Pittsburgh Steelers at San Francisco 49ers
Monday, 12/19/11, 8:30 PM EST, TV: ESPN
Opening Point Spread: San Francisco -2.5
Current Betting Line: San Francisco -3
Opening Total: 39
Current Total: 37.5
Odds Courtesy of Bookmaker
The Pittsburgh Steelers are hopeful quarterback Ben Roethlisberger will be under center when they visit the San Francisco 49ers on Monday Night Football. Roethlisberger practiced on Saturday but remains questionable for the Steelers (10-3) on the injury report due to a sprained left ankle. He has missed just one start due to injury in his career, so bettors should not be surprised to see him on the field.
Pittsburgh is fighting the Baltimore Ravens for first place in the AFC North and can move one game ahead with a victory at San Francisco (10-3). The Ravens (10-4) own the tiebreaker with the Steelers because they swept the regular-season series, but they lost 34-14 at San Diego on Sunday night to put Pittsburgh in position to take the lead.
The Steelers will already be playing without linebacker James Harrison, who was suspended on game for his vicious hit on Cleveland Browns QB Colt McCoy in a 14-3 win last week. Center Maurkice Pouncey was also declared out with a sprained ankle, so Roethlisberger could have a tough time if he plays as expected and gets pressured by the 49ers defense.
San Francisco (-3, O/U 37.5) has dropped two of three games and needs a victory to keep pace with New Orleans for the second seed in the NFC. The Saints (11-3) crushed Minnesota 42-20 on Sunday, and they and the 49ers also have an outside shot at the top seed following the first loss of the season for the Green Bay Packers (13-1) on Sunday at Kansas City.
The two recent losses for San Francisco both came on the road. The 49ers have won five straight home games both straight-up and against the spread. Their last two home games have been decided by a combined 42 points, and the total has gone UNDER in three of their past four overall.
Pittsburgh will be facing the NFL’s top scoring defense in San Francisco, allowing just 14 points per game. The Steelers are right behind at 15.2 points per game, and they are giving up 97 rushing yards per game. The 49ers are surrendering a league-low 70.5 yards per game on the ground and trying to become the first team in history not to allow a rushing touchdown.
San Francisco RB Frank Gore is averaging just 54.4 rushing yards per game over the last five after averaging 126.8 during the team’s five-game winning streak prior to that. Pittsburgh RB Rashard Mendenhall has rushed for more than 76 yards only once this season, although he has still managed to score eight touchdowns.
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