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Pittsburgh Steelers at Miami Dolphins NFL Odds & Picks

Written by Jimmy Boyd on December 30, 2009

The defending Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers look to keep their playoff hopes alive when they visit the Miami Dolphins in Week 17. Not only will Pittsburgh have to win, but it will also need some help to get it. At 7-8, Miami still stands an outside shot at taking the AFC’s final wild card slot, but it will need even more help than Pittsburgh. Last week, the Steelers helped their cause with a 23-20 win over division rival Baltimore while the Dolphins hurt their chances with a 27-20 loss to Houston. These two teams last met in the 2007 season with the Steelers winning 3-0 on Jeff Reed’s field goal with 17 second remaining. That win was the fourth for the Steelers in the last five meetings. The all-time series is tied at 11 games a piece. NFL odds makers are giving Pittsburgh the edge, listing the Steelers as 3-point favorites with the total set at 45.5.

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Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger has been sacked a career-high-tying 47 times this season. His offensive line will need to keep him off his backside Sunday so that he can take advantage of a Miami defense that has struggled to defend the pass. With all that’s at stake with this game, you can bet that Big Ben will be looking in the direction of wide receiver Santonio Holmes early and often. Simply put, no player on the Steelers has been as clutch. Holmes made one big play after another during last season’s Super Bowl run, including his famous game-winning grab in the Super Bowl. Once again, he came up big last week with a touchdown against the Ravens to keep the Steelers’ playoff hopes alive. Holmes, who has 78 grabs for 1,243 yards, could be poised for a big day against Miami’s young secondary.

Defensively, the Steelers will look to James Harrison to make the big plays. Harrison continues to be one of the NFL’s elite pass rushers off the edge, tallying 10 sacks on the season. He will have the opportunity to make some big plays Sunday against young Dolphins QB Chad Henne, who has more interceptions (13) than touchdown passes (11). It is worth noting that the Steelers are 6-0 ATS in their last 6 games in January. If you think January is still Pittsburgh’s month, bet the Steelers at -3 at Bookmaker.

Miami can not afford to let Big Ben sit back in the pocket and pick its secondary apart. Miami must bring the heat Sunday, and that responsibility falls on veterans Jason Taylor and Joey Porter. Taylor has shown that he can still play at a high level. He has seven sacks, three forced fumbles, and an interception this season. Porter leads the Dolphins with eight sacks. If these two can get to Roethlisberger with regularity, it will go a long way toward pulling off the upset.

Miami boasts one of the NFL’s best running attacks, especially at home where it is gaining 161 yards per game on 4.7 yards per carry. The Dolphins also lead the NFL with 21 rushing scores. The team has still been able to run the football without Ronnie Brown, but now it could be without Ricky Williams too. Williams is listed as questionable after suffering a shoulder injury last week. Even if Williams can’t go, one still has to think the Dolphins have a chance when you consider that the Steelers are just 2-5 on the road this season. It is also worth noting that the Steelers are 2-7 ATS in their last 9 road games and 0-6 ATS in their last 6 games versus a team with a losing record. If you like Miami to spoil Pittsburgh’s playoff hopes, bet the Dolphins at +3 at Bookmaker.

Crush your man in Week 17 with the help of Jimmy’s Boyd’s expert pro football picks!

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