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Editor’s note: The odds below are courtesy of Heavy’s partners at OddsShark. Click here for more NFL odds and betting info at OddsShark.com.
If the Cincinnati Bengals are going to win their first playoff game since 1990, they’re going to have to get past “big brother.”
While the rivalry between the Bengals and the Pittsburgh Steelers is undoubtedly one of the more heated in the NFL, it hasn’t exactly been an even fight as of late. The Steelers have won 24 of the last 35 head-to-head meetings, including an amazing 11 of 14 at Paul Brown Stadium since it opened back in 2000.
Looking to excerise their postseason demons, the Bengals opened as a one-point favorite but have since dropped to three-point underdogs, according to sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark.com. Here’s a complete look at all the betting information for Saturday night’s contest:
Steelers vs. Bengals Betting Info
Spread: Pittsburgh (-3)
Moneyline: Pittsburgh (-115), Cincinnati (-105)
Over/Under: 45.5.
Steelers vs. Bengals Prediction
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A large reason for the spread moving in Pittsburgh’s favor is the health–or lack therof–of Andy Dalton, who is progressing in his recovery from a broken thumb but has been ruled out for this one:
Dalton ruled out for Wild Card vs Steelers
But don’t immediately write off the Bengals just because of A.J. McCarron. After throwing a pair of interceptions against the Steelers in relief of Dalton back in Week 14, McCarron has played turnover free-football, completing 65.1 percent of his passes for 552 yards, four touchdowns and zero interceptions in three strats. He has the playmakers around him–AJ Green, Tyler Eifert, Marvin Jones, Giovani Bernard, Jeremy Hill–that he doesn’t have to do too much, and the Bengals will still be able to put up points against a Steelers defense that was just 18th in yards per play allowed this season.
On the other side of the ball, the Steelers offense is certainly explosive, but these aren’t ideal circumstances.
Ben Roethlisberger has struggled against Cincinnati this year, throwing just one touchdown and four interceptions, and he’s been even worse on the road (5-to-9 TD:INT ratio vs. 16-to-7 at home). Throw in the fact that Fitzgerald Toussaint, who has 24 career carries for 54 yards, will be starting for the injured DeAngelo Williams, and the Steelers offense will be predictable.
That’ll be enough for Cincy to grab its first postseason win in 25 years.
PICK: Bengals 24, Steelers 21 (Bengals ATS, Bengals SU, Under)