Browns vs. Steelers Odds
PITTSBURGH, PA (The Spread) – The Pittsburgh Steelers hope to start the 2014 season off right on Sunday when they host the Cleveland Browns at 1PM ET on CBS.
The Steelers were just 8-8 last season, missing out on the playoffs in the process. Cleveland is coming off a 4-12 record in 2013 and hired a new coach in Mike Pettine. Pittsburgh has won seven of its last eight against Cleveland.
Trends show that the Browns are just 3-7 against the spread in their last 10 trips to Pittsburgh and the Steelers are 5-0 ATS in their last five division games. These two have hit the under in five of their last six meetings.
According to oddsmakers from Bovada.lv, Pittsburgh is favored at home, as the Steelers have odds of -6.5 points against the Browns. The over/under total for the game has been set at 41 points (View Matchup). The opening odds for this game had Pittsburgh favored by 5 points. The spread hit a peak of 7 points before falling back to Pittsburgh -6.5. The over/under total opened at 41.5 points and hit a low of 40 before settling in at 41 points.
The Steelers should be motivated to get back to the playoffs this season and should have another strong team. Pittsburgh averaged just 86.4 rushing yards per game last season, but that should improve as Le’Veon Bell is in his second year. Defensively, the Steelers were surprisingly 21st against the run defensively, which is a far cry from what it usually does. Pittsburgh tried to address that by taking a pair of front seven defenders with its first two picks in the NFL Draft.
Cleveland hasn’t had a great preseason, finding out that stud receiver Josh Gordon will miss the entire season because of a suspension for a failed drug test. That will make things tough for Brian Hoyer, who will be the starting quarterback, but has Johnny Manziel waiting right behind him. Cleveland averaged just 86.4 rushing yards per game last season, but the team added Ben Tate in free agency in hopes of improving that total. Defensively, Cleveland was strong in 2013, ranking eighth in the league in passing yards allowed at just 221.1 yards per game.
In terms of Injuries, Pittsburgh long snapper Greg Warren (knee) is questionable for the game while running back Le’Veon Bell is facing a potential suspension by the team for a recent incident with the law. Cleveland receiver Travis Benjamin (knee) is questionable for the game.
The Public Bets for this game are currently backing the Steelers, as Pittsburgh is getting 70% of the wagers with a point spread of -6.5 points against the Browns.
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