Pittsburgh Steelers vs. New York Giants: NFL Week 9 Picks Against the Spread

Pittsburgh Steelers at New York Giants
Sunday, 11/4/12, 4:25 PM EST, TV: CBS
Opening Point Spread: New York -3.5
Current Betting Line: New York -3
Opening Total: 47
Current Total: 47.5
Odds Courtesy of Bookmaker

Giants Redskins Betting Preview — New York Giants QB Eli Manning has enjoyed great success against AFC opponents at home

Pittsburgh has won three of its last four games, as it hits the road after capturing a 27-12 win over the Washington Redskins as 4.5-point home favorites, while going UNDER the total for the third time in four weeks. The Steelers have been tremendous this year in controlling the clock, as the team ranks second in the league in holding onto the football for more than 34 minutes a game. Pittsburgh is 1-4 ATS as a road underdog of three or fewer points over the last two-plus seasons, with the UNDER going 3-2 in that situation.

The Steelers have gone 36-14 against NFC teams during the regular season, but are 9-13 versus teams out of the East in that particular conference since 1992. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has compiled a dominating 23-7 non-conference record since entering the league, while he’s thrown for the second-most passing yards through seven games in his career. Pittsburgh will leave for New York on Sunday morning due to hotels being booked in the New York area due to Hurricane Sandy.

New York owns a 2.5-game lead in the division and much of that success can be attributed to leading the NFL with 24 takeaways. The Giants are 6-2 for the sixth time in head coach Tom Coughlin’s nine seasons, while going 53-19 combined in the first eight games since he arrived int he Big Apple in 2004. Offensively, the team is averaging 29.3 points per game, which puts it on pace to shatter the franchise record of 448 points. New York is 2-6 ATS in November the last two-plus seasons, with the OVER going 5-3 in those contests.

The Giants have won 13 of their 18 home games versus AFC opponents with Eli Manning under center, but they’ll have to overcome their 1-7 record in the ninth game of the season under Coughlin. It’s still important to note that New York has made 36 trips inside the 20-yard line, but has converted just 16 into touchdowns.