NFL Odds: Steelers set as favorites vs. Colts in Sunday night tilt
The NFL wraps up Week 13 Sunday action with a potential AFC playoff preview. The Pittsburgh Steelers host the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday Night Football, with Pittsburgh installed as a touchdown favorite at sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark.com. The moneyline has the Steelers at -350, and the Colts at +290.
The Steelers have dominated this series in recent times, winning 12 of the last 14 straight up. The Steelers are 9-1 straight up and 7-3 against the spread in the last ten games hosting the Colts.
The Colts enter this game 6-5 straight and against the spread. They have covered the spread in six of their last seven games, and are coming off a home win and cover over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. They have covered the spread in their last three road games this season, and are 8-3 against the spread in their last 11 games as a December underdog.
NFL Odds Week 13: Despite status as underdogs, bet on these teams
Indy will send out Matt Hasselbeck for his fifth start of the season. The Colts are 4-0 straight up and 3-1 against in his four starts; he is the first quarterback over the age of 40 to win four straight games since Brett Favre.
Hasselbeck could be without two starters on his offensive line in left tackle Anthony Castonzo (knee) and right guard Hugh Thornton (elbow), who have missed practice this week. Inside linebacker Jerrell Freeman also missed practice due to a hurt hamstring and is unlikely to play, with head coach Chuck Pagano calling it a week-to-week injury.
The Steelers also enter this game 6-5 straight up, but are 5-4-2 against the spread. They lost and failed to cover on the road against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 12, and have failed to cover in four of their last five games. The Steelers are 4-2 against the spread in six home games this season, and 7-0 straight up and against the spread in their last seven December games.
The most notable Steelers injury news is that Ben Roethlisberger practiced in full this week. He cleared the NFL's concussion protocol and is expected to play on Sunday. He might be without tight end Heath Miller, who is missing practice due to a rib injury.
The point total opened at 47, but has climbed as high as 48.5. The total has gone OVER in four of the last five games between these two in Pittsburgh. The total has gone UNDER in seven of the Colts' last ten road games, and in four of the Steelers' last five home games.
The OddsShark Computer predicts a Steelers victory by a final score of 29.8-17.3. That would provide for the Steelers cover, and the UNDER, unless you got in early on the 47.
