Cincinnati Bengals (7-4) vs Pittsburgh Steelers (8-3) NFL Betting Preview
Everyone expected the Steelers to be right in the thick of the AFC playoff race, but no one expected the Bengals to be there. Cincinnati just continues to defy the odds and stay in the race.
Pittsburgh won a hard fought contest in Cincinnati a couple weeks ago. Can Cincinnati pick up a huge win on the road, or will the Steelers hold serve at home?
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Cincinnati Bengals (7-4) vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (8-3)
Time/Date: 1:00 PM EST, December 4, 2011
Venue: Heinz Field
Broadcast: CBS
Bengals vs. Steelers Gambling Odds from Bookmaker
Spread: Steelers -6.5
Moneyline: Steelers (-275) Bengals (+235)
Over/Under: 42.5
Andy Dalton deserves some serious consideration for rookie of the year this year. Dalton come into a very difficult situation and he has performed as well as anyone could have possibly expected and more. Dalton has already thrown for 2,509 yards and 16 touchdowns this season.
A.J. Green is his top target on the outside, and Jermaine Gresham has become a favorite target over the middle. Green still isn’t 100% from a recent knee injury, but he is expected to play Sunday. The Bengals offense is at its best when Cedric Benson is running the ball well. Cincinnati averages 23.5 points per game.
The Bengals defense is the primary reason this team sits at 7-4 right now. Through the first few games of the season, the Bengals were the top ranked defense in the NFL. The defense has taken a hit due to major injuries over the last few weeks. Leon Hall, the team’s best cover corner, is out for the season.
Keith Rivers, a starting outside linebacker, is now also out for the season. The pass rush must get after Big Ben this week to take some pressure off the inexperienced secondary. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
Ben Roethlisberger isn’t having his best season statistically, but he has been getting the job done for this Steelers offense.
Mike Wallace has emerged as one of the top deep threats in the league. Wallace averages 17.1 yards per reception so far this season. The offensive line started the season out very poorly, but they have improved over the last few games. Rashard Mendenhall is a workhorse in the backfield for Pittsburgh. The Steelers rank tenth in the NFL in total offense, but they are 19th in points per game.
This is an offense that has turned the ball over too many times this year, and that is something they must work on as the regular season winds down.
The Steelers defense got a big scare when Troy Polamalu went down with a concussion last weekend in Kansas City. Polamalu is feeling better, and he is listed as probable for this game. As has been the case for the last few years, this unit is one of the best in the NFL. It’s tough for opponents to matchup with the front seven that Pittsburgh puts on the field.
James Harrison, Lamarr Woodley, James Farrior, and Lawrence Timmons are the best group of linebackers in football. This defense ranks in the top six of the NFL in every major defensive category.
The Bengals are no slouch this year, but the recent defensive injuries will make it difficult for them to keep up with the Steelers in this one. Look for the Steelers to cover the spread here.
Free NFL Pick: Steelers -6.5
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