Steelers looking to end losing streak vs. Raiders
A month ago this game would have been a double-digit point spread in favor of the home team Steelers.
But much has changed for the defending Super Bowl champs in that time frame and after dropping three straight NFL football odds contests the home steam Steelers would be happy just to stop the losing.
With QB Ben Roethlisberger’s status unknown the betting line on this game will be up in the air. If Big Ben is unable to play second-year man Dennis Dixon, coming off his first career NFL start, will get the game duties again versus the Raiders. Dixon was adequate –no Big Ben- in the Steelers recent loss to the Ravens.
Fortunately the Raiders are a very bad team and shouldn’t prove too worrisome in the NFL odds for the host team. It’s also likely that Big Ben will be cleared to play before this week 13 football odds showdown. The Raiders offense is one of the worst in the NFL and the Steelers defense should be able to contain it without much trouble. Regardless of who’s at the QB spot for Pittsburgh if they can find a way to get ten points that should be enough to secure the win in front of a rabid home crowd.
Pittsburgh should be able to run the ball all day on a Raiders squad that is second worst in the NFL, giving up 161 yards per game. That’s welcome news for a Pittsburgh team that found few running lanes against a stingy Ravens squad in week 12. Although it’s not impossible, it seems very unlikely the Steelers will drop four in a row.