NFL Betting
Houston Texans at Pittsburgh Steelers
By: KC – Sept 5th, 2008
BetUS NFL betting odds: PITTSBURGH -6, Total 42.5
NOTABLE STAT: Pittsburgh allowed 11.6 ppg at home in ’07
KEY NFL FOOTBALL BETTING TREND: Houston is 1-6 ATS in its last seven road games
The Pittsburgh Steelers, who won the AFC North division in a tie-breaker last season, will take on the Houston Texans, who finished at 8-8 for the first time in their history and are looking to make even greater strides this season, in an AFC matchup that begins the season for both teams, and is set to kick off at 1 PM ET at Heinz Field (natural turf) in Pittsburgh.
In the BetUS NFL football betting odds, the Steelers are listed as a six-point home favorite, with the total posted at 42.5 points.
Here are some NFL football betting trends as they relate to this matchup (reflecting numbers going into the 2008 season):
* HOU has played four of its last five games OVER the total
* HOU has covered one of its last seven road games
* HOU has lost six of its last seven road games SU
* HOU has played seven of its last ten road games OVER the total
* PITT has lost four of its last five games SU
* PITT has covered three of its last nine games
* PITT has won seven of its last nine home games SU
* PITT has covered six of its last nine home games
* PITT has played its last four games OVER the total
* PITT has played four of its last six home games OVER the total
* PITT has played 17 of its last 25 home games OVER the total
* PITT has covered two of its last seven games as a favorite
When you look at what the Steelers potentially have going for them on offense, it is quite a lot. That’s because they can add another explosive component to its running game, with Rashard Mendenhall, a first-round draft pick out of Illinois, joining Willie Parker back there. Pittsburgh is trying to step up the pace with a lot more no-huddle action, and though we’re not quite sure what kind of effect that is going to have on opponents, we can tell you that with a fresh back in there all the time, they have a better shot at wearing down defenses. Smashmouth is where coach Mike Tomlin would eventually like to go.
The play of Ben Roethlisberger will obviously be a key for the Steelers. Roethlisberger threw 32 TD passes with only 11 interceptions in 2007, And he did so with horrible protection from his offensive line, who let him get sacked 47 times on the season. If there is a potential opening for the Texans, it comes if their pass rushers like Amobi Okoye and Mario Williams can take things to the next level. But if Pittsburgh in even passable in the way it protects Big Ben, he could very easily have his way with a secondary that is middling even when Donta Robinson is healthy and in the lineup (and he is out till mid-season, at earliest).
Houston head coach Gary Kubiak would like to emulate what the Denver Broncos (where he was an assistant for many years) have done in their running game, and toward that end he has installed the former architect of that running game, Alex Gibbs, as the assistant head coach. Unlike the Steelers, who have capable runners in Parker, Mendenhall and Mewelde Moore, the Texans’ quest for a go-to back is an ongoing struggle. Rookie Steve Slaton could be the guy who gets the most carries, ultimately. But this ground attack, including the offensive line, is a work in progress.
So is Matt Schaub, who threw nine touchdowns and had nine interceptions as the starter before going down to injury and giving way to backup Sage Rosenfels. One can’t help but get the feeling that with Rosenfels in the saddle, this offense is more lively.
Houston got to the .500 mark last season (8-8 SU), although the next step will be tougher, since they have three playoff clubs in their division. This game doesn’t make it any easier. Pittsburgh allowed only 11.6 points per game at home last season, and the Texans have not developed a reputation as great travelers, losing six of their last seven road games, both straight-up and against the number. This number is actually pretty reasonable. We’ll lay it with the Steelers, the six-point favorite in the BetUS NFL football betting odds.
