COVID-19 has disrupted nearly everything and took aim at the Pittsburgh Steelers’ perfect season. Four Steelers, including quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, landed on the reserve/COVID-19 list leading up to their Week 10 game against the Cincinnati Bengals.
The Steelers managed to overcome the disruption and easily defeated the Bengals 36-10. Pittsburgh gave Bengals rookie franchise quarterback Joe Burrow a rude welcome in his first game against the black and yellow. The Steelers defense harassed Burrow all afternoon with four sacks, nine hits and four batted passes.
Despite missing practice all week, Roethlisberger had his best game of the season. He completed 27 of 46 attempts for a season-high 333 yards and four touchdowns (also a season high).
8-0 tied the Steelers’ best start in franchise history and now, at 9-0, the 2020 Steelers are further cementing themselves in the team’s storied history. At PA online sports betting apps, the Steelers’ Super Bowl odds are +550, second only to the Kansas City Chiefs (+350).
Twitter reacted to the Steelers’ trouncing of the Bengals.
Steelers are studs against the spread
Betting splits from FanDuel for Bengals vs. Steelers:
- 78% of the money was on the Steelers (+6.5) to cover the spread
- 57% of the money was on the Steelers on the moneyline
- 61% of the money was on the OVER (45.5)
At BetRivers, Pittsburgh was backed by 88% of ML handle and 74% of spread handle. The game was out of reach early, but both teams did enough in garbage time to hit over 45.5 (64% of O/U handle). Diontae Johnson scored the first TD of the game for Pittsburgh, which was the most wagered-on TD prop bet of the game.
The Steelers covered the 6.5-point spread and moved to 7-2 ATS.
Will the Steelers go undefeated?
The Steelers are the first team to go 9-0 since the 2015 Super Bowl runners-up Carolina Panthers. Their offense is rolling. The Steelers became just the 12th team in NFL history to score at least 24 points in each of their first nine games.
Here is the latest breakdown on the “Any team to go 16-0” market: Yes (+800)/No (-1500)
Another Heisman winner bites the dust
The AFC North has three Heisman winning QBs: Baker Mayfield, Lamar Jackson and Joe Burrow. The Steelers beat them all once already this season.
Big Ben appreciation tweets
Praise pours in for the Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers 2020 odds tracker
(Odds via FanDuel Sportsbook)
Sept. 1, 2020 | Oct. 1 (Week 6) | Oct. 20 (Week 7) | Oct. 27 (Week 8) | Nov. 3 (Week 9) | Nov. 10 (Week 10) | Nov. 17 (Week 11) | Nov. 24 (Week 12) | Dec. 3 (Week 13) | Dec. 8. (Week 14) | Dec. 15 (Week 15) | Dec. 22 (Week 16) | Week 17 | Wild Card (Jan. 5) | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Super Bowl | +2500 | +1300 | +1200 | +950 | +600 | +600 | +600 | +550 | +550 | +750 | +1300 | +2000 | +2000 | +2000 |
AFC Championship | +1300 | +750 | +600 | +470 | +300 | +300 | +250 | +270 | +250 | +370 | +600 | +1000 | +1000 | +1000 |
AFC North | +340 | +220 | +150 | +120 | -320 | not listed | -800 | -2500 | -2000 | -3000 | -10000 | -340 | n/a | n/a |
Lead image credit: AP Photo/Keith Srakocic