Pittsburgh Steelers Odds to Win AFC North, 2011 Super Bowl

The Pittsburgh Steelers come into the 2010-2011 regular NFL season in slight disarray.  Their starting quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has been suspended for the first six weeks due to his off-the-field off season antics (though this could be reduced to just four weeks).  The Steelers odds to win the AFC North were still at a favorable 2/1 regardless at Sportsbetting.com (see website here).  Pittsburgh’s odds to win the 2011 Super Bowl were the longest we have seen in years:  20/1.

The question we have at Gambling911.com regarding the Pittsburgh Steelers odds to win their division and beyond this coming season:  Can this team get its act together?

Well, the Steelers boast one of the NFL’s best rosters so we still must consider them a power team.

Remember also this is a team that came back strong after their 2006 Super Bowl hangover and eventually won another two years later.  20 starters from that last Super Bowl return as well.

The oddsmakers at Sportsbetting.com do believe that the Pittsburgh Steelers will win more than 8 ½ games this season, placing a line of -130 on that number.  Those who believe the Steelers will win fewer than 8 ½ games will be getting even odds.

Roethlisberger will be under increased pressure to lead this team though there could be increased tension in the locker room.  We’ll have to watch how either Byron Leftwich or Dennis Dixon perform at the start of the season as quarterback in Roethlisberger’s absence. 

On Friday, The Pittsburgh Steelers signed coach Mike Tomlin to a two-year extension with an additional option year, just a year removed from missing the playoffs.

"Mike Tomlin has proven to be one of the top head coaches in the National Football League in a relatively short time," Steelers president Art Rooney II said in the statement. "His unique ability to lead the team and motivate individuals have been key factors in our success over recent years."

Because this team became so unraveled during the second half of last season and things really got ugly into the offseason, one would be tempted to bet the UNDER on an 8 ½ game regular season win total.  We would advise against that however as there are 8 games the Steelers should win even in their lackluster state and any slight improvement is likely to get them over the hump.

We wouldn’t necessarily bet on this happening either though. 

Mary Montgomery, Gambling911.com