49ers over the Chicago Bears.

  • Darius Rucker: Miami Dolphins over the New England Patriots.

  • Granger Smith: Indianapolis Colts over the Houston Texans.

  • Matt Stell: Carolina Panthers over the Cleveland Browns.

  • Mitchell Tenpenny: Tennessee Titans over the New York Giants

  • Lainey Wilson: Baltimore Ravens over the New York Jets.

  • Chris Young: Denver Broncos over the Seattle Seahawks.

Meet this year's lineup

Did you know Breland's a life-long Philadelphia Eagles fan? Or that Lainey Wilson's go-to gameday dish is a Louisiana staple? What about what Jelly Roll really thinks of Derrick Henry? Get to know who's competing this year for NFL bragging rights on Music Row.

Don't miss a beat: Sign up for the Pick Newsletter to get Nashville music news straight in your inbox

Breland

BRELAND heads out on to the field to perform before the inaugural match at GEODIS Park in Nashville, Tenn., Sunday, May 1, 2022.
BRELAND heads out on to the field to perform before the inaugural match at GEODIS Park in Nashville, Tenn., Sunday, May 1, 2022.

Hometown: Burlington, New Jersey

Hit songs: "Praise The Lord," "My Truck"

Favorite team: Philadelphia Eagles

Any gameday traditions you share with family or friends?

My gameday tradition is to start out in regular clothes and switch to my Eagles outfit if we aren’t playing well. I go into each game with at least two possible outfit changes, for the juju.

Kane Brown

Kane Brown is recognized during the Number One Party for “One Mississippi" at the BMI Rooftop in Nashville, Tenn., Monday, May 2, 2022.
Kane Brown is recognized during the Number One Party for “One Mississippi" at the BMI Rooftop in Nashville, Tenn., Monday, May 2, 2022.

Hometown: Chattanooga, Tennessee

Hit songs: "Like I Love Country Music," "Heaven"

Favorite team: Tennessee Titans (but he's mostly a fan of individual players)

One player you love (or loved) watching and why?

I’ve become friends with some really great players over the years so it’s cool to watch people [who] you know personally. Patrick Mahomes is pretty amazing.

Brooke Eden

Portrait of Brooke Eden at the Audio Productions in Nashville, Tenn., Tuesday, July 12, 2022.
Portrait of Brooke Eden at the Audio Productions in Nashville, Tenn., Tuesday, July 12, 2022.

Hometown: West Palm Beach, Florida

Hit songs: "Left You For Me," "No Shade"

Favorite Team: Tennessee Titans

What’s a football memory that’s always stuck with you?

Throwback to 2017: I was asked to sing the national anthem at a Titans game. At this point, I was on the road constantly and wasn’t the fan of the NFL that I am now, to say the least. The team made me a jersey to wear for the game, and I chose the number 22. At halftime, I was hanging in our seats and the team coordinator came up and asked why I picked 22. Little did I know (until the second half) that Derrick Henry was an emerging star ... and number 22. That was the day I started paying attention to football.

Natalie Grant

Natalie Grant performs for the audience during the 47th annual Dove Awards show at Lipscomb University's Allen Arena Oct. 11, 2016.
Natalie Grant performs for the audience during the 47th annual Dove Awards show at Lipscomb University's Allen Arena Oct. 11, 2016.

Hometown: Seattle, Washington

Hit songs: "King of the World," "Your Great Name"

Favorite team: Seattle Seahawks

On a scale of 1-10,  how much of a football fan do you consider yourself to be?

Eight. HUGE fan, just a few clicks away from crazed fan.

Jelly Roll

Jellyroll visits Tin Roof, Tuesday, April 12, 2022, in Nashville where he cut his teeth as a new artist from rapping to country radio. 'Jelly' is also launching a new concert at Bridgestone Arena to benefit at-risk youth and youth drug recovery.
Jellyroll visits Tin Roof, Tuesday, April 12, 2022, in Nashville where he cut his teeth as a new artist from rapping to country radio. 'Jelly' is also launching a new concert at Bridgestone Arena to benefit at-risk youth and youth drug recovery.

Hometown: Antioch, Tennessee

Hit songs: "Son of a Sinner," "Save Me"

Favorite team: Tennessee Titans

One player you love (or loved) watching and why? 

Derrick Henry, 'cause he's a freak of nature. I love watching him throw m***** ******s down when he has the ball.

LOCASH

Locash, the Nashville duo, Chris and Preston celebrate their hit single, "beach boys" on a boat at the Cumberland River in Nashville, Tenn., Tuesday, June 21, 2022.
Locash, the Nashville duo, Chris and Preston celebrate their hit single, "beach boys" on a boat at the Cumberland River in Nashville, Tenn., Tuesday, June 21, 2022.

Hometown: Kokomo, Indiana (Preston Brust) and Baltimore, Maryland (Chris Lucas)

Hit songs: "I Love This Life," "One Big Country Song"

Favorite team: Indianapolis Colts (Brust) and Baltimore Ravens or Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Lucas)

What’s your one wild prediction for this NFL season?

Lucas: [Tom] Brady wins it all.

Brust: Peyton Manning comes out of retirement and plays against Brady in the Super Bowl. Peyton wins.

Scotty McCreery

Scotty McCreery performs at the Ryman Auditorium Friday, Sept. 4, 2020 in Nashville, Tenn. It marked the first live audience at the venue since March 13, when the historic auditorium paused all public concerts due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Scotty McCreery performs at the Ryman Auditorium Friday, Sept. 4, 2020 in Nashville, Tenn. It marked the first live audience at the venue since March 13, when the historic auditorium paused all public concerts due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Hometown: Garner, North Carolina

Hit songs: "Damn Strait," "Five More Minutes"

Favorite team: New England Patriots

On a scale of 1-10,  how much of a football fan do you consider yourself to be?  

I’d say … nine. Only reason we have DirecTV is for the NFL Sunday Ticket. Every Saturday and every Sunday in the fall [is] spent watching football. The only reason my rating is not a 10 is because I don’t have any of my teams tattooed on me. Feel like if you’re a 10, you've gotta have a tatt [laughs].

Old Dominion's Matthew Ramsey

Matthew Ramsey of Old Dominion performs during the "Let Freedom Sing!" Music City July 4th event on lower Broadway in Nashville, Tenn., Monday, July 4, 2022.
Matthew Ramsey of Old Dominion performs during the "Let Freedom Sing!" Music City July 4th event on lower Broadway in Nashville, Tenn., Monday, July 4, 2022.

Hometown: Buchanan, Virginia

Hit songs: "One Man Band," "I Was On A Boat That Day"

Favorite team: Tennessee Titans

Darius Rucker

Darius Rucker performs opening for Brooks and Dunn at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn., Saturday, June 18, 2022.
Darius Rucker performs opening for Brooks and Dunn at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn., Saturday, June 18, 2022.

Hometown: Charleston, South Carolina

Hit songs: "Wagon Wheel," "Alright"

Favorite team: Miami Dolphins

What’s your one wild prediction for this NFL season?

Tua [Tagovailoa] will lead the Dolphins to win the Super Bowl.

Granger Smith

Granger Smith. File photo.
Granger Smith. File photo.

Hometown: Dallas, Texas

Hit songs: "Backroad Song," "Happens Like That"

Favorite team: Dallas Cowboys

Go-to tailgate food? Drink?  

Hot dogs with Coke Zero or Bang Mango.

Matt Stell

Matt Stell. Submitted.
Matt Stell. Submitted.

Hometown: Center Ridge, Arkansas

Hit songs: "Prayed For You," "Everywhere But On"

Favorite team: Tennessee Titans (but his second favorite team is whichever he's bet on)

What’s your one wild prediction for this NFL season?

Gardner Minshew starts for the NFC champion Philadelphia Eagles.

Mitchell Tenpenny

Nashville musician Mitchell Tenpenny, pictured at the Fannie Mae Dees Park 'Dragon Park' in Nashville, Tuesday, Sept. 28, 2021.
Nashville musician Mitchell Tenpenny, pictured at the Fannie Mae Dees Park 'Dragon Park' in Nashville, Tuesday, Sept. 28, 2021.

Hometown: Nashville, Tennessee

Hit songs: "Drunk Me" "Truth About You"

Favorite team: Tennessee Titans

What’s a football memory that’s always stuck with you? 

My best memory is being at the Titans vs Buffalo Bills game, the Music City Miracle. I was sitting in Reba McEntire’s box. My grandmother had taken me to the game. I was in the front row of the box with my chicken tenders and I was devastated we were losing. We had to receive a kickoff. The ball goes in the air. Lorenzo Neal catches the ball, turns around hands it off to Wycheck. He throws a dart down the line (it was a perfect pass). Kevin Dyson catches it and runs it all the way down the sideline. The crowd goes insane. I dropped chicken fingers over everybody below us. What a special memory to have embedded in my mind for life. That’s what made me a die-hard Tennessee Titans fan.

Lainey Wilson

Lainey Wilson performs during CMA Fest at Nissan Stadium Friday, June 10, 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee.
Lainey Wilson performs during CMA Fest at Nissan Stadium Friday, June 10, 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee.

Hometown: Baskin, Louisiana

Hit songs: "Things A Man Oughta Know," "Heart Like A Truck"

Favorite team: New Orleans Saints

Go-to tailgate food? 

Boudin. It’s a Louisiana signature dish and pretty dang scrumptious.

Chris Young

Hometown: Murfreesboro, Tennessee

Hit songs: "Famous Friends," "I'm Comin' Over"

Favorite team: Dallas Cowboys

What position would you play in football if you could choose?

I’d say tight end for me since I’m 6’4”.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Nashville country singers' picks on who's winning in the NFL week 1