Steelers vs. Bengals Prediction, Picks & Best Bets: NFL Week 13

We're offering our Steelers vs. Bengals prediction for this highly anticipated AFC North clash in Week 13.

Mike Spector

Last updated: November 30, 2024 1:30 PM EST • 5 min read

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase walks off the field after the game against the Los Angeles Chargers, and we're offering our top Steelers vs. Bengals prediction. — Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase walks off the field after the game against the Los Angeles Chargers. Photo by Sam Greene/The Enquirer via USA TODAY NETWORK/Imagn Images.

The Pittsburgh Steelers play their third of four straight games against a divisional opponent when they face the Cincinnati Bengals as 3-point road underdogs at Paycor Stadium.

The Steelers are one of three division leaders who are underdogs this week
Cincinnati has the worst home record (1-4) of any AFC North team
Pittsburgh would guarantee its 21st straight non-losing season with a win this week

Our Steelers vs. Bengals prediction backs the home favorites who are desperate for a win. Kickoff for this AFC North tilt is set for 1:00 p.m. ET airing on CBS.

This is just a taste of everything we're offering bettors with our NFL Week 13 predictions.

Steelers vs. Bengals predictions

NFL picks based on the odds from our best NFL betting sites. Odds subject to change.

Against the spread pick: Bengals -2.5 (-122 via FanDuel) vs. Steelers ⭐⭐⭐⭐
My best bet: Russell Wilson Under 1.5 passing touchdowns (-150 via bet365) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Steelers vs. Bengals ATS prediction: Week 13

Bengals to cover the spread: -2.5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Best odds: -122 via FanDuel | Implied probability: 54.95%

Bet $5, Win $200 in Bonus Bets

New customers only. Min. deposit $5+. Bet $5+ and win $200 in Bonus Bets, if your bet wins (within 72 hours). Bet does not have to win in AZ, CO, KS, NC, or TN.

Claim $200

Each product featured on our website has been meticulously researched and selected by our team of experts. If you sign up through our links, we may get a commission.

Bengals will start capitalizing on Burrow’s play

Prior to Cincinnati’s bye last week, the team lost its fourth game this season when Joe Burrow threw for 300 or more yards and at least three touchdowns.

Burrow leads an explosive offense that ranks sixth in scoring, but the Bengals sit at 4-7 with their playoff chances dwindling to 14% after their loss to the Chargers (per ESPN Analytics) because of a 28th-ranked scoring defense.

Pittsburgh is not as dangerous of an offensive team as Baltimore and Los Angeles, the last two teams the Bengals lost to despite big offensive days from Burrow.

Cincinnati will ride the momentum of its last loss

The Bengals were undone by a 24-6 halftime deficit in their Week 11 loss to the Chargers. But that result could have been a lot different if Cincinnati did not settle for two field goals inside Los Angeles’ 10-yard line in the first half.

Despite the six points, Burrow still completed 71% of his passes in the first half, though he had just two 20-yard completions and a 5.8 average target depth.

In the second half, Burrow’s completion percentage dropped to 49%. But he pushed the ball downfield a lot more with five completions of 20 or more yards, and an average target depth of 14.3 yards, which paid off in all three of his passing touchdowns coming after halftime.

Regression coming for the Bengals

At some point, the ball has to start bouncing Cincinnati’s way, as the Bengals are 1-6 in one-score games. But Burrow is exactly the quarterback you want under center following a loss, as he is 18-7-1 ATS (72%) off a loss in his career.

I am making this four-star play on Cincinnati at FanDuel, the only one of our best sports betting sites offering the favorites at less than a field goal. Through FanDuel’s -122 odds, a $10 winning wager would still pay out $18.20.

Steelers vs. Bengals best bet

Our NEW NFL player prop odds tool can help you find the best odds on any market across legal sportsbooks in your area!

Russell Wilson Under 1.5 passing touchdowns ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Best odds: -150 via bet365 | Implied probability: 60.00%

Bet $5, Get $150 in Bonus Bets Win or Lose*

*Deposit required. Mobile app only. Bonus Bets wager excluded from returns. T&Cs, time limits and exclusions apply. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER

Claim Now

Each product featured on our website has been meticulously researched and selected by our team of experts. If you sign up through our links, we may get a commission.

We are paying up slightly more than we usually do for a player prop of this magnitude, but that is not as much of a concern given the five stars of confidence we are backing this pick with.

Entering Pittsburgh’s Thursday night loss to Cleveland last week, Wilson had a league-worst 8.4 QBR in the red zone.

Compared to Justin Fields who led the team to touchdowns on half of its red-zone drives when he was the starter, the Steelers have scored touchdowns 39% of the time (28th in the NFL from Weeks 7-10) under Wilson.

WIlson has thrown one or fewer touchdown passes in three of his last four starts.

The Steelers rank 27th in success rate and 30th in overall success rate since Week 7 (when Wilson took over as the starter), which does not inspire confidence for a big day offensively even against a poor Bengals defense.

The Under is juiced as high as -188 at FanDuel, carrying a 65.28% implied probability.

Steelers vs. Bengals odds

See all of this week's NFL odds and NFL scores.

Steelers vs. Bengals live odds

Steelers vs. Bengals opening odds:

Steelers: +2.5 (+100 via BetMGM)
Bengals: -2.5 (-120 via BetMGM)

Steelers vs. Bengals game info

When: Sunday, Dec. 1
Kickoff: 1:00 p.m. ET
Where: Paycor Stadium (Cincinnati, Ohio)
How to watch: CBS
Weather: 34 degrees, 8% chance of precipitation, wind 8 mph W
Favorite: Bengals -3 (-110 via BetMGM)

NFL betting odds pages

Super Bowl Odds	NFL MVP Odds	NFL Offensive Player of the Year Odds
NFL Defensive Player of the Year Odds	NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Odds	NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Odds
NFL Coach of the Year Odds	NFL Comeback Player of the Year Odds	NFL Win Totals Odds
NFL Playoff Odds	NFL Draft Odds

Here are our best NFL betting sites:

Caesars Promo Code: SBRBONUSDYW | Read our Caesars Review
BetMGM Bonus Code: SBRBONUS | Read our BetMGM Review
bet365 Bonus Code: SBRBONUS | Read our bet365 Review
FanDuel Promo Code | Read our FanDuel Review
DraftKings Promo Code | Read our DraftKings Review

(21+. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER)
* Bonuses not applicable in Ontario.

Not intended for use in MA.
Each betting site featured on SBR has been meticulously researched and selected by our team of experts. If you sign up through our links, we may get a commission.

Best Sports Betting Sites | Best Sportsbook Promos (U.S. only)

Written By:
Mike Spector

Mike started in the sports writing industry in July 2019, and gained a lot of followers in his first year after finishing with the No. 2 overall record in an annual NFL betting competition, which made picks against the spread, and from an Over/Under and moneyline perspective. Mike is an avid fan of the NFL, MLB, tennis, and all college sports. In his opinion, March Madness is the best sporting event there is, and he's especially euphoric starting with conference tournament time in college basketball. Mike's a big advocate of "fading the public" and making plays that are contrarian, constantly citing that "there are reasons why they have those big shiny buildings in Las Vegas." When making wagers, Mike always scours the best odds at all of the major sports betting sites, where he mostly sifts through DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, and bet365. He's tried several others and is of the firm belief that bettors should not just stick to one sportsbook, as there is always likely better value to be had with the same wager. In addition, while Mike received his undergraduate degree from Villanova University, he has no issue betting against the Wildcats when it comes to college basketball wagering, and suggests other bettors should always put their “head” before their “hearts.”