PIT-CIN
Time: NOON CST
Spread : CIN -3.5
Total: 47.5

Betting odds c/o Bovada

The Cincinnati Bengals are attempting to win the AFC North, but with a Division title within reach it will have to overcome the Pittsburgh Steelers as 3.5 point favorites according to NFL Oddsmakers at Bovada.

Pittsburgh boasts a top-5 offense in the league, but the Bengals who are 8-3-1 are commanding the lead over 7-5 foes. The Bengals came back from a 24-3 loss to Cleveland on Nov. 6 to win all three games of its road trip.

Andy Dalton faltered, throwing three interceptions in the Tampa Bay contest, but eking out a 14-13 victory nonetheless. Safety Georg Iloka commented that the team has “a little more breathing room.” Iloka helps a secondary that allows just 6.31 yards per completion, which ranks No. 3 in the NFL.

Steelers QB Ben Roethisberger realizes the strength of that, and said the team has “a lot of different looks, double barrel stuff…But we’ll always anticipate something new.” The versatility and speed of the Bengals “D” instills the strength of limiting teams’ pass attacks.

The Steelers offense ranks No. 3 at 417.3 yards per game, but in the 35-32 home loss to the Saints, the 538 yards didn’t seem to get it done. Roethisberger threw a couple interceptions while facing a 19-point deficit, and the Steelers drove the ball 95+ yards in the final minutes to come within striking distance.

Big Ben has a 79.3 passer rating in the last three games. Coach Mike Tomlin simply said he hasn’t been as accurate as usual, and that it is likely due to facing increased pressure in the pocket. The Steelers average 26.7 points per game, which is No. 8 in the NFL, but the team has struggled on the road, averaging just 18.3 points per game on the road while Big Ben has thrown only six of his 26 TDs at visiting stadiums.