Chargers vs. Steelers Prediction
PITTSBURGH, PA (The Spread) – Coming off a huge road win the Steelers will look to stay in the AFC playoff hunt with a win over the Chargers. But will Pittsburgh cover?
NFL Odds: According to oddsmakers from online sports book Bovada.lv, the Steelers are 9.5-point favorites versus the Chargers, while the over/under total is currently sitting at 40 points. San Diego is 4-8 overall and 2-4 on the road, while Pittsburgh is 7-5 overall and 4-1 at home.
Line Movement: The Steelers opened as a 3-point favorite but the line shot up to 9.5 when Ben Roethlisberger was announced as the starter on Thursday. The total opened at 43 but has dropped to 41.5 or 40 depending on the sports book.
Public Betting: Of the wagers currently placed on this game, 78% of NFL public bettors currently favor the Steelers. This information is subject to change leading up to kickoff, however, so make sure you click on the link provided for the most up-to-date NFL public betting numbers.
NFL Playoff Free Pick: Take San Diego. According to latest NFL trends, the Steelers are 1-5 against the spread in their last six games versus a team with a losing record and 3-8-1 ATS in their last 12 games versus the AFC. The Chargers are also 6-0 against the number in their last six games in Week 14, 9-5 ATS in their last 13 games versus the AFC, and 6-1 ATS in their last seven games after scoring less than 15 points in their previous game. Even though Norv Turner is a dead man walking (a report surfaced on Thursday that he and GM A.J. Smith will be fired at the end of the season), we don’t know how Ben Roethlisberger will perform until he’s back in action. He’s just three weeks removed from suffering both rib and shoulder injuries and 7.5 points is a lot to lay on a team with a banged up quarterback. Take the dog.
2012 NFL WEEK 14 FREE PICK: SAN DIEGO CHARGERS +9.5
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