PITTSBURGH (8 - 8) at CINCINNATI (10 - 7) - 9/16/2013, 8:40 PM
Top Trends for this game.
CINCINNATI is 111-144 ATS (-47.4 Units) against conference opponents since 1992.
CINCINNATI is 58-86 ATS (-36.6 Units) versus division opponents since 1992.
CINCINNATI is 10-22 ATS (-14.2 Units) in home games in September games since 1992.
Head-to-Head Series History
PITTSBURGH is 3-1 against the spread versus CINCINNATI over the last 3 seasons
PITTSBURGH is 3-1 straight up against CINCINNATI over the last 3 seasons
3 of 4 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
PITTSBURGH vs. CINCINNATI
Pittsburgh is 3-6 SU in its last 9 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Pittsburgh's last 5 games when playing on the road against Cincinnati
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Cincinnati's last 7 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Cincinnati's last 5 games when playing Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh at Cincinnati
Pittsburgh: 30-15 UNDER in road games after 1 or more consecutive losses
Cincinnati: 10-22 ATS in home games in September
NFL Week 2
Steelers (0-1) @ Bengals (0-1) — This is most points Bengals have been favored by over Pitt since 1989, but with C Pouncey out for year, heart/soul of Steeler OL is gone. Steelers won five of last six games in series where six of last eight games were decided by 7 or less points. Pitt won last three visits here, by 6-7-7 points- they’re 9-7 as road dog under Tomlin, but 5-6 in divisional games. Since ’08, Cincy has been consistent money burner as HF, going 6-15-1 vs spread, 4-11 in division games. Pitt offense didn’t score until last 2:00 at home last week, gaining 195 yards, running for 32- they went 3/out five of 10 drives, leading to huge 21-yard deficit in average field position. Bengals averaged 8.1/pass attempt, outgained Bears, but were -2 in turnovers and came up short- they started eight of ten drives 80+ yards from goal line, also going 3/out on five of 10 drives. Bengals are 0-3-1 in last four tries as favorite in home opener; Steelers are 2-4 in last six road openers, scoring 19 or less points in all six games. Over last five years, Bengals are 14-21-3 vs spread in game following a loss; over last three years, Steelers are 11-4-1 vs spread in same role.
Armadillosports.com
Steelers at Benglas: What Bettors Need to Know
By Covers.com
Pittsburgh Steelers at Cincinnati Bengals (-6.5, 41)
The Pittsburgh Steelers will try to rebound from one of their more feeble offensive performances in recent memory when they visit the Cincinnati Bengals on Monday night in a matchup of two teams expected to vie for the AFC North crown. The Steelers are coming off a disastrous Week 1 loss to Tennessee in which they managed only 195 total yards and lost three players to season-ending injuries. The Bengals blew an 11-point, second-half lead in a 24-21 opening loss to Chicago.
Pittsburgh managed only 32 yards rushing and lost three-time Pro Bowl center Maurkice Pouncey for the season due to torn knee ligaments, prompting head coach Mike Tomlin to understate: "We've got a lot of work to do." The first step comes against a rugged Cincinnati defense that includes former Steelers linebacker James Harrison, the 2008 NFL Defensive Player of the Year who signed with the Bengals in the offseason. The Steelers have history on the side, having won 10 of their last 11 in Cincinnati.
LINE: The Bengals opened as a 6.5-point favorites at most shops. The total opened at 40.5 and has moved to 41.
WEATHER: Temperatures will be in the mid-60s with partly cloudy skies. Wind will blow across the field at 7 mph.
ABOUT THE STEELERS (0-1): Ben Roethlisberger became the 35th quarterback to surpass the 30,000-yard mark for his career but that was about the only offensive highlight for Pittsburgh, which did not get into the end zone until there were 83 seconds to play. The running game was non-existent, managing a paltry 32 yards, and there seems no easy solution in sight after news that rookie Le'Veon Bell will miss at least another month with a foot injury suffered in the preseason. The defense played well, holding Tennessee to 229 total yards, but Roethlisberger was sacked five times and Isaac Redman lost two fumbles to stall the offense.
ABOUT THE BENGALS (0-1): Third-year wide receiver A.J. Green was on his way to a career game and Cincinnati was having its way with Chicago after putting together three touchdown drives of at least 80 yards to take a 21-10 midway through the third quarter versus Chicago. Green finished with nine catches for 162 yards and two scores and Andy Dalton threw for 282 yards but was picked off twice. The running game did nothing, with BenJarvus Green-Ellis managing only 25 yards on 14 carries, while a defense that was among the league leaders with 51 sacks last season failed to register one and allowed the Bears to possess the ball for the final 6:38.
TRENDS:
* The Steelers are 13-2-1 ATS in their last 16 meetings in Cincinnati.
* Favorite is 5-1 ATS in their last six meetings.
* Under is 8-0 in Steelers last eight games in Week 2.
* Bengals are 1-4 ATS in their last five Monday games.
EXTRA POINTS:
1. The Steelers, who haven't started 0-2 since 2002, are 7-1 on Monday Night Football under Tomlin.
2. Dalton has nine touchdowns and one interception in his last four home games.
3. Pittsburgh re-signed RB Jonathan Dwyer, who ran for a career-high 122 yards in a 24-17 win at Cincinnati last season.
MNF - Steelers at Bengals
By Kevin Rogers
VegasInsider.com
The AFC North takes center-stage to close out Week 2 on Monday night in southern Ohio. The 0-1 Bengals play their home opener against the rival Steelers, as Pittsburgh is also looking for its first victory of the season. Both teams are fresh off losses, but each defeat came in a different fashion.
Cincinnati traveled to Chicago and built a 14-7 lead after two touchdown connections between Andy Dalton and A.J. Green. Following a 58-yard field goal by Robbie Gould to pull the Bears within 14-10 at halftime, the Bengals built a 21-10 advantage thanks to a BenJarvus Green-Ellis touchdown run in the third quarter. That score would be the final one for the Bengals, as the Bears finished off the game with consecutive touchdowns from Matt Forte and Brandon Marshall to beat the Bengals, 24-21. Cincinnati pushed as three-point road underdogs, while the game barely went 'over' the total of 41 ½.
The Steelers received the good fortune of a safety on the opening kickoff after Tennessee's Darius Reynaud picked up the ball off a bounce at the one-yard line then kneeled in the end zone. Pittsburgh's next score wouldn't come until the final 90 seconds of the game on a Jerricho Cotchery. In between, the safety and the touchdown, the Titans scored 16 points, including three field goals from Rob Bironas. Pittsburgh failed to cash as six-point home favorites, as the contest finished 'under' the total of 42.
The road team won each meeting last season, including a 24-17 victory by the Steelers at Paul Brown Stadium. Pittsburgh has won three straight road matchups in this series, while overcoming a 14-3 deficit last October by outscoring Cincinnati, 21-3 in the final 33 minutes of the game. Jonathan Dwyer rushed for 122 yards, while the Steelers' offense outgained the Bengals, 431-185 to cover as one-point road favorites.
Cincinnati picked up revenge in the second meeting at Heinz Field, as Josh Brown's 43-yard field goal in the final seconds lifted the Bengals past the Steelers, 13-10. The Bengals' offense failed to reach the end zone as Leon Hall took back an interception for a touchdown two minutes into the game. Marvin Lewis' team cashed as three-point underdogs, while hitting the 'under' in the fourth straight matchup at Heinz.
In the last two seasons, the Bengals have struggled against division foes, posting a 5-7 SU and 3-7-2 ATS mark. Since 2006, Cincinnati owns a dreadful 2-10-2 ATS as a favorite of at least six points, with one of those victories coming last season over Oakland, 34-10 as 7½-point 'chalk.'
The Steelers cashed in two of three opportunities as a road underdog last season, including outright victories against the Giants and Ravens. Since the start of 2010, Mike Tomlin's club has won seven of the last nine away contests within the AFC North, with all three wins over the Bengals coming by 6, 7, and 7 points.
VegasInsider.com handicapper Antony Dinero analyzes the Steelers' woes on offense, "Pittsburgh's biggest issue since offensive coordinator Todd Haley arrived has been the perception that an over-reliance on the short passing game has dulled the teeth of Roethlisberger and a once-potent attack. With the running game derailed by injuries and rhythm, it will be interesting to see whether Haley turns Big Ben loose against a secondary that can be beat for big plays. Mike Wallace is in Miami, so a complement for Antonio Brown must be found. Can rookie Markus Wheaton get up to speed this early? If the answer is no, the Steelers may not break double-digits for the second week in a row."
Since 2006, the Bengals own a 1-4 SU/ATS record on Monday night football, while hosting their first Monday night contest since 2010, a 27-21 defeat to the Steelers. In Tomlin's tenure, the Steelers have won six of seven appearances on Monday night, including outright road underdog victories at Cincinnati ('10), Denver ('07), and Washington ('06).
Pittsburgh cashed the 'over' in six of eight road contests last season, while allowing at least 20 points in seven away games. The Bengals went the opposite direction at home, finishing 'under' the total in six of eight games at Paul Brown Stadium, including two of three 'unders' against division foes.
Cincinnati is listed as 6½-point home favorites, while the total is set at 41. The game kicks off at 8:30 PM EST from Paul Brown Stadium and will be televised nationally on ESPN.
Steelers at Bengals: Preview & Pick
Sportspic.com
Nearly everything went wrong for the Pittsburgh Steelers in a 12-7 online sports betting loss to the Tennessee Titans at home in week one. It isn’t about to get any easier in week two. The Steelers will travel to face the AFC North rival Cincinnati Bengals on Monday Night Football in week two, with plenty of question marks surrounding whether or not this team has enough pieces to be a legitimate playoff contender. Complicating matters even more is that Pittsburgh will be without Pro Bowl center Maurkice Pouncey, linebacker Larry Foote, and running back LaRod Stephens-Howling after all three players suffered season-ending injuries in the week-one loss.
Pittsburgh Steelers @ Cincinnati Bengals
Paul Brown Stadium, Cincinnati, Ohio
NFL Betting line: Cincinnati – 7
Cincinnati will be looking to bounce back after it came up just short in a 24-21 loss to the Chicago Bears that was part of an 0-4 week for AFC North teams. The Bengals had a 21-17 lead heading in to the fourth quarter in week one, but a late touchdown pass from Jay Cutler to Brandon Marshall ended up being the difference.
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers took a 2-0 lead off the opening kickoff when Darius Reynaud took a knee in his own endzone on a botched play that started with him receiving the ball at the one, but didn’t get another score until Ben Roethlisberger hit Jericho Cotchery on a four-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter. That was Pittsburgh’s only other score, as they managed just 195 total yards of offense. The Steelers’ offensive line struggled to protect Roethlisberger or open holes in the running game both with and without Pouncey, and could have an even tougher time on the road against the Cincinnati defense. Pittsburgh will also have to work without one of its leaders on defense in Foote, whose role extended beyond his physical talents.
Cincinnati Bengals
The Bengals defense held up well for most of week one, but an offense that is expected to take a major step forward this season wasn’t nearly efficient enough. Andy Dalton threw for 282 yards and two touchdowns and only had seven incomplete passes, but two of those were Bears’ interceptions. Cincinnati turned the ball over three times, and will need to be more careful with the football beginning with Dalton. Running back BenJarvus Green-Ellis averaged just 1.8 yards per carry running for 25 yards and a touchdown in week one, and will need to be better in order to keep the pressure off of Dalton and give him time to make plays.
Outlook & Pick
A Pittsburgh team that struggled in week one against the Titans is now in an even tougher position without three key players on the road against a division rival. The Bengals turned the ball over three times last week and still nearly came out with a sports betting win at Chicago, so they should be able to get the job done at home in week two if they can avoid making those critical errors again.
Pick: Cincinnati Bengals - 7
Steelers, Bengals clash
By Sportsbook.ag
PITTSBURGH STEELERS (0-1) at CINCINNATI BENGALS (0-1)
Sportsbook.ag Line & Total: Cincinnati -6.5 (-115) & 41
Opening Line & Total: Bengals -6.5 & 41
Both the Steelers and the Bengals will be looking to find a place in the win column when the two square off Monday night at Paul Brown Stadium.
The last time these AFC North foes met on Dec. 23 at Heinz Field, the result was a 13-10 win-and-cover for Cincinnati. Prior to that game, Pittsburgh had five straight victories (SU and ATS) over the Bengals including a 24-17 win in Cincinnati earlier in the season. The only touchdown the Bengals scored in their December win was on a 17-yard interception return by Leon Hall. Steelers WR Antonio Brown caught the game's only offensive touchdown on a 60 yarder thrown by Ben Roethlisberger, who also threw two picks in the game. Cincy QB Andy Dalton threw for 278 yards, but he also tossed two interceptions. The game's best performer was easily WR A.J. Green who caught 10 passes (on 18 targets) for 116 yards. Each team turned the ball over three times in what was a very sloppy contest. The Bengals will be the hosts in this one and since 1992, they are just 10-22 ATS (31%) in September home games and 4-15 ATS (21%) off a road loss by three points or less. They are also 58-86 ATS (40%) versus division opponents in that same timeframe. The Steelers are only 3-10 ATS (23%) on the road in the first month of the season under Mike Tomlin. Although they have owned the Bengals historically, there's a clean slate now that Cincinnati was able to pick up a win last year.
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The Steelers started off their home opener against the Titans with a safety, but it was all downhill from there. Pittsburgh failed to score a touchdown until 1:23 left in the fourth quarter when Ben Roethlisberger connected with WR Jerricho Cotchery on a 4-yard touchdown pass. They managed a total of 195 yards in the 16-9 defeat. Ben Roethlisberger threw for 191 yards and a touchdown, but also took an interception and was sacked five times. Although he's 14-5 versus Cincy in his career, Roethlisberger has thrown for a mere 7 TD and 7 INT in the past eight games of this series. WR Antonio Brown turned in the only decent performance for the Steelers' offense last Sunday with five receptions for 71 yards. Pittsburgh, which is still missing top RB Le'Veon Bell (foot) and TE Heath Miller (knee), rushed for just 32 yards on 15 attempts last week, and RB Isaac Redman coughed up the football on one of those carries. With RB LaRod Stephens-Howling and starting C Maurkice Pouncey both tearing their ACLs during Sunday's loss, ratcheting up the ground game won't get any easier against a strong Bengals front seven. RB Jonathan Dwyer was re-signed to take some of the burden off Redman and backup RB Felix Jones. Although they didn't let up many points in Week 1, the Steelers defense failed to force a single turnover and sacked Jake Locker only once. They also lost starting ILB Larry Foote with a season-ending biceps injury. It was a miserable performance on both sides of the ball for Mike Tomlin's team and if they show up to Cincinnati looking like they did on Sunday, then it's going to be a long night.
The Bengals had complete control in their season opener against the Bears, but blew a 21-10 lead in the second half and lost 24-21. Andy Dalton threw a costly interception on a jump ball to Mohamed Sanu early in the fourth and it ended up being a huge game changer. Dalton was 26-of-33 in the game with 282 yards and two touchdowns, but he also threw two interceptions. The Bengals couldn't get it going on the ground all day either. RB BenJarvus Green-Ellis rushed for a mere 25 yards and a touchdown on a 14 carries (1.8 YPC) while rookie RB Giovani Bernard picked up 22 yards on four carries. With two offensive linemen questionable with knee injuries (OT Andrew Whitworth and G Mike Pollak), rushing yards might be hard to come by again. Luckily for Cincinnati, their superstar wideout A.J. Green dominated the Bears by hauling in nine receptions for 162 yards and two touchdowns. The Bengals defense stuffed the run nicely (2.9 yards per carry), but forced just one turnover and was not able to sack Chicago QB Jay Cutler even once, something every team did at will in 2012. Cincinnati didn't look miserable in its opener, but has some kinks to work out before Monday arrives.
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