Steelers vs. Packers Predictions: Geen Bay to prevail in a low-scoring encounter
The Pittsburgh Steelers have lost two on the spin and need to get their season back on track but a trip to Lambeau Field is rarely the best place to do that.
Neil Monnery assesses the betting markets surrounding this game...
These two teams have been on two very different tracks after Week 1. The Steelers went on the road and surprised many by beating a Buffalo Bills team that many have pegged for a deep-run in the playoffs. Later that same day, the Green Bay Packers got absolutely shellacked by the New Orleans Saints. Things though shall we say have changed since that day…
Green Bay have won back-to-back games including a really nice win on the road in San Francisco last weekend. Aaron Rodgers looks like he’s in full mid-season MVP form and Aaron Jones has been fantastic both in the running game and also taking passes in the flat and gaining good yardage.
Devante Adams is a true WR1 and has back-to-back 100 yard receiving games. Pittsburgh are going to have to find a way to stop him if they are to pull off the big road upset.
The Steelers though seem to be in a bit of a freefall. Ben Roethlisberger is still getting plenty of yards through the air but when RB Najee Harris gets the most receptions then something doesn’t seem to add up. Chase Claypool, JuJu Smith-Schuster and Ray-Ray McCloud are all good receivers. Diontae Johnson should return this week but someone needs to step up and be the guy in that room. There is quite simply too much talent for them not to cause the opposition real issues.
The aforementioned Najee Harris has impressed so far in his rookie campaign. The first-round player out of Alabama has shown he can get it done both on the ground and gaining yards after the catch. There is a lot to like about his play but Sunday is a tough match-up for him as I’m sure the Packers will dare Big Ben to beat them deep and therefore stuff the box.
A quick look at the weather forecast indicates that it may not be the best day ever. This will not be helpful to either offense as some wind and rain is in the forecast.
Spread:
Green Bay are 6.5pt favorites and are 2-1 ATS through three games. You can probably guess that Pittsburgh are 1-2 ATS. Those Week 1 games really do stand out. I like Green Bay here and I am struggling to trust in the Steelers at this point. I’ll take the Packers.
Straight-up/Moneyline:
No real value here unless playing a deep parlay.
Over/Under Points Totals:
Pittsburgh have hit the under in all three of their games played so far. 45.5pts is on the low side but a Green Bay win of 24-16 wouldn’t stun me. I’ll take the under.