Cincinnati Bengals vs. Pittsburgh Steelers: NFL Week 16 Betting Odds and Picks

Cincinnati Bengals at Pittsburgh Steelers
Sunday, 12/23/12, 1:00 PM EST, TV: CBS
Opening Point Spread: Pittsburgh -4
Current Betting Line: Pittsburgh -3
Opening Total: 43
Current Total: 41.5
Odds Courtesy of Bookmaker

Steelers Panthers NFL Preview — The Pittsburgh Steelers have had the better of it over the Cincinnati Bengals in recent years

Cincinnati is in position to clinch a spot in the playoffs with a victory in this contest, as the team has won five of its last six games, including a 34-13 blowout victory over the Philadelphia Eagles as 4.5-point road favorites in Week 15. “We’re in control,” commented Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis. “That’s all you can ask for in December.” The Bengals have cashed in on their opportunities inside the red zone over their last six games, scoring touchdowns on 17 of their 27 trips. Cincinnati is 0-3 ATS versus division opponents this year, which can’t be ignored when making your NFL picks against the spread Sunday.

The Bengals are hoping that quarterback Andy Dalton can finally figure out the Steel Curtain, as he’s completed just 48.8 percent of his passes for four touchdowns and three interceptions in three career games in this series. Cincinnati’s star wide receiver A.J. Green has been limited to nine catches for 131 yards in those contests, which are very important numbers to consider when looking over the pro football odds page. Lewis is 5-15 all-time versus the Steelers, including a 2-9 mark when matching up with Mike Tomlin.

Pittsburgh has dropped four of its last five games and seems to be heading in the wrong direction, as it looks to bounce back from a 27-24 overtime loss to the Dallas Cowboys as one-point road underdogs, while going OVER the total in four consecutive contests. “We have no choice but to put it behind us,” stated Steelers nose tackle Casey Hampton. “We control our own destiny.” The Steelers are looking to sweep the season series in this rivalry for the eighth time since 2000, as they already came away with a 24-17 victory as one-point road favorites against the Bengals on Oct. 21. Pittsburgh is 18-19 ATS as a favorite the last two-plus seasons.

The Steelers have yielded just 96 points in six home games this season, while they’ve allowed an average of 15.5 points per game at Heinz Field since Dick Lebeau became the defensive coordinator. Pittsburgh owns the league’s best home record since 1970, which includes a 69-24-1 mark at its current facility.