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The Bengals vs. Steelers line for Week 13 of the 2011 NFL season had Pittsburgh as the -6.5 favorite at Sportsbook.com. Claim up to $250 in FREE CASH when you open an online betting account today here.
Sportsbook.com Line & Total: Pittsburgh -6.5 & 42.5
Opening Line & Total: Steelers -7 & 42
Pittsburgh tries to knock off AFC North foe Cincinnati for the fourth consecutive game (and second time in its past three contests) when the Bengals visit Heinz Field on Sunday.
Cincinnati is just 1-3 SU (1-2-1 ATS) against teams that currently have a winning record, but it hasn’t lost a game by more than seven points this year. Pittsburgh beat the Bengals 24-17 on Nov. 13, but the game was pretty even with the Steelers holding a slight yardage advantage (328 to 279). Pittsburgh QB Ben Roethlisberger broke his thumb in that meeting and hasn’t looked particularly sharp since. The Steelers mustered only 13 points in Kansas City last Sunday night, and they have a ton of other key injuries to overcome. The Bengals are relatively healthy with star WR A.J. Green returning to the lineup last week, and they have been tough away from home, going 5-0-1 ATS (4-2 SU) in road games this season.
Cincinnati has dropped eight of 10 (SU and ATS) to Pittsburgh, but is 9-7 ATS in the Steel City since 1994. The Bengals outgained the Browns significantly (389 to 274) in their 23-20 victory last week, as rookie QB Andy Dalton posted his fourth game with a 100+ rating, going 21-of-31 for 270 yards, 1 TD and 0 INT. But he wasn’t good against Pittsburgh on Nov. 13, connecting on just 15-of-30 passes for 170 yards, 2 TD and 2 INT. However, his top target Green was held out of the majority of that game with a knee injury, and showed no ill effects last week when his clutch 51-yard catch in the fourth quarter set up the game-winning field goal. For the Bengals to control the clock, they’ll need Cedric Benson to produce much more than he has against Pittsburgh in the past. Benson has just 152 yards (3.2 YPC) in the past four meetings. Although Cincy will continue to miss top CB Leon Hall (Achilles), who is out for the year, the defense has played extremely well this season, ranking fifth in the league in rushing defense (93 YPG) and 11th against the pass (215 YPG).
In addition to Roethlisberger’s thumb woes, three other key players are questionable to play on Sunday due to injuries -- C Maurkice Pouncey (virus), LB LaMarr Woodley (hamstring) and SS Troy Polamalu (concussion-like symptoms). Roethlisberger is 11-4 lifetime against the Bengals, but has not been great against them, throwing 18 TD with 15 INT in 15 career games against Cincy. Pittsburgh would rather rely on the ground game, but top RB Rashard Mendenhall has been mediocre this season (3.8 YPC), and was held to 44 yards on 16 carries (2.8 YPC) at Cincinnati this year. The Steelers have been excellent in both facets on defense, ranking third in the league in passing defense (181 YPG) and sixth against the run (96 YPG).
- Carrie Stroup, Gambling911.com Senior Reporter
