Browns vs Steelers NFL Betting?
Steelers Continue Improbable March Toward Playoffs – Host Browns in Week 17
It is hard to believe but the Pittsburgh Steelers are still alive in the AFC playoff picture. They will need a win Sunday and a lot of help but the fact that they are still standing is a testament to this team.
Cleveland (4-11) at Pittsburgh (7-8)
When: 1:00 PM ET, Sunday, December 29, 2013
Where: Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Broadcast: CBS
Browns vs. Steelers Betting Lines
Cleveland Browns +7 -110 Ov 44 -110
Pittsburgh Steelers -7 -110 Un 44 -110
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The Steelers have the honor of playing a Cleveland team to wrap up their season – a team that is coming off an ugly 24-13 loss to the New York Jets in Week 16.
It seems like a lifetime ago that the Browns were 3-2 and looking like the possible surprise of the NFL. Since then they have fallen back to earth and will finish 4-12 or 5-11 for the sixth straight year – yuk!
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Offensively the Browns are averaging 20.1 points and 342 yards per game – safe to say it has been an issue all season long for this team. But they Browns do appear to have a piece or two in place. Josh Gordon has been the Browns best offensive player with 80 receptions and nine touchdowns (14 catches and 237 yards in their first meeting) and Jordan Cameron has 75 catches and seven touchdowns but Cameron who leads all AFC tight ends in receiving yards with 848 is questionable for the finale. The receivers have been and will be critical Sunday – the Browns have absolutely no running game to speak of.
The unflattering Jason Campbell will start Sunday – not exactly confidence-inspiring for the Browns.
Defensively the Browns are allowing 25.7 points and 335.1 yards per game. Just like the offense, they have been less-than-spectacular this year. Joe Haden, who has become one of the best cornerbacks in the league, is questionable to start Sunday with a hip injury – he alone makes this defense decent. Without him, Cleveland is a leaky defense against the run and the pass.
The Steelers have a ton to play for – they’ll need to beat the Browns and have both the Ravens and Dolphins lose in Week 17, then hope a Kansas City team that may rest some starters can beat San Diego in the late afternoon.
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After a 0-4 starts Pittsburgh has clawed its way back into the picture thanks in large part to the offense. Pittsburgh has been the fifth best offense in the game since Week 9 averaging 29.3 points per game. Ben Roethlisberger has 14 TDs and 2 picks over that span and rookie running back Le’Veon Bell is coming off his best performance as a pro- 124 yards against the Packers. Everything is trending upward for the Steelers ahead of Sunday – too bad it may be a tad late.
Defensively the Steelers are a far cry from where they were even a couple of years ago. But the aging group has come together in the second half of the season and has looked much better. Truth be told they likely won’t have to be great against Cleveland – they allowed just 11 points to this team in Cleveland in their last meeting.
Week 17 Football Betting Prediction
A few trends to consider:
• Under is 8-2-1 in CLE last 11 games in Week 17.
• Over is 6-2 in CLE last 8 games overall.
• Over is 6-2 in CLE last 8 vs. AFC.
• Over is 6-2 in PIT last 8 games in December.
• Under is 13-5 in PIT last 18 home games.
• Under is 10-4 in PIT last 14 vs. AFC North.
Ben Roethlisberger is 16-1 versus the Browns and has started eight of Pittsburgh’s nine straight home wins against them, averaging 9.86 yards per attempt and posting a 109.1 passer rating – total domination. I can’t see much changing here. The Steelers need a win and will be looking to close out their regular season in style while the Browns were looking toward next season weeks ago. This may the blowout of the weekend – Pittsburgh is Hot and the Browns are Not!
Pick: Pittsburgh Steelers -7
