Raiders vs. Steelers Spread Prediction
The Oakland Raiders gave the Chiefs a game last Sunday as a big home underdog. They find themselves in a similar spot today at 4:25 p.m. ET as they host the Pittsburgh Steelers. Will Jon Gruden’s team cover again?
Game Snapshot
131 Pittsburgh Steelers at 132 Oakland Raiders
4:25 p.m. ET, Sunday, December 9, 2018
Oakland Coliseum, Oakland, California
Public Betting Trends
According to oddsmakers from online sports book BetNow.eu, the Steelers are 10-point favorites to beat the Raiders. The total, meanwhile, sits at 51 points. As of this writing, 51% of the public betting tickets are on the Raiders to cover the point spread.
Pittsburgh Steelers
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports Jaylen Samuels will get the “bulk of the carries” in Week 14 against the Raiders. Samuels will start, with Stevan Ridley mixing in. He’s in a great spot this week as the touch-favorite in a matchup with Oakland’s league-worst defense. With James Conner (ankle) looking at a multi-game absence, Samuels’ role as the lead back looks likely to extend beyond this week.
Oakland Raiders
Doug Martin (questionable, knee) is expected to play in Week 14 against the Steelers. The Raiders listed Martin as questionable despite practicing fully. There was early week concern over his status after the C.J. Anderson signing, but Martin’s knee won’t keep him out. Martin’s role is the bigger concern in a game Oakland will likely be playing from behind.
NFL Betting Trends
Pittsburgh
The Steelers are 3-1-1 against the spread in their last five road games and are 5-2-1 ATS in their last eight games overall.
Oakland
The Raiders are 2-5-1 at the betting window in their last eight home games and are 2-6 against the spread in their last eight games overall.
Prediction
Laying 10 points on the road with a team that has traveled as much as the Steelers have over the past four weeks is a risk. That said, Pittsburgh should have won in Denver and should have rolled the Chargers last Sunday night but the Steelers took their foot off the gas. I know the Raiders hung with the Chiefs last week but that’s a division rivalry and Oakland has proven this season that it is unreliable when it comes to giving great effort week-to-week. I’m laying the points.
NFL Week 14 Prediction: Pittsburgh Steelers -10