Pro Football Picks: Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Green Bay Packers

Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Green Bay Packers
Sunday, 12/22/13, 4:25 PM EST
Opening Point Spread: Green Bay -2.5
Current Betting Line: Green Bay -1
Opening Total: 45
Current Total: 44.5
Odds Courtesy of Bookmaker

The Pittsburgh Steelers are 7-7-1 ATS as underdogs the last two-plus seasons

Pittsburgh snapped its two-game losing streak by picking up a 30-20 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals as 2.5-point home underdogs in Week 15, while winning the statistical battle for a third consecutive contest. The Steelers have to win out and receive a ton of help to land a spot in the playoffs, which is important to consider when making your pro football picks Sunday afternoon. “I have said for a bunch of weeks now that there is going to be no quite from me or from anybody,” commented Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. Pittsburgh is 6-9 SU and 7-7-1 ATS as an underdog the last two-plus seasons.

The Steelers will need Roethlisberger to protect the football in hopes of picking up a victory in this spot, as he’s turned the ball over just two times in his last five games—throwing for 12 touchdowns and one interception over that span. The two-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback will likely target Antonio Brown throughout, as he’s reached career highs with 95 catches and 1,307 yards and eight touchdowns. Defensively, the the team has surrendered 75 or fewer yards on the ground in three of the last four weeks, which can’t be ignored when looking over the NFL betting lines.

Green Bay has won its home finale every season under head coach Mike McCarthy, as the franchise comes off one of its more memorable wins—overcoming a 23-point halftime deficit in picking up a 37-36 road victory over the Dallas Cowboys last Sunday. The Packers hold a 19-14 SU edge in the all-time series against the Steelers, but have dropped seven of the last 10 meetings. This will be the first matchup between these non-conference foes since Sunday’s host won Super Bowl XLV at Cowboys Stadium. Green Bay is 0-3-1 ATS when the line is between +3 and -3 this season.

The Packers have won 13 consecutive regular-season games at Lambeau Field that were played Dec. 1 or later—the longest current home winning streak of its kind in the league. Green Bay ranks fourth in the NFL in averaging 397.2 yards per game, with most of their success coming in the passing game despite starting quarterback Aaron Rodgers being out with a broken collarbone.