The Cincinnati Bengals and the Pittsburgh Steelers will clash in a divisional battle on Sunday morning. It's time to continue our NFL odds series and make a Bengals-Steelers prediction and pick.
Both of these teams suffered through a tough loss in Week 2. Cincinnati couldn't survive committing four turnovers against the Chicago Bears and the Steelers were unable to withstand the Las Vegas Raiders' offense for all four quarters. The Bengals have been involved in two incredibly close contests to open the season, first going to overtime against the Minnesota Vikings and then losing to Chicago by a field goal.
A win in this contest would be a huge confidence boost for this up-and-coming Cincinnati team that looks better than everyone expected. Pittsburgh desperately needs a win here to keep pace in the AFC North, as the rival Cleveland Browns are among the few remaining undefeated teams in the league. A loss would put the Steelers in an early hole that they could be stuck in for the rest of the season.
Here's how the bookmakers have set the lines for Sunday's game.
NFL Odds: Bengals-Steelers Odds
Cincinnati Bengals +3 (-103)
Pittsburgh Steelers -3 (-117)
Over 43 1/2 points (-110)
Under 43 1/2 points (-110)
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Why The Bengals Could Cover The Spread
No one expected much from the Bengals entering this season. They made some nice offseason additions, but it didn't seem like they made any huge strides. However, Cincinnati's defense has made those huge strides, at least through two games. They were one of the worst teams in the league at pressuring opposing passers last season, but they've notched three sacks in both of their first two games. The Bengals should get to opposing quarterback Ben Roethlisberger in this one with relative ease, as Pittsburgh has allowed four sacks and 15 quarterback hits in the last two weeks.
The Steelers have amassed an array of injuries over the first couple of games of the season. Roethlisberger is questionable for this game, along with a number of key players. Wide receiver Diontae Johnson and edge rushers Alex Highsmith and TJ Watt are all questionable as well. It's unlikely that all of these players miss this game, but it's also unlikely that they all play. The Bengals should be facing a weakened version of the Steelers, which could be enough for Cincinnati to pull off an upset.
Why The Steelers Could Cover The Spread
Despite their bevy of injuries, Pittsburgh remains one of the best defenses in the NFL. Watt looks like he will be able to suit up for this one, and the hugely underrated Cameron Heyward remains on the defensive line with the always-solid Stephon Tuitt. The rest of the defense is well-rounded and well-coached, and they've already proven they can hang with some of the best offenses in the NFL. This defense held the Buffalo Bills to 16 points, and they're facing a quarterback who threw three straight interceptions against the Bears last week. The last time Joe Burrow faced Pittsburgh he was held to 213 passing yards while completing just over 50% of his passes. It's certainly possible that the Steelers force a repeat performance in this game.
When listing off some of the toughest stadiums to play in as an away team, Heinz Field has to come to mind. The importance of Pittsburgh's home field advantage can't be understated, especially if Ben Roethlisberger does take the field. Big Ben is historically a far better quarterback when he plays in front of his fans, and the defense is also helped tremendously by playing on their home turf.
Final Bengals-Steelers Prediction & Pick
This should be a closer game than everyone thinks. There are just too many questions surrounding Pittsburgh's injury situation, some of which won't be answered until just before kickoff. Cincinnati should play well enough to cover in this game, but the Steelers should hand the Bengals their second loss in a row.
FINAL PICK: Cincinnati Bengals +3 (-103)
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