Last Updated on October 25, 2009 8:15 am by Anthony Rome
Vikings at Steelers Pick
In the game of the week, the Pittsburgh Steelers host the undefeated Minnesota Vikings at 1:00PM ET on Sunday.
The Vikings improved to 6-0 on the season with a thrilling 33-31 victory over the Ravens in Week 6. Brett Favre threw for 278 yards and three touchdowns, while Sidney Rice hauled in six passes for 176 yards in the victory. Minnesota failed to cover as 3-point favorites, however.
The Steelers beat the Browns 27-14 thanks to Ben Roethlisberger’s 417-yard, two-touchdown effort. Hines Ward caught eight passes for 159 yards with a touchdown in the win, but Pittsburgh failed to cover as 14-point favorites.
Oddsmakers from online sports book SBGGLOBAL.com have made the Steelers 5.5-point favorites over the Vikings in Week 7. The over/under total for this game has been established at 46 points.
Opponents are having a tough time slowing down Favre and Adrian Peterson for four quarters. If they stuff the box in efforts to stop Peterson, then Favre beats them with his accuracy in the passing game. If they don’t commit extra defenders to the run, then Peterson churns out the yardage and keeps the chains moving.
No team plays together as a defense than Pittsburgh. Every player knows their role and has confidence that the man next to them will do his job. And with safety Troy Polamalu healthy again, the Steelers’ defense might start looking like the unit that led them to a Super Bowl victory last season.
That said, the Vikings are hot and while Heinz Field can be a daunting place to play, the Steelers have only covered once this season, which was against the Chargers in Week 5. This is too even of a matchup for the spread to be 5.5 points. As long as Minnesota’s defense can limit the big plays like it was unable to do last week in the fourth quarter against Baltimore, then they will cover.
Our NFL Week 7 Free Pick for this matchup is: MINNESOTA VIKINGS +5.5 and OVER 46.
Vikings at Steelers Current Odds
421 Minnesota Vikings +5.5 (+215 moneyline) Over 46
422 Pittsburgh Steelers –5.5 (-255 Moneyline) Under 46
Minnesota is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games
Minnesota is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games
Pittsburgh is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games when playing Minnesota
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Pittsburgh’s last 6 games when playing Minnesota
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Minnesota Vikings |
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Darius Reynaud |
WR |
Doubtful Week 7 (hamstring) |
|
Antoine Winfield |
CB |
Doubtful Week 7 (foot) |
|
Husain Abdullah |
S |
Questionable Week 7 (back) |
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Percy Harvin |
WR |
Questionable Week 7 (shoulder) |
|
Madieu Williams |
S |
Questionable Week 7 (quadricep) |
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Eric Frampton |
S |
Probable Week 7 (ankle) |
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Phil Loadholt |
T |
Probable Week 7 (ankle) |
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Adrian Peterson |
RB |
Probable Week 7 (ankle) |
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Pittsburgh Steelers |
||
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Andre Frazier |
LB |
Questionable Week 7 (thigh) |
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Rashard Mendenhall |
RB |
Probable Week 7 (knee) |
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Troy Polamalu |
S |
Probable Week 7 (knee) |
Posted: 10/25/09 8:15AM ET