NFL Week 13 Picks: New Orleans Saints vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

New Orleans Saints vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Sunday, 11/30/14, 1:00 PM EST
Opening Point Spread: Pittsburgh -4
Current Betting Line: Pittsburgh -5
Opening Total: 53
Current Total: 55
Odds Courtesy of Bookmaker

The Pittsburgh Steelers have the best home offense in the league entering Sunday

New Orleans looks to snap its recent 0-3 SUATS run, which includes a 34-27 defeat to the Baltimore Ravens as 2.5-point home favorites last week, while it has captured the statistical battle in eight of its last 10 contests. The Saints have really struggled to get off the field defensively in their last two affairs, which can’t be ignored when making your Week 13 NFL betting picks, as opponents have converted 10-of-15 third downs of seven or more yards. New Orleans is 6-5 SU and 4-7 ATS in November the last two-plus seasons, with the UNDER going 6-5 in that situation.

The Saints are going to find it difficult to defend the Steelers with three safeties being lost for the season, which is important to consider when looking over the NFL betting lines, especially since opposing quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has totaled 12 passing touchdowns over his last two games at Heinz Field. New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees hasn’t been able to get things going down field, with the offense tallying just 19 plays of 25 or more yards for the entire 2014 campaign.

Pittsburgh has won four of its last five games, including a 27-24 victory over the Tennessee Titans as seven-point road favorites on Nov. 17, while going OVER the betting total for the fourth time in five contests. The Steelers have the best offense in the league when playing at home, as they enter averaging an incredible 447.2 yards per game, with Roethlisberger connecting on 19 plays of 25-plus yards in the Steel City. Pittsburgh is 8-8 SU and 7-9 ATS versus teams with a losing record the last two-plus seasons.

The Steelers have one of the best playmakers in the league in wide receiver Antonio Brown, who paces the league with 88 catches on the year, which is a big reason why Roethlisberger has thrown 24 overall touchdowns. Pittsburgh will have to play at a high level defensively, as New Orleans is averaging 418.0 yards when playing on the road despite dropping four of five games away from the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.