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The Cleveland Browns vs. Pittsburgh Steelers betting odds for Thursday night’s game had Pittsburgh at -13.5 at Sportsbook.com. You can bet this game online here and receive up to $250 in FREE CASH. Use promo code GAMBLING911
Sportsbook.com Line & Total: Pittsburgh -14 & 40
Opening Line & Total: Steelers -13.5 & 38.5
The sizzling Steelers look to continue their dominance over division foe Cleveland when they host the Browns at Heinz Field on Thursday night.
The Steelers are peaking at the right time, winning seven of their past eight games. The defense is getting healthy and is finally creating some turnovers. After a total of 4 TO in its first nine games, Pittsburgh has eight takeaways in the past three weeks. This does not bode well for a Cleveland offense that has scored 14 points or fewer in six of the past seven games. The Browns were out-rushed 290 to 59 in their 24-10 home loss to Baltimore last week. The Steelers are 16-2 SU (12-6 ATS) when hosting Cleveland since 1992, and they will roll the Browns again on Thursday.
Pittsburgh QB Ben Roethlisberger has loved facing Cleveland in his career, winning 12 of 13 starts and throwing 19 TD and 9 INT, while rushing for three more scores. He’s playing pretty well lately, especially considering his broken thumb. Since the injury, Roethlisberger has completed 57-of-87 passes (66%) for 614 yards, 4 TD and 2 INT in three games. The Browns do boast the league’s best pass defense (173 YPG), so Roethlisberger could be forced to throw shorter passes to TE Heath Miller or WR Hines Ward over the middle as opposed to deep balls to his speedy wideouts Mike Wallace and Antonio Brown. RB Rashard Mendenhall should find plenty of running room against the league’s 2nd-worst run defense (151 YPG). Mendenhall scored three touchdowns against Cleveland last year, and the Browns allowed 204 rushing yards to Ray Rice last week. Steady veteran LB Scott Fjuita is done for the year (hand), which gives more reason to believe the Steelers will run all over the Browns.
The Browns would also like to establish their ground game after being held to 59 yards in Baltimore. It won’t be easy though, as the Steelers have held each of their past six opponents to less than 120 rushing yards. They also stuffed Peyton Hillis last season, limiting him to 54 yards on 18 carries (3.0 YPC). Hillis is now suffering from a strained hip and may not be fully healed during the short week. If he can’t go, it’s expected backup Montario Hardesty will take his place. Hardesty has been bothered by a calf injury, but his zero carries last week were reportedly not injury-related. The Steelers have a couple of walking wounded at linebacker with LaMarr Woodley and Larry Foote both questionable for this game with hamstring injuries.
- Carrie Stroup, Gambling911.com Senior Reporter
