US betting sites favor the Pittsburgh Steelers over the Atlanta Falcons by a field goal. Falcons fans must have been listening to a lot of Green Day lately. Wake Me Up When September Ends, specifically, must have been playing in a loop. Like many a reveler come Mardi Gras, the Birds were left all dizzy after a close encounter with the Big Easy. So dumbfounded were they that, though favored by the best online sportsbooks by 3.5-points, they lost to the Bengals. At home. Both straight-up and against-the-spread.
The Steelers themselves didn’t fare that much better during the ninth of the year. Running back Le’veon Bell remains AWOL. Though to that I say good riddance to bad rubbish. And wide receiver Antonio Brown is putting up numbers that most pass-catchers would want for themselves. But Antonio Brown isn’t most pass-catchers. For his own standards, his stats so far this season are mediocre at best. However, that’s Ben Roethlisberger’s fault, according to Big Ben himself. “I just think I’ve got to play better to get his numbers,” the ‘Berger said, “which I think in turn will help us get wins.”
Betting Atlanta
As much as it pains me, I can’t pin the Falcons’ slide on offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian. Other than the running game, Atlanta’s has a top 10 first unit. Moreover, they have a third down conversion rate of almost 50%. It’s the undermanned and depleted secondary that’s costing the Falcons games. A defense that can’t manage to force a fumble is like a mailman who can’t push a letter through the slot of a mailbox.
And now for US betting sites trends. Atlanta is 12-10 SU and 9-13 ATS in 22 regular and postseason games since the Super Bowl debacle. Talk about shellshock.
Betting Pittsburgh
And speaking of shells, Big Ben seems to be one of his former self. The last time the Steelers lost three straight at Heinz Field, was in 2012. Roethlisberger was injured at the time. Nowadays, his performance adds insult to injury. Only without the injury part. Pittsburgh is 0-6 ATS in their last six home games as home faves.
Atlanta Falcons at Pittsburgh Steelers NFL Week 5 Odds and Preview
- Date: October 7
- Time: 1:00 p.m. ET
- Venue: Heinz Field
Lines from MyBookie.ag:
- ATLANTA FALCONS +3 (-115) +140 O 58 (-115)
- PITTSBURGH STEELERS -3 (-105) -165 U 58 (-105)
Atlanta Team Stats
Offense
- Points per game: 29.0 (6th)
- Total yards per game: 410.8 (7th)
- Passing yards per game: 314.8 (6th)
- Rushing yards per game: 96.0 (21st)
Defense
- Points allowed per game: 30.5 (30th)
- Total yards allowed per game: 403.0 (28th)
- Passing yards allowed per game: 284.0 (25th)
- Rushing yards allowed per game: 119.0 (26th)
Pittsburgh Team Stats
Offense
- Points per game: 25.5 (12th)
- Total yards per game: 411.0 (6th)
- Passing yards per game: 338.8 (3rd)
- Rushing yards per game: 72.2 (29th)
Defense
- Points allowed per game: 29.0 (26th)
- Total yards allowed per game: 420.5 (30th)
- Passing yards allowed per game: 304.8 (29th) RUSH YDS 115.8 (23rd)
Betting Trends
- Atlanta is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games
- The Falcons are 1-4 SU in its last 5 games
- Atlanta is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games on the road
- Pittsburgh is 1-5 ATS in its last 6 games
- The Steelers are 11-4-1 SU in its last 16 games
- Pittsburgh is 1-3-1 SU in its last 5 games
- Pittsburgh is 0-5 ATS in its last 5 games at home
Our Prediction: In the clash between the Falcons’ non-defense and the Steelers’ non-offense, users of US betting sites should probably take the latter. Pittsburgh’s secondary has 13 sacks and forced seven TOs, and could save this game for the Steelers.
