Monday Night Football Preview: Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Cincinnati Bengals

Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Monday, 9/16/13, 8:40 PM EST
Opening Point Spread: Cincinnati -6
Current Betting Line: Cincinnati -6.5
Opening Total: 40
Current Total: 41
Odds Courtesy of Bookmaker

Steelers Panthers NFL Preview — The Pittsburgh Steelers have dominated the Cincinnati Bengals with Ben Roethlisberger under center

Pittsburgh will look to bounce back from a 16-9 defeat to the Tennessee Titans as six-point home favorites in Week 1, while going UNDER the betting total of 42. The Steelers could find things difficult against one of the up-and-coming teams in the league, as they lost three key players in their season opener, which can’t be ignored when making your pro football picks for ESPN’s Monday Night Football. The franchise has picked up three consecutive wins in Week 2, while it has captured its last three trips to Paul Brown Stadium. Pittsburgh is 3-4-1 ATS as underdogs the last two-plus seasons, with the UNDER going 5-3 in that situation.

The Steelers have compiled a dominating 25-11 record against AFC North opponents during the regular season under head coach Mike Tomlin, including a 9-3 mark versus the Bengals. Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has gone 9-1 in Cincinnati, while compiling a 16-2 overall mark in his home state of Ohio. In each of the last two seasons the squad has dropped its season opener, it has proven victorious the following week, which is important to consider when looking over the pro football odds page.

Cincinnati returns home after suffering a disappointing 24-21 defeat to the Chicago Bears as three-point road underdogs, while going OVER the betting total of 41.5. The Bengals weren’t too concerned about the result due to the other three members of the division also losing in the opening week. “It helps ease the pain a bit,” commented Bengals defensive end Carlos Dunlap. Signal-caller Andy Dalton has completed just 52 percent of his passes in four career games in this series. Cincinnati is 5-1-2 ATS as favorites of 3.5 to 9.5 points the last two-plus seasons, with no edge in the betting total (4-4 Over/Under).

The Bengals are 9-20 SU all-time when being featured on this primetime telecast, including a 6-4 mark as the home team. Cincinnati has lost six of its eight meetings against Pittsburgh in that situation. Offensively, wide receiver A.J. Green is the player to watch on the gridiron, as he caught nine passes for 162 yards and two touchdowns against the Bears.