Pittsburgh and Cincinnati collide for the third time this season with more on the line than just AFC North bragging rights. Both teams finished the year with identical 11-5 records, but the Bengals earned the divisional crown via the tiebreaker.
Las Vegas Sports Consultants installed Pittsburgh as a three-point road ‘chalk’ over Cincinnati, with the total set at 46. CBS Sports will provide coverage of Sunday’s AFC wild-card contest beginning at 4:30 p.m. ET.
The road team won both matchups this season straight up and against the spread. Pittsburgh prevailed Oct. 23 as a 1 1/2-point road underdog, 27-13, while the Bengals triumphed Dec. 4 as a three-point road ‘dog, 38-31. The Steelers were 5-1 SU versus Cincinnati the six games before this season. Their last loss this year occurred versus the Bengals.
Pittsburgh (11-5 SU, 9-7 ATS) won its final four regular season games SU to snatch a wild-card slot by beating Detroit last weekend as a 17-point home favorite, 35-21. The combined 56 points eclipsed the 36 1/2-point closing total, helping the ‘over’ cash the second contest in a row.
The Steelers finished the contest with advantages in first downs (20-16), rushing yards (199-105) and time of possession (32:31-27:29), while trailing in passing yards (203-132). Pittsburgh allowed just one touchdown after the first quarter, and there was no scoring on either side in the fourth quarter.
Signal caller Ben Roethlisberger was 7-of-16 passing for 135 yards with a pair of interceptions, and running back Willie Parker had 26 carries for 135 yards in the victory. Tight end Heath Miller stepped up with three catches for 62 yards, while four other receivers each caught one pass.
Cincinnati (11-5 SU, 8-7 ATS) already wrapped up the AFC North and homefield for this contest a few weeks ago, meaning the team sleepwalked through its last two outings (0-2 both SU and ATS). The Bengals rested their starters last weekend versus Kansas City and were throttled as a 10-point road underdog, 37-3.
The combined 40 points went ‘under’ the 48 1/2-point closing total, ending back-to-back ‘over’ outings. Most of the statistics from this contest can be thrown out the window.
Pittsburgh defensive end Travis Kirschke (back) and linebacker Andre Frazier (hamstring) are ‘questionable’ versus the Bengals.
Cincinnati defensive end Carl Powell (neck), defensive tackle Bryan Robinson (foot), offensive tackle Levi Jones (shoulder), cornerback Keiwan Ratliff (concussion) and cornerback Deltha O’Neal (knee) are ‘probable’ against the Steelers, while linebacker Landon Johnson (shoulder) is ‘questionable.’
Sunday’s forecast for Cincinnati calls for rain showers, with a high of 50 degrees and a low of 34.
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