This week’s matchup between the Cincinnati Bengals (8-3-1) and the Pittsburgh Steelers (7-5) will give the Bengals a chance to continue their three-game winning streak. This game will feature the NFL’s leading passer, Ben Roethlisberger (3,705 yards, 26 TDs), and fourth-leading rusher, Le’Veon Bell (1,046 yards, 3 TDs). It starts at 1:00 p.m. ET on Sunday and can be seen on CBS.
The AFC North’s Cincinnati and Pittsburgh meet for the first time this season. Their two regular season meetings last year were split. A.J. Green had a good outing the last time they met, totaling nine catches for 93 yards. Bell had a great outing, putting up 107 total yards and a TD. He finished with 57 yards on the ground and 50 yards receiving. Antonio Brown was a factor as well, totaling 66 yards and a TD on five receptions.
The Steelers are a four-point underdog against the Bengals and the Over/Under (O/U) for the matchup is sitting at 47 points. Heading into Week 14 of league action, the Bengals are 8-3-1 Straight Up (SU) and 6-5-1 Against The Spread (ATS). Over their last five games, the Bengals have records of 4-1 SU and 2-2-1 ATS. When teams pass the ball against the Steelers, they do so with authority. Cincinnati hopes to take advantage of a defense that allows 12.0 yards per pass during road games, 27th in the NFL. Recently, the Bengals have really been causing problems for their opponents. During its last five games, Cincinnati has only given up 16 points, much less than its season average of 20.6 points. The Cincinnati run defense has played better during those games. They’ve given up 103.2 rush yards per game during that span, compared to the 124.8 season average. The Bengals should be able to pounce on Pittsburgh’s struggles during the third quarter, when they give up 6.2 points per game. On the special teams side, Cincinnati has some playmakers. They average 104.6 return yards per game, fourth in the NFL.
In the other locker room, the Steelers have 7-5 SU and 5-7 ATS records this season. The Steelers went 3-2 SU and 2-3 ATS over the last five games. Offensively, the Steelers have really picked up the pace in the last five games. They have exceeded their season average of 26.7 points per game by averaging 33 during that stretch. Odds are Pittsburgh will continue to rely on its run game, where its 142.3 rushing yards per road game ranks fourth in the league. Shifting to the other side of the ball, it might be tough for the Bengals to keep up with Pittsburgh’s defense in a few areas. Pittsburgh’s pass defense ranks fifth in the league. During its road games, this menacing bunch gives up just 209.7 yards per game through the air. The Steelers make it hard on their opponents down the stretch, averaging 9.2 points in the final quarter. Pittsburgh doesn’t like to give up the ball. The team has an average time of possession of 33:25 this season, putting them second in the league.
Predictions: SU Winner – CIN, ATS Winner – PIT, O/U – Under
Notes
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Pittsburgh’s last 6 games.
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Cincinnati’s last 5 games.
Pittsburgh is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games.
Cincinnati is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games.
Pittsburgh is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games on the road.
Cincinnati is 3-5-1 ATS in its last 9 games.
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Pittsburgh’s last 6 games on the road.
The total has gone OVER in 8 of Cincinnati’s last 12 games at home.
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Pittsburgh’s last 5 games when playing Cincinnati.
Cincinnati 13-2-1 SU in its last 16 games at home.
Pittsburgh is 6-2 SU in its last 8 games when playing Cincinnati.
Cincinnati is 12-3-1 ATS in its last 16 games at home.
Pittsburgh is 11-2 SU in its last 13 games when playing on the road against Cincinnati.
Cincinnati is 2-6 ATS in its last 8 games when playing Pittsburgh.
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Pittsburgh’s last 6 games when playing on the road against Cincinnati.
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Cincinnati’s last 5 games when playing Pittsburgh.
Cincinnati is 2-6 SU in its last 8 games when playing Pittsburgh.
Cincinnati is 2-11 SU in its last 13 games when playing at home against Pittsburgh.
Cincinnati is 2-10-1 ATS in its last 13 games when playing at home against Pittsburgh.
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Cincinnati’s last 6 games when playing at home against Pittsburgh.
Pittsburgh is 6-1 SU when leading at the half this season. Cincinnati is 7-0-1 SU when taking a lead into halftime.
Pittsburgh is 6-1 SU when leading at the start of the fourth quarter this season. Cincinnati is 8-0 SU when leading after three quarters.
Pittsburgh is a perfect 4-0 SU in games where it wins the turnover battle, and only 1-3 SU in games where it loses the turnover battle.
This season, Cincinnati is only 2-2-1 SU in games where it loses the turnover battle.
The Cincinnati defense has forced an average of 2.0 turnovers over its last five games, but Pittsburgh is a perfect 5-0 SU this season when turning the ball over at least 2 times in a game.
When it comes to passing this year, Pittsburgh is rated higher on both sides of the ball. Its fourth-ranked passing attack will face the 14th-ranked pass defense of Cincinnati, while its 16th-ranked pass defense will look to limit the 24th-ranked passing game of the Bengals.
The Cincinnati rushing attack is ranked ninth in the league, while the Pittsburgh run defense is only ranked 10th. The Steelers’ rushing game is ranked 11th, compared to the 25th-ranked run defense of the Bengals.
Pittsburgh has given up 24.8 points per game this year, which is ranked only 21st in the league. Cincinnati has put up 21.7 points per contest this year and is ranked 18th overall.
Cincinnati has allowed 20.6 points per game this year, which is ranked 11th in the league. Pittsburgh has scored 26.7 points per game this year, ranked eighth overall.
