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Andrew Rogers
Bengals vs. Steelers Point Spread: NFL Week 3 Odds, Prediction
All four teams in the AFC North come into their Week 3 matchups with 1-1 records, and oddsmakers like the Steelers to get a leg up in the first of two meetings with a Bengals team that is still looking to make inroads on offence.
Pittsburgh is a 3.5-point favourite to win on the NFL odds, with a total of 43.5.
NFL Point Spread and Betting Analysis
The 3.5-point spread marks the sixth consecutive time Pittsburgh has been favoured over Cincinnati – and past history suggests that’s the right move, with Pittsburgh having won 14 of the previous 16 head-to-head meetings. But the Steelers have struggled to cover at Heinz Field of late, going just 1-4 against the spread in their last five home games (including a 26-17 outright loss to the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 2 as 5.5-point favourites).
Given how both teams have struggled offensively to open the season, it’s no surprise that the total for their Sunday showdown is set at 43.5 – and that has created quite the division among Sports Interaction bettors, with a 53-47 split in favour of the Under. And while the previous two meetings finished just above their respective totals, they’ve gone 9-5 to the Under in their past 14 overall. That said, Pittsburgh is 6-2 O/U in its last eight vs. divisional opponents.
Cincinnati Bengals
The football world wondered how Joe Burrow would look this season after seeing his rookie campaign cut short by a significant knee injury. And while it’s still early, the results are decidedly mixed. After opening strong with 261 passing yards and a pair of TDs in an OT win over Minnesota in Week 1, Burrow tossed three interceptions in a gut-wrenching Week 2 loss to the Chicago Bears. The Steelers held Burrow to 213 yards and one TD in last season’s meeting.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Last week’s humbling home defeat to the Raiders wiped out any momentum from a statement win in Buffalo to open the season. And the offence will need to be better if the Steelers hope to cash on their current +481 division title odds. Ben Roethlisberger has completed just 62.5 per cent of his passes for 483 yards and two touchdowns, while rookie running back Najee Harris (83 yards on 26 carries) leads a backfield averaging just 3.3 yards per attempt.
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