The Cincinnati Bengals may feel their time to rule the AFC North is now. With how things are trending in the division, there is no reason for the Bengals to not feel that way.
Anyone seeking to bet the Bengals vs Steelers moneyline can see the tides in the series between the two rivals are starting to swing.
Cincinnati has won the past three games between the two sides, including a 41-10 beatdown at home last November.
This won’t be the same Pittsburgh team that tortured Cincinnati in the past. Steelers veteran quarterback Ben Roethlisberger retired and will be replaced by Mitch Trubisky.
How Trubisky and the offense gel together will determine how competitive the Steelers can be this season.
Cincinnati Bengals vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Bengals vs. Steelers Matchup Info
The Bengals will host the Steelers at 1 p.m. Sunday at Paycor Stadium.
Bengals Analysis
Cincinnati quarterback Joe Burrow didn’t torch the Steelers for a ton of passing yards last season but killed Pittsburgh with efficiency.
Burrow Performance
Making Bengals prop bets on Burrow’s passing total may be best focused on the under. In two wins over Pittsburgh last season, Burrow finished with 172 and 190 yards, respectively.
What the Cincinnati quarterback was able to do was complete passes. In those two wins, Burrow completed 77.8 and 83.3 percent of his passes, respectively.
Against a Pittsburgh defense last season that was excellent at rushing the passer, he was only hauled down twice.
Bengals’ Defense
Bengals running back Joe Mixon should also find space against the Pittsburgh run defense, which was historically bad last season.
The Steelers are still weak at inside linebacker, with former first-round pick Devin Bush failing to live up to his potential.
Bengals Key Injuries
Burrow had an appendectomy in the offseason but is fully recovered and will be ready to go for the opener.
Wide receiver Tee Higgins returned to practice Monday and is questionable with a shoulder injury. Cincinnati tight end Mitchell Wilcox is also questionable with an ankle injury.
Betting Trends To Know
- Cincinnati, including the playoffs, was 5-5 against the spread at home last season.
- Including the playoffs, the Bengals were 14-7 against the spread last season.
- The over/under went 8-13 in Cincinnati’s games last season.
Steelers Analysis
The Steelers officially named Trubisky the starter Monday and will be counting on him to breathe life into a passing game that suffered in Roethlisberger’s last season.
With running back Najee Harris entering his second season as a pro, Pittsburgh hopes the balance will lead to an offense that can pile up more points than last season.
When it comes to Steelers odds this season, Pittsburgh’s success or failure will largely rely on how their offensive line improves.
Steelers in the Draft
Pittsburgh largely didn’t address the unit in the draft and is hoping to make do with returning players and free agents.
Things were ugly in the NFL preseason for the offensive line. Pittsburgh also has questions at linebacker and in the secondary on defense.
Steelers Key Injuries
Steelers wide receiver Diontae Johnson is questionable with a shoulder injury, but coach Mike Tomlin said they are hoping he is available for Week 1.
Rookie wide receiver Calvin Austin III was placed on injured reserve with a foot injury and will miss the opener.
Betting Trends to Know
- The over/under went 7-10-1 in Pittsburgh’s games last season.
- The Steelers were 8-10 against the spread last season, including the playoffs.
- Pittsburgh was 4-5 against the spread last season as a road team.
Bengals vs. Steelers Odds Breakdown
The Bengals have been pretty consistently set as -6.5 point favorites for their home opener.
Anyone looking to bet Bengals vs Steelers moneyline can get the Bengals at -278 and the Steelers at +237. The over/under has been set at 44.5 points.
Cincinnati Bengals vs. Pittsburgh Steelers Betting Picks
When it comes to Bengals vs Steelers picks, Cincinnati sets up to be a favorable choice for Week 1.
While there isn’t a lot of value as a solo bet, the Bengals are catching Pittsburgh as it transitions to a new quarterback.
Cincinnati will have more continuity on offense and should be able to score more consistently. The Bengals will also be eager to grab a fourth straight win over Pittsburgh.
Steelers’ Offensive Line
For the under/under, this is a game that should go over the total. While the Steelers’ offensive line has struggled to generate push during the preseason, Pittsburgh will need to keep pace with Cincinnati’s offense, which put up big numbers against the Steelers last season.
The Bengals’ rushing game should be able to exploit Pittsburgh’s weaknesses. Cincinnati should cover the -6.5 spread.
Bengals vs. Steelers Score Prediction
Score Prediction: Cincinnati 31, Pittsburgh 17
NFL Pick: Bengals -7 (+110)
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