Jets vs. Steelers Point Spread: NFL Week 4 Odds, Prediction
The Jets quarterback has yet to see action this season after suffering a knee injury during the preseason, and will carry the hopes of a New York squad that has struggled to generate offence during a middling 1-2-0 start. The Steelers are also on the rebound after suffering consecutive defeats, capped by last weekend’s lopsided 29-17 loss in Cleveland.
The Steelers have held steady since opening as 3.5-point favourites. And with 64% of sports bettors backing them, the Steelers have emerged as a slightly improved -112 bet to cover. Since opening at 42.5, the total has declined slightly to 41.5, with the UNDER attracting 80% of the betting action.
NFL Point Spread and Betting Analysis
Sunday afternoon’s matchup at Acrisure Stadium marks the first meeting between these teams in three years, and the Jets’ first visit to Steeltown since 2016. The Jets claimed a 16-10 win as 3-point underdogs when the Steelers visited in 2019. However, the Steelers have earned the win in each of their past three home dates with New York, and have won and covered in four of their past six overall clashes. Games involving these AFC rivals have traditionally been low scoring. The total has topped 43 just once in 16 meetings since 1988, fueling a steady 15-3 run for the UNDER in totals betting. Home teams have also produced consistent results, claiming outright victory in 10 of 12 clashes, and have gone 5-1-0 against the spread over their past six.
New York Jets
The Jets shocked the Browns with a 31-30 upset win in their first road game of the season two weeks ago, and have now covered in three of four away from MetLife Stadium. However, New York has claimed outright victory in just five of their past 26 road contests, and have failed to tally wins in consecutive away contests since October 2015.
The return of Zach Wilson could not have come at a better time. Veteran Joe Flacco showed flashes of his previous Super Bowl form while tossing for four touchdowns in the team’s victory over Cleveland. But he returned to more familiar form in last week’s loss to Cincinnati, connecting on just 28-of-52 pass attempts for no scores and two picks. Indeed, the Jets bumbled their way through the second half, turning over the ball four times on five possessions, including once on downs, and twice on fumbles. And things won’t get any easier for Wilson against a Steelers pass defense that sits among the league leaders with nine sacks and five picks to date.
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers have endured a rough start to the post-Ben Roethlisberger era. The team shocked the Bengals in a season-opening 23-20 win, but it has been all down hill since, with consecutive losses to New England and Cleveland. However, the Steelers still enjoy a steady run at home, where they have lost outright just once in eight appearances. Pittsburgh is also undefeated in its past five as a home favourite, but has covered just twice over that stretch, both while pegged as slender 1-point chalk.
While the Steelers defence has stood tall at time in the early going of the campaign, concern have emerged on offense. Quarterback Mitch Trubisky has become the target of criticism after averaging fewer than 190 passing yards in three starts, and tossing for just one score over the past 11 quarters. With calls for the team to turn over the offence to rookie Kenny Pickett, Trubisky is now squarely positioned on the bubble.
NYJ
PIT