Pittsburgh Steelers 2019 NFL betting preview

Pittsburgh Steelers at a glance

2018 record: 9-6-1, second in the AFC North Key additions: WR Donte Moncrief, LB Mark Barron, CB Steven Nelson Key losses: WR Antonio Brown, RB Le'Veon Bell, LB Jon Bostic

Overview

Things have felt a bit dramatic in Pittsburgh for quite some time. In 2017 there was the national anthem situation, then 2018 came and the Le'Veon Bell dispute overshadowed much of the year. With the conclusion of the season, Antonio Brown kept the theme going on social media and ultimately made a move west.

On the field the Steelers underperformed, with a 9-6-1 record and 8-7-1 mark against the spread, and missed the playoffs. With Bell and Brown no longer around, the star power that existed on their powerful offense must be replaced. In their place the Steelers are counting youth to step up. Running back James Connor and wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster will be relied upon, while a number of other journeyman receivers will be given the opportunity to secure big roles.

Three constants through the years in Pittsburgh have been Mike Tomlin, Ben Roethlisberger and a bunch of defenders who love to play hard. Heading into the 2019 season, the defense looks tough again. While question marks exist on the offensive side of the ball, the Steelers’ commitment to high-end defensive talent through the draft should pay off.

With all of these changes in mind, what do we think about the Steelers’ betting odds for the upcoming 2019 season?

Super Bowl odds: +2500

These are the highest odds I’ve seen on the Steelers in years, but it’s probably deserved. We know Smith-Schuster is an extreme talent and Connor has overcome more in life than he’ll ever face on the football field, but are they ready to be the difference-makers every NFL team needs to win it all? I’m not so sure.

AFC Championship odds: +1200

If the Super Bowl seems unlikely for the Steelers, this should feel nearly as unlikely at half the odds. If the Steelers are good enough to win the AFC, wouldn’t you rather be holding a +2500 ticket on them to win the whole thing? This doesn’t feel like much value for a team that is probably sixth or seventh best in the conference.

AFC North odds: +190

If you don’t believe in the Browns hype train, this has to be an intriguing number. I’m a believer in the Browns this year, but I can’t deny that if Cleveland does what Cleveland likes to do, this number has some value. I’m no believer in the Ravens, so this feels like a near 2-1 value bet on what I predict will be a two-team race in the final weeks.

Odds to make the playoffs: -110

Having the insurance of getting a wildcard spot makes this a bit enticing, but I don’t like it. I’d rather take the +190 to win the division.

Regular season win total: 9

The schedule isn’t too difficult, but it starts out tough, so a 3-3 start is feasible. From there I don’t like that they'll need a 7-3 mark to finish above the number. This team feels like it will end up between eight and 10 wins, so I’m not confident making a prediction either way on this number.

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