PITTSBURGH (10 - 3) at SAN FRANCISCO (10 - 3)
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.
Head-to-Head Series History
There were no past matchups in this series during this time period.
PITTSBURGH vs. SAN FRANCISCO
Pittsburgh is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games when playing San Francisco
Pittsburgh is 2-5 ATS in its last 7 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 4 of San Francisco's last 5 games when playing Pittsburgh
San Francisco is 9-2 SU in its last 11 games
PITTSBURGH at SAN FRANCISCO
PITTSBURGH: 5-1 ATS off ATS loss
SAN FRANCISCO: 24-9 ATS on Monday Night Football
NFL Cheat Sheet: Week 15 Betting Notes
By Colin Kelly
Covers.com
Pittsburgh at San Francisco
Why Steelers cover: Like Baltimore and New England, they’re battling for the No. 1 seed. So this West Coast trip is a huge one for Pittsburgh, which has cashed in the last four following an ATS loss.
Why 49ers cover: Despite upset loss at Arizona last week, they are still No. 1 in the NFL at 10-2-1 ATS and really want to beat out the Saints for the No. 2 seed and a playoff bye. It won’t hurt to be at home, where San Fran has won and cashed in five straight and six of seven this year. In fact, Jim Harbaugh’s troops are 17-6-3 ATS in the last 26 at home. Plus, Pittsburgh QB Ben Roethlisberger is hobbled, and star defender James Harrison may be serving a one-game suspension.
Total: The Niners’ defense is No. 1 in the league, yielding a meager 14.0 ppg. Pittsburgh is No. 2 allowing just 15.2 ppg.
What Bettors Need to Know: Steelers at 49ers
By Covers.com
Pittsburgh Steelers at San Francisco 49ers (-3, 38)
THE STORY: The Pittsburgh Steelers could be without two key players for Monday night’s matchup with the host San Francisco 49ers. Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is dealing with a severe high ankle sprain that has kept him from practicing through Thursday. Being without the two-time Super Bowl-winning QB is not an appealing thought for the Steelers, particularly when going up against a defense that has surrendered the fewest points in the league this season. Pittsburgh LB James Harrison is expected to miss the contest after he was suspended one game for a helmet-to-helmet hit on Cleveland Browns QB Colt McCoy. The Niners have wrapped up the NFC West, but have lost two of their last three games.
LINE: 49ers -3, O/U 38. San Francisco is holding steady as a 3-point favorite, while the total opened at 39 and could be found as low as 37.5 Sunday afternoon.
WEATHER: Meteorologists expect clear skies with light winds and a temperature around 52 degrees.
ABOUT THE STEELERS (10-3): Pittsburgh has won four straight to remain in a four-way tie for the best record in the AFC. The Steelers have been dominant defensively since their bye week, allowing a total of 19 points in their last three games. They could be tested without Harrison, who has 8.0 sacks despite missing four games due to injury. Roethlisberger played the second half of a 14-3 win over Cleveland despite the ankle injury, but said the pain feels worse this week. He has not missed a game because of injury since December 2009. Charlie Batch will start if Roethlisberger can’t go.
ABOUT THE 49ERS (10-3): San Francisco blew a 12-point second-half lead in a 21-19 loss at Arizona last week. Stud MLB Patrick Willis sat out his second straight game with a hamstring injury. The Niners have struggled to find the end zone, getting 10 field goals from David Akers in the past three games. RB Frank Gore ripped off five straight 100-yard games earlier in the season, but has been dealing with injuries and has not surpassed 88 yards in his last five. QB Alex Smith is coming off one of his worst games, failing to complete half his passes and throwing for 175 yards.
TRENDS:
- Pittsburgh is 9-4 against the spread in its last 13 games as an underdog.
- San Francisco is 8-0 against the number in its last eight as a home favorite.
- The over is 6-2 in Pittsburgh's last eight road games.
EXTRA POINTS:
1. San Francisco has not allowed a 100-yard rusher in 35 contests and is the first team to not surrender a rushing TD in the first 13 games.
2. Pittsburgh has won its last six appearances on Monday Night Football.
3. This will mark only the third meeting between the teams in nine seasons. The 49ers hold a 10-9 all-time series edge.
PREDICTION: Steelers 16, 49ers 13. Even with a hobbled Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh’s offense has a leg up on the Niners.
MNF - Steelers at 49ers
By Kevin Rogers
VegasInsider.com
For the first time in several weeks, bettors will be looking forward to the Monday night game in the NFL as a pair of 10-3 teams hooks up at Candlestick Park. The NFC West champion 49ers are shooting for a first-round bye in the NFC playoffs at this point, while the Steelers look to overtake the Ravens in the AFC North.
Pittsburgh has plenty to play for at this point, but its two-time Super Bowl winning quarterback is not at 100%. Ben Roethlisberger suffered a high left ankle sprain in a 14-3 victory over the Browns last Thursday, as the Steelers failed to cover as 14-point favorites. Roethlisberger toughed it out to throw two touchdown passes and complete 16 of 21 passes for 280 yards. The Steelers improved to 6-1 at home, while heading into San Francisco with Roethlisberger listed as a game-time decision after being limited in practice on Friday.
The Niners' quest at hosting a second-round playoff game took a serious hit in a 21-19 setback at Arizona last Sunday, as San Francisco couldn't cash as 3½-point favorites. Frank Gore's 37-yard touchdown run gave the Niners a seemingly comfortable 19-7 advantage in the third quarter, but Arizona's John Skelton threw a pair of touchdowns to give the Cardinals their third straight victory.
Each team is dealing with issues in their linebacking core, as Pro Bowlers James Harrison and Patrick Willis are not expected to play. Harrison received a one-game suspension by the NFL for his helmet-to-helmet hit on Browns' quarterback Colt McCoy, as the Steelers' standout was denied appeal on his ban against San Francisco. Willis missed the Arizona loss with a hamstring injury, as the Niners' defense faces a Pittsburgh team averaging 371.6 yards/game (12th in NFL).
The Steelers can either be the top seed in the AFC or finish as low as fifth when the playoff picture gets settled on January 1. Pittsburgh has now won 10 or more games in four of Mike Tomlin's five seasons as head coach, but the road hasn't been kind this season from an ATS perspective. The defending AFC North champions have covered only two of six games away from Heinz Field, even though the Steelers are 4-2 SU on the highway.
Candlestick Park has turned into one of the top home-field advantages in the league, as Jim Harbaugh's club is 6-1 SU and 6-0-1 ATS at home. Dating back to October 2009, San Francisco owns a 14-4 SU and 12-3-2 ATS the last 18 games by the Bay, while the lone loss this season came in overtime to the Cowboys back in Week 2. The stingy San Francisco defense has shut down opponents at home by allowing 10 points or less four times, but those efforts came against St. Louis, Arizona, Cleveland, and Tampa Bay.
Playing NFC foes has been a strong suit for the Steelers over the years, including a 2-0 SU/ATS mark this season. Pittsburgh has compiled a 5-2 SU/ATS record since the start of 2010 in interconference matchups, but one of those losses came in February's Super Bowl defeat to Green Bay. Meanwhile, the Niners are 4-2 SU/ATS against AFC competition in this same time span, including victories over the Bengals and Browns this season.
San Francisco isn't used to play under the Monday night lights recently, putting together a 4-0 ATS and 2-2 SU record since 2008. The Niners split a pair of games last season, including a 25-22 loss as five-point home underdogs to the Saints in Week 2. The last time the Steelers visited Candlestick Park in 2003, the Niners pulled off a Monday night victory, 30-14 as four-point favorites.
From a totals perspective, each team is 7-6 to the 'under,' while the Steelers are riding a three-game 'under' streak. The Niners are in the midst of a 6-2 'under' run, including 'unders' in three of the previous four home contests. Pittsburgh has been involved in more 'overs' away from Heinz Field with a 4-2 'over' ledger in six road contests.
The Niners are listed as three-point home favorites, as the game was off the board most of the week due to Roethlisberger's status. The total is set between 38 ½ and 39, while gametime temperatures look to be in the mid-50's. Things kick off at 8:30 PM EST from Candlestick Park, as the game will be televised nationally on ESPN.
NFL Week 15
Steelers (10-3) @ 49ers (10-3) - If 49ers are going to make noise in playoffs, they better improve in red zone; in last three games, they’ve kicked FGs on all seven red zone drives. Not good. Both teams jockeying for home field edge in playoffs while missing key people, with Harrison (suspended) out here and Roethlisberger (ankle) a ?mark for Pitt, while Willis (hamstring) out for 49er squad that already won division title. Steelers played on Thursday last week, so they’ve had extra time to prepare/heal. Niners are +21 in turnovers this year, but lost in Arizona last week despite being +3, which doesn’t happen much in NFL. Pitt is just 7 of 29 on 3rd down the last three games. These teams play once every four years, so not often, but last seven series games were all won by 10+ points. Under is 4-1-1 in Steelers’ last six games, 6-1-1 in Niners’ last eight.