How to bet Pittsburgh at Cincinnati
NFL VEGAS EXPERTS
ESPN INSDER
ESPN Chalk's NFL Vegas experts (Phil Steele, Erin Rynning and Mike Clay) are here to provide analysis and best bets for Monday night's game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cincinnati Bengals, while John Parolin provides his prop bet pick.
Note: Odds courtesy of the Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook as of Sunday afternoon
Pittsburgh Steelers (-4.5) at Cincinnati Bengals
Total: 43
PickCenter public consensus pick: 74 percent on Pittsburgh
Phil Steele
Andy Dalton has a perfect 9-0 TD-INT ratio over the past five weeks. The Bengals are now 5-6 and feel like they are in the playoff chase. Further examination shows that two of their five wins have come against the Browns, including a week ago where they were outgained 405-361. Two weeks ago, the Bengals had a 20-12 first-down deficit in Denver but also saw a 14-point swing, with a 99-yard interception return giving them the eventual three-point victory. The Bengals are minus-141 yards per game the past four weeks despite taking on a light schedule. Their offense is last in the NFL with just 274 yards per game.
Pittsburgh, meanwhile, is at the other end of the NFL spectrum with the No. 7 offense and No. 4 defense (and the team is plus-78 yards per game on the season, which is third-best in the NFL). The Steelers have played down to the level of their opponent at times this season (Indianapolis and Green Bay), giving them some potential line value in this one. They do get up for their rivals, however, and beat the Bengals 29-14 earlier this season with a 420-179 yardage edge. Steelers fans travel en masse to Cincinnati, turning it into a virtual home game on quite a few occasions, and Pittsburgh has won six of its past seven visits. I expect that to continue here.
ATS pick: Lean on Pittsburgh
Erin Rynning
It was only a matter of time before the Steelers flexed their muscles, especially on offense. They've strung together six straight wins with the offense finally living up to expectations. Star wide receiver Antonio Brown remains questionable, which could hamper their effectiveness. This will be perhaps the biggest game of the season for the Bengals after already losing to their nemesis once. However, they've been outgained in six straight games with the Steelers still owning many of the tactical edges.
Pick: Pass
Mike Clay
Prediction: Pittsburgh 24, Cincinnati 17
The pick: Steelers and the under
Parolin's prop bet
232.5 passing yards by Andy Dalton (O/U -110)
Andy Dalton has been at 232 or fewer passing yards in eight of his 13 career matchups against the Steelers, and this version of the Pittsburgh defense is as tough as any Dalton has faced. Pittsburgh is allowing 193 passing yards per game this season after four straight years above 220, and the biggest improvement in the Steelers' defense over Dalton's career comes in their pass rush. Over the first four years of Dalton's career, the Steelers ranked 26th in sacks (139). Since 2015, Pittsburgh's 124 sacks is best in the league. Dalton has faced Pittsburgh five times since 2015 and been under the total in four.
Both Dalton and the Steelers have offered reasons for doubt this season as well. Dalton has been under 232 in three of his past four games this season, and the Steelers' 193 yards per game average is the third-best in the league. In their first meeting this season back in Week 7, Dalton threw for 140 yards and averaged a season-low 4.7 per attempt. Don't expect enough improvement in Cincinnati -- Dalton has been under 232 in three of his five home games against Pittsburgh as well.
The play: Under
NFL VEGAS EXPERTS
ESPN INSDER
ESPN Chalk's NFL Vegas experts (Phil Steele, Erin Rynning and Mike Clay) are here to provide analysis and best bets for Monday night's game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cincinnati Bengals, while John Parolin provides his prop bet pick.
Note: Odds courtesy of the Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook as of Sunday afternoon
Pittsburgh Steelers (-4.5) at Cincinnati Bengals
Total: 43
PickCenter public consensus pick: 74 percent on Pittsburgh
Phil Steele
Andy Dalton has a perfect 9-0 TD-INT ratio over the past five weeks. The Bengals are now 5-6 and feel like they are in the playoff chase. Further examination shows that two of their five wins have come against the Browns, including a week ago where they were outgained 405-361. Two weeks ago, the Bengals had a 20-12 first-down deficit in Denver but also saw a 14-point swing, with a 99-yard interception return giving them the eventual three-point victory. The Bengals are minus-141 yards per game the past four weeks despite taking on a light schedule. Their offense is last in the NFL with just 274 yards per game.
Pittsburgh, meanwhile, is at the other end of the NFL spectrum with the No. 7 offense and No. 4 defense (and the team is plus-78 yards per game on the season, which is third-best in the NFL). The Steelers have played down to the level of their opponent at times this season (Indianapolis and Green Bay), giving them some potential line value in this one. They do get up for their rivals, however, and beat the Bengals 29-14 earlier this season with a 420-179 yardage edge. Steelers fans travel en masse to Cincinnati, turning it into a virtual home game on quite a few occasions, and Pittsburgh has won six of its past seven visits. I expect that to continue here.
ATS pick: Lean on Pittsburgh
Erin Rynning
It was only a matter of time before the Steelers flexed their muscles, especially on offense. They've strung together six straight wins with the offense finally living up to expectations. Star wide receiver Antonio Brown remains questionable, which could hamper their effectiveness. This will be perhaps the biggest game of the season for the Bengals after already losing to their nemesis once. However, they've been outgained in six straight games with the Steelers still owning many of the tactical edges.
Pick: Pass
Mike Clay
Prediction: Pittsburgh 24, Cincinnati 17
The pick: Steelers and the under
Parolin's prop bet
232.5 passing yards by Andy Dalton (O/U -110)
Andy Dalton has been at 232 or fewer passing yards in eight of his 13 career matchups against the Steelers, and this version of the Pittsburgh defense is as tough as any Dalton has faced. Pittsburgh is allowing 193 passing yards per game this season after four straight years above 220, and the biggest improvement in the Steelers' defense over Dalton's career comes in their pass rush. Over the first four years of Dalton's career, the Steelers ranked 26th in sacks (139). Since 2015, Pittsburgh's 124 sacks is best in the league. Dalton has faced Pittsburgh five times since 2015 and been under the total in four.
Both Dalton and the Steelers have offered reasons for doubt this season as well. Dalton has been under 232 in three of his past four games this season, and the Steelers' 193 yards per game average is the third-best in the league. In their first meeting this season back in Week 7, Dalton threw for 140 yards and averaged a season-low 4.7 per attempt. Don't expect enough improvement in Cincinnati -- Dalton has been under 232 in three of his five home games against Pittsburgh as well.
The play: Under
