Last Updated on September 12, 2010 8:00 am by Anthony Rome
Falcons vs. Steelers Updated Odds
The Pittsburgh Steelers will look to defend their home ground against the Atlanta Falcons this Sunday without quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. Do the odds favor them and Dennis Dixon or do the Dirty Birds hold the edge?
Game Preview:
The Falcons head into Heinz Field on Sunday a confident group. By beating the Buccaneers in Week 17 last year to finish 9-7, Atlanta compiled back-to-back winning seasons for the first time in franchise history. Now they have playoff aspirations in 2010, but Matt Ryan and Michael Turner must stay healthy – which is something they couldn’t do last year. They’ve added Dunta Robinson and Sean Weatherspoon to give their defense more playmakers, so it should be an interesting year in Hotlana.
The Steelers will start the 2010 season with their starting quarterback suspended. Dixon will start under center in place of Big Ben and while he certainly adds another dimension with his feet, he’s highly inexperienced. Pittsburgh will lean on its running game with Rashard Mendenhall and its defense over these first four weeks, in order to help take some of the pressure off of the young quarterback’s shoulders.
Line Movement & Updated Odds:
When this game opened in late April, the Steelers were a 1.5-point favorite. The line then moved down to a pick’em in mid May, but now that Big Ben is suspended the odds have swung in the Falcons favor and Atlanta is currently a 1-point favorite according to oddsmakers from online sports book BroburySports.com. The over/under total opened at 42 points and is now at 38.
Game Information:
Falcons (0-0) at Steelers (0-0)
Kickoff: 1:00PM ET, Sunday
TV: FOX
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Venue: Heinz Field
Opening Odds: Steelers –1.5
Current Odds: Steelers +1
(View up-to-the-minute odds on our official NFL Odds Page)
Over/Under Open: 42
Over/Under Current: 38
Projected Weather by Game Time: Fair, high of 71 degrees
The Falcons are 4-1 against the spread against the Steelers since 1992 and 2-0 against the spread in Pittsburgh since 1992.
Falcons:
Michael Jenkins – QUESTIONABLE (shoulder)
Dunta Robinson – PROBABLE (hamstring)
Steelers:
Antwaan Randle El – PROBABLE (undisclosed)
James Harrison – PROBABLE (shoulder)
James Farrior – PROBABLE (head)
As of this morning, 64% of the 24,061 wagers that have been placed on this game favor the Falcons -1.