The Pittsburgh Steelers (-7) are traveling west to visit their AFC North nemesis Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium. The opening kickoff for this game is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. ET and CBS has the TV rights.
Betting Preview: Cincinnati Bengals vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
In this Sunday AFC game, Pittsburgh is projected as the favorite and is currently giving up 7 points. The Steelers are also receiving -280 moneyline odds while the Bengals are +230. Vegas has placed the over/under (O/U) at 39.5 points. If Pittsburgh gets down early, it will likely produce a reasonable live betting opportunity.
The game’s total has swung downward after initially being set at 40. The opening line (7) has yet to change.
The Steelers are 5-4-1 against the spread (ATS) and have gained 0.7 units so far. They’ve been a good under bet and have posted an O/U mark of 3-7.
The underwhelming Bengals have lost 10.6 units this season. The team is 4-6 ATS and has an O/U record of 3-6-1.
The Steelers are 5-5 straight up (SU), including 1-2 SU against AFC North opponents. The Bengals are 0-10 SU overall and 0-3 SU against divisional foes.
The Steelers fell to Cleveland 21-7 in a Week 11 game where the passing game could’ve been better as Mason Rudolph completed only 23-of-44 passes for 221 yards, one touchdown and four interceptions. Jaylen Samuels (26 rushing yards on five attempts) led the ground attack while Samuels (five receptions, 19 yards, one TD) and Washington (three catches, 49 yards) handled the receiving duties in the defeat.
Cincinnati just dropped a 17-10 game to Oakland a week ago. Ryan Finley completed 13-of-31 passes for 115 yards and one interception. Joe Mixon (86 rushing yards on 15 attempts, one TD) spearheaded the running attack as Auden Tate (four receptions, 56 yards) and Tyler Eifert (three catches, 21 yards) led the pass-catching corps in the loss.
Pittsburgh has run the ball on 39.9 percent of its offensive possessions this year while Cincinnati has a rush percentage of 34.7 percent. The Steelers have run for 80.7 yards per game (including 67 per game against North opponents) and have five touchdowns on the ground this year. The Bengals are averaging 80.6 rush yards per game (87.7 in conference) and have four total rushing TDs.
If 2019 results are any indication, then it appears the Steelers ought to have the more disruptive lines up front, since their offensive line has given up only 24 sacks while the D-line registered 52 sacks. The Bengals offensive line has allowed 37 sacks and their defense has sacked opposing QBs just 34 times.
The Steelers offensive scheme has averaged 213.7 yards through the air overall (228 per game against conference opposition) and has 13 passing TDs so far. The Bengals have recorded 253.4 pass yards per contest (191 in the AFC) and have 10 total pass scores.
Defensively, Pittsburgh appears to have the upper hand in both phases. The team has allowed opponents to run for an average of 105.2 yards and pass for 245.5 yards per game. The Cincinnati defense has allowed 266.1 yards per game to opposing passers and 167.0 yards per game on the ground. The Steelers are allowing an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of only 5.03 to opposing QBs, while the Bengals have given up a whopping 8.86 ANY/A.
Rudolph likely has the edge over Finley in this one, as his adjusted net yards per pass attempt stands at 4.92for the season (and 3.02 over the last two games). Finley’s ANY/A is 0.78 for the season and 2.25 over his last two games.
Pittsburgh Steelers at Cincinnati Bengals Betting Prediction
SU Winner: Bengals, ATS Winner: Bengals, O/U: Under
Team Betting Notes
- The O/U for Pittsburgh’s previous game was set at 42. The under cashed in the team’s 21-7 defeat to Cleveland.
- As a team, Pittsburgh has produced 2.8 yards per carry over its last three outings and 2.3 over its last two.
- Cincinnati has averaged 5.2 yards per carry over its last three games and 5.3 over its last two.
- Cincinnati has lost 10 fumbles this season while Pittsburgh has lost six.
- In its last three games, Pittsburgh is 2-1 ATS and the under cashed in two of those three.
- The Over/Under for Cincinnati’s last matchup was set at 48. The under cashed in the 17-10 defeat to Oakland.
- In its last three matches, Cincinnati is 1-2 ATS and the under cashed in two of those three.
- Each team has produced six pass plays of 40 or more yards. The Steelers have have made 10 pass plays of 30+ yards while the Bengals have accounted for 11 such plays.
- The Pittsburgh defense has allowed four pass plays of 40 yards or more, while Cincinnati has given up eight such plays.
- The Pittsburgh offense has created five rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while Cincinnati has created three such runs.
- The Steelers defense has allowed five rushing plays of 20 yards or more, while the Bengals have given up 18 such runs.
- The Pittsburgh defensive unit has 34 sacks on the year while Cincinnati has just 13.
