Week Three Previews

Pittsburgh Steelers @ St Louis Rams

 

My Prices – Steelers 2.06 Rams 1.94

Vegas Line - Steelers -1

The Rams have one of the best defensive lines in the NFL. Aaron Donald is emerging as the best defensive tackle in the league and it's fair to say Pittsburgh are going to struggle protecting the quarter-back as the Rams will look to exploit the absence of four times Pro-Bowl centre Marukice Pouncey.

The Steelers offense do get a major weapon back though as Le'Veon Bell suits up after his two-game suspension, he is one of the top runners in the league. Add in a top quality QB in Roethlisberger and a decent WR like Antonio Brown and you have a very potent offence that will score points.

Pittsburgh are poor defensively and have numerous liabilities, particularly at linebacker and if Ryan Shazier is out and he’s been listed as missing practice all week then that will leave a massive hole in the secondary  meaning there liable to surrender big gains.

The Rams’ need to attack the weakest part of the Steelers’ team, which is their secondary and they need their receivers to produce here which I believe they will do as the Rams are traditionally strong at home and the Steelers may have one eye on their short week and BIG match against divisional rivals Baltimore on Thursday night.

St. Louis didn't show up to play last week at Washington after their emotional win in overtime against the Seahawks in Week 1. The Steelers crushed the 49ers at home and the public in my opinion have over-reacted massively to those two results. The Rams were -2.5 before Sunday's games and now they're +1. What I see an obvious let-down loss at Washington and a dominant Pittsburgh victory against a 49ers team playing in an early game off a short week.

It also seems Pittsburgh as a road favourite has an awful record. They're 16-29 against the spread over the past ten years when giving away points on the road, and it's even worse after a victory. They're 8-21 ATS in such situations.

 Back St Louis on the money line at 2.00 with Matchbook.

  

There’s not a lot else that really appeals this weekend betting wise in the NFL as there’s too many what if’s or games between poor teams that you can’t really trust with your cash so it’s really a case of watching and making notes of teams strengths & weaknesses.

I liked the Colts -3 as Indy always seem to take care of divisional opponents but there seems to be a lot of infighting between head coach and front office due to the lack of protection Andrew Luck receives from his offensive line, now Luck is more than capable of putting the team on his back and carrying them to victory but I need to see it first before I lay some cash on the line.

I took a second look at the match up between the Browns and the Raiders, with the Browns -3.5 looking appealing as the Raiders are travelling cross country for an early start which is a massive hindrance and with the Browns defence looking much improved it was tempting but can you really trust the Browns? Not for me.

One line that does interest me though is in the Atlanta Falcons @ Dallas Cowboys game.

Both teams are 2-0 after coming back to defeat the Giants in the 4^th Quarter and then beating an Eagles squad that has not looked good in any way shape or form.

Currently there is a massive difference between these two sides due to the injury situation in Dallas, especially the QB and WR tandem; give me Matt Ryan and Julio Jones any day of the week over Brandon Weeden and Terrance Williams.

The Falcons are much improved defensively under rookie coach Dan Quinn and this has all the hallmarks of a low scoring sloppy game with both teams trying to preserve their 100% record, the only way Dallas can give themselves a chance to do that is to put a lid on Atlanta.

With that in mind under 45 points is the bet at 1.91 with Totesport.