Steelers vs. Bengals Week 12 Picks: Tense AFC North Game on Deck

Two longtime AFC North rivals battle it out in a crucial game for playoff seeding. Find out who we like with our Steelers and Bengals picks.

The Cincinnati Bengals moved up to second in the AFC North after easing to a 32-13 road win against a banged-up Raiders team in Week 11. Cincy is now 6-4 for the season, which leaves it well placed to secure a Wild Card spot. The Bengals are 5-5 against the spread for the season.

The Steelers suffered a narrow defeat to the Chargers last weekend. They were 27-10 down by the end of the third quarter, but it ended up losing by just four points following a late comeback. It left Pittsburgh 5-4-1 for the season, so they need to return to winning ways quickly. They are 4-6 ATS this season.

Here are my picks and predictions for the NFL Week 12 matchup between the Steelers and the Bengals (odds via DraftKings Sportsbook; pick confidence based on a 1-to-5-star scale).

Steelers vs. Bengals Game Info

Date/Time: Sunday, Nov. 28, 1 p.m. ETTV: CBSLocation: Paul Brown Stadium, Cincinnati, OHWeather: 45 degrees, mainly sunny

Steelers vs. Bengals Odds Analysis

Cincinnati opened as the 4.5-point favorite for this game, but the sportsbooks have cut the line to 3.5 points after the Steelers proved popular. Unibet stands out by offering -120 on Pittsburgh +4.5 as an alternative line. BetMGM has -110 on the Bengals -3.5.

The total points line is between 43.5 points and 45 points, depending upon which sportsbook you visit. SBK has -130 on over 43.5 points and FanDuel has -110 on Under 45 points.

Steelers vs. Bengals Picks

Steelers +3.5 (-110) ???Under 45 (-110) ??

SEE ALSO: Titans vs. Patriots Week 12 Picks

Steelers vs. Bengals Predictions

Steelers +3.5 (-110)

The Steelers were missing key defensive trio T.J. Watt, Joe Haden, and Minkah Fitzpatrick for their high-scoring defeat to the Chargers in Week 11. All three are expected to return on Sunday, so Pittsburgh’s defense should be a lot more solid.

The Bengals picked up a 24-10 win against the Steelers back in Week 3, but Pittsburgh has improved since then. It has four wins, one tie, and one narrow defeat from its last six games, and it has only lost by more than 5 points on three occasions this season.

The Bengals have struggled for consistency this year. They have failed to cover the spread in five of their last six games following a straight-up win and could be primed for a letdown after their big win against the Raiders.

The Steelers have not lost twice to the Bengals in a season since 2009, and they will be desperate to avoid that fate.

Under 45 Points (-110)

These teams combined for just 34 points in Week 3, and Pittsburgh should be stronger defensively with Watt back in the fold. The Bengals rank 11th in the league for points allowed, so they should give Big Ben and company a tough game. Cincinnati is 4-6 when it comes to Over/Under this year, and Pittsburgh is 3-6-1.

The Bengals and the Steelers have both been involved in a lot of high-scoring games since they last met, but there is a great deal at stake in this clash, and thus it could be a tense game.

Picks made on 11/26/2021 at 9:35 a.m. ET

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