Prior to the 2013-2014 NFL season, both Pittsburgh and Cincinnati were projected to be 9-win teams by the oddsmakers. Surprisingly, both teams enter tonight’s game without a win as the Steelers lost 16-9 at home to Tennessee, while the Bengals fell by the score of 24-21 at Chicago. However, Pittsburgh suffered more than just a loss in week one as the Steelers also lost center Maurkice Pouncey (tore the ACL and MCL in right knee), linebacker Larry Foote (ruptured his biceps) and running back LaRod Stephens-Howling (tore ACL) to season-ending injuries. Pittsburgh will be looking to avoid its first 0-2 start since 2002, but the injuries leave little hope for Steeler fans. Please find below Pro Edge’s Monday Night Football Betting Preview between the Steelers and Bengals.
Pittsburgh Steelers at Cincinnati Bengals (-6.5) (-110)
- Pittsburgh scored 9 points in its season opener on 32 rushing yards (2.1 yards per carry), 163 passing yards (4.9 yards per pass attempt) and 195 total yards (4.1 yards per play; 21.7 yards per point);
- Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was sacked nine times last week, and the pressure will only get worse without Pro Bowl center Maurkice Pouncey;
- The lone bright spot for the Steelers last week was their defense that limited Tennessee to 16 points on 112 rushing yards (2.7 yards per carry), 117 passing yards (5.8 yards per pass attempt) and 229 total yards (3.7 yards per play);
- Interestingly, the technical analysis also favors Pittsburgh as the Steelers are 19-4 SU and 18-5 ATS at Cincinnati since 1991, including 11-1 SU and ATS in their last 12 visits;
- Roethlisberger is 17-12 SU and 18-11 ATS as an underdog, including 13-3 ATS when playing with revenge;
- Finally, Pittsburgh is a perfect 8-0 ATS as division underdogs of four or more points, while Cincinnati head coach Marvin Lewis is 1-7 ATS at home versus a division foe off a loss by more than six points.
Cincinnati is 6-14 SU and ATS in its last twenty appearances under the Monday Night lights, which doesn’t exactly inspire confidence. However, the Steelers are ravaged by injuries to key players, while Cincinnati looked very good in its season opener at Chicago. The experts at Pro Edge Sports Picks has the line in this game at -7 so there is very little value to be had on either side.