When it comes to the AFC Championship, something has to give.
The Pittsburgh Steelers have won nine in a row, while the New England Patriots have won eight in a row. When at full strength, these have been the two most dominant teams in the conference for much of the season, and many pundits have long believed that a trip to Super Bowl 51 would come down to this exact matchup.
But not only have they been winning games, they’ve been betting juggernauts in the process. The Steelers are 7-1-1 against the spread during their winning streak, while the Pats sit at 7-1 during theirs.
The Pats have had the Steelers’ number as of late, winning the last three head-to-head matchups and covering twice (with a push in the third), but that should matter very little here.
Ultimately, don’t be surprised if both explosive offenses have success moving the ball for much of the game. In that case, there’s a good chance this one comes down to the final possession, which would make Pittsburgh very attractive at plus-six points.
Here’s a complete look at all the betting info:
Note: All odds and numbers courtesy of OddsShark.com and are as of January 20, 2017
Line: Patriots (-6)
Percentage of Bets: 52 percent on Patriots (-6)
Moneyline: Steelers (+190); Patriots (-230)
Over/Under: 50.5
Percentage of Bets: 56 percent on the over
Pick Against the Spread: PIT (+6)
Pick for the Total: Over 50.5
