A couple of clubs that like to pass the ball, the Pittsburgh Steelers (-3) are set to take on the Denver Broncos at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Kickoff for this game is scheduled for 4:25 p.m. ET and CBS has the TV rights.
Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Denver Broncos Betting Preview
In this Sunday AFC game, Pittsburgh is labeled as the favorite and is currently giving up 3 points. The Steelers are also receiving -150 moneyline odds while the Broncos are +130. Vegas has placed the over/under (O/U) at 47 points, and if one team can find paydirt in the early stages, it will likely lead to a reasonable betting opportunity in-game.
Betting odds have shifted slightly from where they initially opened. The line opened at 3.5 and the game’s total was set originally at 47.5.
The surprising Steelers are 6-3-1 against the spread (ATS) and have recorded 4.0 units so far. The team has posted an O/U mark of 6-4. The Broncos have lost 0.9 units this season. The team is 4-5-1 ATS and has an O/U record of 3-7.
The Steelers have gone 7-2-1 straight up (SU) in 2018 while the Broncos are 4-6 SU.
The Steelers just got a 20-16 win over Jacksonville last week. The passing attack could’ve been sharper as Ben Roethlisberger completed 27 passes for 314 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions. James Conner (25 yards on nine rush attempts) led the running attack. JuJu Smith-Schuster (eight receptions, 104 yards) and Conner (six catches, 24 yards) shared the receiving duties in the win.
Denver takes the field on Sunday following a 23-22 win over the Chargers in Week 11. Case Keenum completed 19-of-32 passes for 205 yards. Phillip Lindsay (79 rushing yards on 11 attempts, two TDs) mounted the running game as Emmanuel Sanders (four receptions, 56 yards) and Lindsay (four catches, 27 yards) led the pass-catching corps in the win.
Pittsburgh has run the ball on 35.4 percent of its offensive possessions this year while Denver has an overall rush percentage of 39.7 percent. The Steelers have rushed for 98 yards/game and have 13 scores on the ground this year. The Broncos are averaging 125 rush yards per game and have 13 total rushing TDs.
The Steelers offense has tallied 322 yards/game through the air overall and has 23 passing scores so far. The Broncos have produced 265 pass yards per contest and have 12 total pass TDs.
Pittsburgh seems to possess an advantage in both areas of the defense. The team has allowed opponents to rush for an average of 100 yards and pass for 253 yards per game. The Denver defense has allowed 267.7 yards per game to opposing passers and 127.9 yards per game to opposing runners. The Steelers are allowing an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of only 5.88 to opposing QBs, while the Broncos have given up a 6.43 ANY/A.
Passing-wise, Roethlisberger has already put up 2,874 yards on the year, and has completed 64 percent of his 391 attempts with 18 passing scores and 10 interceptions. Roethlisberger’s got a 6.67 adjusted net yards per pass attempt overall, although that number sits at 8.32 over the past two games.
In the home locker room, Case Keenum has completed 203-of-320 passes for 2,315 yards, 10 TDs and 10 INTs. Keenum’s ANY/A sits at 5.58 for the year and 6.55 over his last two outings.
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Notes
Team Betting Notes
The Steelers offense has recorded 10 pass plays of 40 or more yards, while the Broncos have accounted for eight such plays.
The Pittsburgh defense has allowed four pass plays of 40+ yards, while Denver has given up six such plays.
The Pittsburgh offense has created eight rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while Denver has created nine such runs.
The Steelers defense has allowed seven rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while the Broncos have given up 11 such runs.
The Pittsburgh defense has 37 sacks on the year while Denver has just 31.
Pittsburgh has averaged 4.1 yards per carry over its past three games and 4.0 over its last two.
Denver has averaged 5.4 yards per carry over its last three contests and 4.7 over its past two.
Over its last three contests, Denver is 2-1 ATS and the under cashed in each of those three.
The O/U for Pittsburgh’s previous game was 47. The under cashed in the team’s 20-16 win over Jacksonville.
In its last three matchups, Pittsburgh is 2-0-1 ATS and the under cashed in two of those three.
The Over/Under for Denver’s previous game going into it was 47. The under cashed in the 23-22 win over the Chargers.
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