Monday night’s NFL matchup in Week 13 is a classic AFC North battle between the 9-2 Pittsburgh Steelers and the 5-6 Cincinnati Bengals. Game time from Paul Brown Stadium is set for 8:30 p.m. (ET) and ESPN will carry the national broadcast.
Pittsburgh at Cincinnati Game Overview
The Steelers are tied with New England for the best straight-up record in the AFC following last Sunday night’s 31-28 squeaker against Green Bay as heavy 14-point home favorites. After failing to cover in two of their last three games, their overall record against the spread now stands at 6-5. The total has gone OVER in three of their last five games. Pittsburgh goes back on the road with an even 3-3 record ATS in six previous road games this year.
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Pittsburgh’s top three players on offense continue to add some major contributions to this team’s success this season. Last Sunday against Green Bay, Ben Roethlisberger threw for 351 yards and four touchdowns with Antonio Brown on the receiving end of 10 catches for 169 yards and two scores. Le’Veon Bell added 95 yards on the ground and 88 yards on 12 receptions to the winning cause. The Steelers’ defense was a bit loose in that game, but on the year it is ranked fourth in the NFL in points allowed (17.5).
Cincinnati continued to stay in the wild card race in the wide open AFC with back-to-back victories against Denver on the road and Cleveland at home the past two weeks, but it is stepping up in class this Monday night. The Bengals are 6-5 ATS overall and they have gone 3-2 ATS when closing as underdogs. The total stayed UNDER in three of their first five home games this season.
The Bengals were on the wrong end of a 29-14 loss to Pittsburgh on Oct. 22 as four-point road underdogs. The total went OVER the 40-point closing line in that game. Andy Dalton threw for 140 yards while completing 56.7 percent of his 30 passing attempts. He was also picked off twice. That kind of play is not going to get it done on Monday night behind an offense that is already ranked 28th in the league in passing yards. The bright spot in this matchup could be a Cincinnati defense that is now 10th in the NFL in points allowed (19.5).
Pittsburgh at Cincinnati Game Betting Trends
- The Steelers are 6-1 ATS in their last seven Week 13 games and they have gone 12-3 ATS in their last 15 games in December. The total has stayed UNDER in 22 of their last 27 road games.
- The Bengals have posted a 5-1 record ATS in their last six December games, but they fall to 4-9-1 ATS in their last 14 games against a team with a SU winning record. The total has stayed UNDER in four of their last five Monday night games.
- The favorite in this NFC North clash is 3-0-1 ATS in the last four meetings and the total has stayed UNDER in five of the last seven games between the two.
