Steelers vs. Bengals Point Spread: NFL Week 1 Odds, Prediction
The Bengals are coming off an impressive Cinderella campaign in 2021, which they closed out with their first division title since 2015, and their first Super Bowl appearance in 33 years. The new season marks the start of the post-Ben Roethlisberger era in Pittsburgh. The Steelers took a step back in 2021, eking out second place in the division and a wild card playoff berth despite compiling a middling 9-7-1 record.
The point spread has remained unchanged since opening with the Bengals perched as 6.5-point favourites to win on the NFL odds, with Cincinnati enjoying the support of 72 per cent of sports bettors. The total has also not moved since opening at 44.5. However, the OVER has attracted 62 per cent of the betting action.
NFL Point Spread and Betting Analysis
Sunday afternoon’s matchup at Paycor Stadium marks the first of two regular season meetings between these fierce divisional rivals. The Bengals swept the season series with Pittsburgh last year, outscoring Pittsburgh by a wide 65-20 overall margin, capped by a lopsided 41-10 home win on Thanksgiving weekend. Overall, Cincinnati has won and covered in three straight dates with Pittsburgh, snapping a dismal 1-14-0 run in head-to-head action, during which they covered just three times. The Steelers have averaged just 13.3 points per game over their past three dates with Cincy, but with the Bengals claiming victory by double-digit margins in each of those contests, the OVER current enjoys a 2-1-0 run.
The Bengals also emerged as a reliable bet as last season progressed, covering in each of their final eight contests including their heartbreaking 23-20 loss to Los Angeles in Super Bowl 56. However, Cincinnati is just 3-3-0 straight up and against the spread in their past six home dates. Conversely, the Steelers won just one of their final six road dates last season, and have lost by double digits in three of their past four as road dogs.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Mitchell Trubisky has been announced as the Steelers starting quarterback in Sunday’s Week 1 matchup. The 28-year-old returns to a starting role after spending last season in Buffalo backing up Josh Allen. The question is, for how long? Trubisky was steady in preseason action, tossing for two touchdowns in three appearances. But with rookie Kenny Pickett waiting in the wings, Trubisky can ill afford to make any mistakes in his first starting role in two years. Those efforts are further complicated by the breaking news that the preseason injury suffered by Diontae Johnson is more sever than first thought, and will keep the Steelers top receiver out of Sunday’s contest.
Cincinnati Bengals
Bengals fans will get their first look of the season at both, and the retooled offensive line charged with the task of protecting star quarterback Joe Burrow. Burrow enjoyed a breakthrough campaign in 2021, joining the ranks of the NFL’s elite quarterbacks by throwing for 4,611 yards and 34 touchdowns, including 13 scoring passes to rookie sensation Ja’Marr Chase. However, a porous o-line allowed Burrow to be sacked 51 times during the regular season, and 13 more times during the playoffs. The offseason additions of Ted Karras, Alex Cappa, and La’el Collins should limit the abuse that Burrow takes this time around. However, the Bengals must still contend with a Pittsburgh pass rush that racked up an NFL-leading 51 sacks last season.
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