Jets-Steelers Betting Preview
This Jets-Steelers betting preview comes to us from Barry Daniels of Don Best Sports
The New York Jets have scored nine points in their last two games, while the Pittsburgh Steelers have yielded an average of nine points in their last four outings. The two clubs will square off Sunday afternoon in Pittsburgh during a key AFC matchup.
Most sports books monitored by Don Best Sports have the Steelers as six-point home favorites, with the ‘total’ set at 36 points.
Pittsburgh enters the contest in the midst of a four-game winning streak, while the Jets have dropped their last two outings.
The Steelers are off Sunday’s 23-7 victory against Cincinnati as nine-point home favorites. The win lifted Pittsburgh’s ledger to 10-3 SU and 8-5 ATS. The club is 4-2 both SU and ATS on its home turf.
The combined 30 points in Sunday’s game dipped below the 39 ½-point closing total, allowing the ‘under’ to cash in Pittsburgh’s last four games. The ‘under’ is now 8-5 in the Steelers’ first 13 outings.
The Steelers couldn't get into the end zone on offense despite dominating the time of possession. A 9 1/2-minute drive in the second half didn’t produce any points, but it didn't matter as the Steelers closed in on a playoff spot by handing the Bengals their 10th straight loss.
Troy Polamalu and LaMarr Woodley returned interceptions for Pittsburgh's only touchdowns. Polamalu injured his ankle during his interception but stayed in the game. The Don Best Sports injury report lists the defensive star as “probable.”
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Pittsburgh has not allowed more than 16 points in any of its last four games. That has helped the club move to second place in the league defensively, allowing an average of just 15.2 points per game. The Steelers rank first in the league in rushing defense, yielding an average of 60.1 rushing yards per game.
Offensively, the Steelers rank 16th by averaging 22.3 points per game. They are averaging 332.4 yards per game, which ranks 19th, and 120.2 rushing yards per outing (10th). The offense has just two touchdowns in its last 30 possessions.
The Jets are off Sunday’s disappointing 10-6 setback against the Miami Dolphins as five-point home favorites. The combined 16 points never seriously threatened the 37 ½-point closing total.
The loss lowered the Jets’ record to 9-4 SU and 7-6 ATS. The ‘over’ is 9-4 in New York’s first 13 overall encounters and 6-0 in its first six road dates.
Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez was 17-of-44 for 216 yards and one costly interception against the Dolphins. He misfired often, and the offense never got into a rhythm. Nick Folk hit field goals of 35 and 42 yards for New York’s only points.
Much of the game was played in a downpour, which made for inept offensive performances on both sides in the sloppy conditions. The Dolphins gained 131 yards, with Chad Henne passing for only 55, yet still won.
Jets RT Damien Woody, who left the game with a right knee injury, will miss the remainder of the season according to the Don Best Sports injury report.
These two AFC foes have not met since the 2007 campaign when the Jets registered a 19-16 overtime victory as nine-point home underdogs. In fact, the last two meetings have gone into an extra session.
The combined 35 points in that 2007 meeting ducked below the 40 ½-point closing total, enabling the ‘under’ to improve to 8-1 in the last nine series meetings.
The Jets are 9-3 ATS in their last 12 road games and 11-5 ATS in their last 16 contests as a road underdog. However, they are just 3-8 ATS in their last 11 December contests. The Steelers are 21-8 ATS in their last 29 games as a home favorite between 3 ½ and 10 points.
