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Week 14 is already here! Where did the time go? The Pittsburgh Steelers face the Minnesota Vikings on Thursday Night Football. It's time to continue our NFL odds series with a Steelers-Vikings prediction and pick based on Steelers Vikings odds.
The Steelers are fresh off of a crazy finish in their 20-19 win over the Baltimore Ravens. The Ravens could've tied the game and sent it to overtime but they decided to go for two and the win after a touchdown. That backfired on them as Steelers' All-Pro linebacker TJ Watt got in Lamar Jackson's face and forced a bad throw to a wide-open Mark Andrews. The Steelers needed that win badly after getting demolished the week prior to the Cincinnati Bengals. The Steelers are now 6-5-1 and are back into playoff contention. Remember, head coach Mike Tomlin has never had a losing record with the Steelers.
For more insight on the Steelers-Vikings matchup in Week 14, listen below:
The Minnesota Vikings on the other hand wish they were hiding under a rock. They arguably played their worst game of the season and lost to the winless Detroit Lions. The Vikings dropped to 5-7 and fall down out of playoff contention for now. They will need a lot to go for them if they want to make the playoffs. The good news is that they are only one game out of the seventh seed. This game against the Steelers is a rare interconference matchup.
Here is how FanDuel set the Steelers-Vikings odds for this Week 14 NFL Thursday Night matchup.
NFL Odds: Steelers-Vikings Odds
Pittsburgh Steelers: +3 (-105)
Minnesota Vikings: -3 (-115)
Over: 44.5 (-110)
Under: 44.5 (-110)
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Why The Steelers Could Cover The Spread
The Steelers can cover this spread depending on how Ben Roethlisberger plays. If he plays as he did against a top-tier defense in Baltimore, then the Steelers will be put in a position to win. The key is for him to not turn the ball over. The good news is that the Vikings' defense is not playing well at all right now. There is a lot of talk surrounding him right now and if he will retire at the end of the season. He is going to try and do whatever it takes to reach the playoffs one last time and this will be a gib win for them. The AFC North division is very close and every win matters.
The Steelers' defense is playing very well and they will need to continue to do so against a solid Vikings' offense. Kirk Cousins is playing very well this season and is not turning the ball over at all. He only has three interceptions on the year and is putting the Vikings in a position to win. The Steelers' defense will need to continue to defend well and force a Vikings turnover. Pittsburgh is 5-7 against the spread this season.
Why The Vikings Could Cover The Spread
The Vikings are capable of covering this spread. For a 5-7 team, it's a little odd to see them favored against a team with a winning record. They are at home, however, and that will be a factor no doubt. Something to keep an eye on this week is if star receiver Adam Thielen will play or not. He suffered a high-ankle sprain and it will be unlikely he plays on a short week. That will be a huge loss for the Vikings as they go up against one of the better secondaries in the league. Without Thielen, it's going to be difficult for Justin Jefferson to get as open. He will likely get double-teamed often.
The Vikings' defense is what is going to win this game for them. They will desperately need to shut down this Steelers offense, which hasn't been playing to their standards lately. The Steelers' offense and Vikings' defense is usually a lot better. So keep an eye out on those possessions to see how this game folds. The Vikings are 6-6 against the spread this year.
Final Steelers-Vikings Prediction & Pick
I am taking the Steelers to cover this spread and win the game. Without Thielen for the Vikings, I think it will be very difficult for their offense to stay intact. They are already without Dalvin Cook for the next few weeks. I expect the Steelers defense to shut down the Vikings on Thursday.
Final Steelers-Vikings prediction & pick: Steelers +3 (-105)
