The New England Patriots will have Tom Brady under center as they try to cover the spread for the third straight time dating back to last year's Super Bowl run when they host the Pittsburgh Steelers in the NFL season opener on Thursday.
The defending champion Patriots will have reigning Super Bowl MVP Brady in uniform after he won his appeal to remove a four-game suspension issued by the league for his role in the Deflategate scandal.
New England has enjoyed a lot of success in this series with a 9-3 record against the number in the past 12 meetings with the Steelers, who will be without running back Le'Veon Bell after he was suspended for violating the league's substance-abuse policy.
With Bell out, Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger will be counted on even more to help his team cover for the fifth time in six games overall, coming off a career year that saw him throw for 4,952 yards and 32 touchdowns.
Sportsbook Odds & Computer Pick
The Pittsburgh Steelers betting odds line opened as 6.5-point underdogs in this one at most sportsbooks tracked here at Odds Shark (including Sportsbook), while the total was hovering around 54.5 at most shops.
Odds Shark prediction models pick the Patriots to win this game on Thursday 30-24. View the computer score prediction and who will win the pick on the moneyline for all upcoming NFL matchups here.
Pittsburgh Steelers vs New England Patriots Matchup
Team Betting Records & Power Rankings
Supporters of the Pittsburgh Steelers have seen them go 11-6 and 9-8 ATS so far this season, while the New England Patriots are at 15-4 and 11-8 ATS. In totals betting, the Patriots are 11-8, while the Steelers are 9-7-1. Stay Informed: follow us on Twitter for odds specials, betting line moves and New England vs Pittsburgh injuries news.
The power rankings show a disparity between these teams, with the New England Patriots rated this week at No. 1 and the Pittsburgh Steelers sitting at No. 5.
Statistical Matchup
The game also pits New England's No. 1-ranked offense, averaging 30.32 PPG, against a Steelers defense that ranks No. 21 this week at 23.41 PPG. The Patriots aerial game is averaging 266.79 yards per game, more than the Steelers secondary allows through the air, 253.12 YPG per game.
In comparing defenses, the Pittsburgh Steelers own the league's No. 9-rated front 7 in terms of stopping the run, allowing 99.38 yards per game when on the road. New England, on the other hand, rates No. 18 this week in generating rushing yards at home.
Recent Outings Betting Recap
In Pittsburgh's last outing, Ben Roethlisberger threw for 334 yards in a losing cause against the Ravens, 30-17 at Heinz Field.
Tom Brady dusted the Seahawks secondary for 4 TDs last time out as the Patriots defeated Seattle 28-24 at University of Phoenix Stadium.
- Pittsburgh is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games
- Pittsburgh is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games
- Pittsburgh is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games on the road
- The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Pittsburgh's last 6 games on the road
- New England is 8-4 ATS in its last 12 games
- New England is 13-2 SU in its last 15 games
- The total has gone UNDER in 6 of New England's last 9 games
- New England is 13-5 ATS in its last 18 games at home
Next Betting Matchups
Pittsburgh home to San Francisco, Sunday, September 20th
New England at Buffalo, Sunday, September 20th
