Steelers vs. Colts Prediction
Will the Steelers cover as a heavy road favorite tonight when they visit the Colts at 8:30PM ET on Thanksgiving night?
According to oddsmakers from online sports book BetDSI, the Steelers are now 9-point road favorites versus the Colts after opening as a 2.5-point favorite earlier in the week. The reason for the dramatic line change is because Indianapolis quarterback Andrew Luck was ruled out for tonight’s game with a concussion. As for the total, the number opened at 53 but has dropped all the way down to 48.5 with Scott Tolzien set to start for the Colts.
STEELERS KEY TRENDS: Pittsburgh is just 1-4 against the spread in its last five games, although the team did cover as a 9-point road favorite last week against the winless Browns. The Steelers are also just 2-8 at the betting window in their last 10 games in November and are 4-10 against the spread in their last 14 games after allowing less than 250 total yards in their previous contest.
COLTS KEY TRENDS: The Colts are a perfect 8-0 at the betting window in their last eight games in November and are 12-1-1 against the spread in their last 14 games on Thursday. They’re also 4-1-1 against the number in their last six games overall and are 28-12-1 against the spread in their last 41 home games. That said, they’re just 1-3-1 against the spread in their last five games coming off a win.
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OUR PREDICTION: If Luck were healthy this would have been a great spot to take the home underdog Colts, who have played very well in their last two games. But with Tolzien under center, Indy will likely have trouble moving the ball, even against a Pittsburgh defense that ranks 22nd in total yards allowed. The only chance the Colts have of keeping this game close is by utilizing Frank Gore to help take pressure off Tolzien, but the one thing the Steelers’ defense does well is stop the run (95.7 rushing yards allowed per game, which is ninth in the NFL). Eventually Ben Roethlisberger and that Steelers offense will start clicking tonight and I fully expect Pittsburgh to run away with this game in the second half.
NFL WEEK 12 PREDICTION: PITTSBURGH STEELERS -9