Pittsburgh Steelers at Cleveland Browns Odds
The defending AFC champion Pittsburgh Steelers (11-4) can still come away the No. 1 seed in the AFC playoffs if everything falls into place. First and foremost, they’ll need to take care of business against the Cleveland Browns (4-11).
The Steelers are currently listed as a seven-point favorite with the total set at 36.
Pittsburgh, which defeated the St. Louis Rams 27-0 last week, will enter the postseason as a No. 1, 2 or 5 seed. In addition to defeating the Browns, it will need both the Baltimore Ravens and New England Patriots to lose in order to secure the top seed and gain home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.
The Steelers can with the AFC North and earn a first-round bye as the No. 2 seed with a win and a Ravens loss.
Stepping in for the injured Ben Roethlisberger, Charlie Batch completed 15 of 22 passes for 208 yards and an interception against the Rams. Four completions went to Mike Wallace, who led the team with 82 receiving yards.
Rashard Mendenhall led the way on the ground with 116 of the team’s 169 rushing yards and a touchdown.
Roethlisberger, who has been dealing with a left ankle sprain, has been upgraded to probable for Sunday.
While Roethlisberger may return, it is doubtful we’ll see Colt McCoy, who hasn’t played since taking a helmet-to-helmet hit from Pittsburgh’s James Harrison.
Filling in for McCoy, Seneca Wallace connected on 19 of 33 throws for 147 yards with one touchdown and one interception in last week’s 20-14 loss to the Ravens. Five passes, including the touchdown, found Evan Moore, who finished with 35 receiving yards.
Peyton Hillis led the team in rushing with 112 yards on 24 carries.
The Steelers have won 15 of the last 16 in this series, including a 14-3 home win in the most recent meeting on Dec. 8. They failed to cover the 14-point spread in that matchup but could be worth backing this time around as Cleveland is just 1-8-2 against the number in its last 11 home games.
It is worth noting, however, that the Browns have been a phenomenal investment down the stretch, covering the spread in five of their last six games.
As far as the total is concerned, the under just might be the play. The Steelers have finished under the number in each of their last five, and the Browns are 9-1-1 under in their last 11.
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