2014 NFL Week 1 Odds: Browns vs. Steelers Picks & Predictions
By Anthony Rome
PITTSBURGH, PA (The Spread) - AFC North rivals battle today in Pittsburgh when the Steelers host the Browns at 1:00PM ET.
According to oddsmakers from online sports book BetDSI, the Steelers are 7-point home favorites over the Browns, while the over/under total is currently sitting at 41.5 points. Pittsburgh opened as 6-point home favorites before the line moved up, while the total opened at 41 before being bet up.
The Browns selected Johnny Manziel in the first-round of May's draft but Brian Hoyer beat him out in preseason despite not posting great numbers. The team took a massive hit last week when receiver Josh Gordon's one-year suspension was upheld. The defense is vastly underrated but the Browns simply don't have enough playmakers on offense to give opponents trouble this year. It could be another long season for Cleveland.
After a two-year absence from the playoffs, the Steelers will look to end their postseason drought thanks to a rebuilt offensive line and more youth on defense. Over the past few offseasons, the Steelers have added three players drafted in the first or second round, which include Maurkice Pouncey, David DeCastro and Marcus Gilbert. The defense has also been injected with youth thanks to the additions of rookies Ryan Shazier and Stephon Tuitt, as well as former first-round picks Cameron Heyward and Jarvis Jones. Of course, the key to Pittsburgh’s playoff hopes still ride on the play of veteran quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.
NFL FREE PICK: Take Pittsburgh. According to latest NFL trends, the home team is 4-1 against the spread in the last five meetings between these two teams and the Browns are just 3-7 ATS in their last 10 games in Pittsburgh. The Browns are also 1-6 against the number in their last seven games overall, 2-12-1 ATS in their last 15 games in Week 1 and 1-5 ATS in their last six games versus AFC opponents. On the other side, the Steelers are 5-0 against the number in their last five games versus AFC North opponents, 5-1 ATS in their last six home games, and 7-1 ATS in their last eight games overall.
2014 NFL WEEK 1 FREE PICK: PITTSBURGH STEELERS -7