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The Falcons vs. Steelers 2010 Week 1 odds opened at Pittsburgh as a PICK but the Steelers were now a +1 ½ point underdog at BetED.com (see odds here)
“It is extremely rare to see the Pittsburgh Steelers as home dogs,” says Don Shapiro.
But the Steelers are without their starting quarterback Ben Roethlisberger for the first four games and the Atlanta Falcons come into this one as darlings of the NFL expected to go deep into the Playoffs.
These two teams played one another in 2002 and 2006, with Atlanta winning the most recent game by 3 points and another ending in a rare tie.
The Falcons are 10-2 ATS in their last 12 games in Week 1. The Steelers are 0-6 ATS in their last 6 games in September.
Just over 65 percent of the betting action was going towards Atlanta.
From the Scouts Inc. Scouting Report:
Matchup to watch: Falcons offensive line vs. Steelers defensive front five:This will be an excellent battle that is sure to determine the winner of this game. The Falcons have few household names on their line, but it is a strong unit that plays with a very physical edge. The Steelers' defensive line and outside linebackers are about as good as they get. All five play the run.
The lack of trends, recent historic data and questions surrounding the Steelers replacement quarterback make this one a difficult game to figure out in terms of which team ultimately has the edge.
The betting public seems content on believing Atlanta will win by at least two in hostile Pittsburgh.
Ean Lamb, Gambling911.com
