NFL Week 12 Betting Picks: Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Cleveland Browns

Pittsburgh Steelers at Cleveland Browns
Sunday, 11/25/12, 1:00 PM EST, TV: CBS
Opening Point Spread: Pittsburgh PK
Current Betting Line: Pittsburgh -2
Opening Total: 36
Current Total: 33.5
Odds Courtesy of Bookmaker

Steelers Panthers NFL Preview — The Pittsburgh Steelers will play without QB Ben Roethlisberger for a second consecutive week

Pittsburgh had its four-game win streak snapped in dropping a 13-10 decision to the Baltimore Ravens as three-point home underdogs last week, as the team prepares to play its second consecutive contest without starting quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. “Charlie’s a great quarterback, and he’s also been in the league for some time now,” stated Steelers cornerback Keenan Lewis. Offensively, the team may try to win the battle on the ground, going up against a defense that allows 125.3 rushing yards per game. Pittsburgh is 3-1 ATS as a road favorite of three points or less, something to consider when making your NFL picks against the spread in Week 12.

The Steelers have swept the last two season series with the Browns, while picking up wins in 16 of the last 17 meetings dating back to the 2003 campaign. Pittsburgh is looking to improve to 12-2 at Cleveland since 1999, which could certainly happen due to the defense surrendering less than 100 yards rushing in eight games this year. The stop unit has also limited opponents to under 300 net passing yards in its last 33 regular-season games.

Cleveland will play its final AFC North home game on Sunday afternoon, as it hopes to snap a two-game losing streak, which includes a 23-20 setback in overtime to the Dallas Cowboys as seven-point road underdogs. “We just have to find a way to finish,” stated Browns head coach Pat Shurmur. Rookie running back Trent Richardson is getting better and better each week, finishing with 95 rushing yards and 49 receiving yards in last week’s loss. Cleveland is 8-7 ATS versus division foes the last two-plus seasons.

The Browns received good news when cornerback Joe Haden was able to return to practice this week, as they’ve lost all five games without him in the lineup during the 2012 campaign. Cleveland needs to take advantage of every break that it receives, considering the franchise has dropped 18 games by seven points or less over the last two-plus seasons.