NFL Odds – 6-2 Showdown on Sunday Night – New England at Pittsburgh

NFL Odds are that the Game of the Week will take place on Sunday night between two teams that have serious Super Bowl aspirations this season.

The New England Patriots and Pittsburgh Steelers have dominated the decade and have combined to win five of the last nine Super Bowl titles. Sunday night’s match has all the makings of a Regular Season Classic.

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (6-2) vs. PITTSBURGH STEELERS (6-2)
Sunday, November 14, 8:20 PM ET

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Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Broadcast: NBC

NFL Betting Lines:

New England: +5 (-110)
Pittsburgh: -5 (-110)

Moneyline: New England +185: Pittsburgh -225

Total: 45 points

The New England Patriots have beaten some tough teams this season but NFL Odds are that nobody had them getting badly beaten by the Cleveland Browns. The Pats had won five straight games prior to their meltdown despite playing with a bad defense and possessing an offense void of any deep threat.

The Patriots currently have the 17th ranked passing offense and the 15th ranked running game. Surprisingly, they are the second highest scoring team in the NFL!

New England will have their hands full with the Pittsburgh defense this week for sure but the good news is that the way to beat the Steelers is through the air and the Pats have this guy named Tom Brady playing quarterback.

The running game is not even worth mentioning in this game especially against a Pittsburgh defense that is allowing an average of 58 yards per game on the ground. It will be up to Brady and there is no other way that he’d like it.

New England’s defense got torched by Peyton Hillis last week to the tune of 184 yards last week. Don’t think that Rashard Mendenhall isn’t aware of that fact.

New England’s has been OK this season on the ground allowing 117 yards per game. It has been their pass defense (29th ranked – 269 yards per game) that has been more of a concern.

The Pittsburgh Steelers, since Ben Roethlisberger’s return from suspension have had arguable the most balanced team in the NFL. However the NFL Odds may be catching up to them.

Three offensive linemen left Monday’s game including the crucial Left Guard, Max Stark who is gone for the season. With the O-line a complete mess, the onus will be on Big Ben and Rashard Mendenhall to raise the level of their game going forward.

Pittsburgh’s 27th raked passing game is a little misleading – remember, Charlie Batch was behind center for the first four weeks of the season! Ben has rejuvenated Mike Wallace, Heath Miller and to some extent, Hines Ward.

NFL Odds are that it will be the running game that will likely be featured on Sunday however. If Peyton Hillis can shred the Patriots, imagine what Rashard Mendenhall will be able to do. Mendenhall has led the Steelers to the 12th ranked running game this season.

Defense? You want defense? The Steelers have allowed a league low 15.38 points per game this season and have given up an NFL low 58 yards per game on the ground. The Steelers can expect Tom Brady to attack their 24th ranked pass defense, a unit that has given up almost 273 yards passing in their last four games.

NFL Odds Outlook:

The New England Patriots are 5-1 SU in their last six games but are just 3-6 SU in their last nine on the road. New England is an impressive 6-2 SU in their last eight meetings with Pittsburgh and is 4-1 SU in their last five trips to Pittsburgh.

The Pittsburgh Steelers are 9-2 SU in their last 11 games, and 14-3 SU in their last 17 games at home. However, the Steelers are just 2-4-1 ATS in their last seven games at home and 1-5 ARS in their last six games at home versus the Steelers.

The New England Patriots rarely lose back to back games. In fact, it has only happened two times since 2003. Tom Brady is not only money in the bank after a loss but he has been terrific against Pittsburgh.

He is 5-1 in his last six games against the Steelers and in his last two games versus the Steelers, he has averaged 385 yards passing per game. That`s right – Tom Brady seems to save his best for the Steelers! The numbers don`t lie – I like Belichek and the Patriots to get it done on the road Sunday.

NFL Odds Pick: Pittsburgh Steelers +5

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