Washington Redskins(3-4SU,4-3ATS) vs.PittsburghSteelers(3-3SU, 2-4ATS)
NFL Week8
Date/Time:October28th, 1:00PM EST
Where:Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, PA
TV:FOX
byJeffHochman,Pro Handicapper, JHSportsline.com
Point Spread: Wash+4.5/PIT -4.5
Over/Under Total:47.5
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All eyes will be on the rookie phenom quarterbackRobert Griffin III,when the Washington Redskins travel to Heinz Field looking to upset the Pittsburgh Steelers. Early money is coming in on the underdog as this line opened at a solid -5 inLasVegas and offshore. The Redskins are coming off a very physical game againstdivisionrival NY Giants, in which theylost27-23 as 6.5-point road dogs, but managed to out-stat the G-men by 87 yards. RG3 went 20-of-28 for 258 yards with twotouchdownsand one interception. He also ran for 89 yards. His QBR is 101.8 andGriffin IIIis completing 70% of his passes. He has been ‘all that and a bag of chips’ through his first seven games of his NFL career. The Steelers looked crisp last week in defeatingdivisionrival Bengals 24-17 as 1-point road chalk. They out-statted the Bengals by a whopping 246 yards to improve to 5-1 ITS (in the stats) this season. On the flip side, the Redskins check in at 3-4 ITS. Ben Roethlisberger threw for 278 yards with one TD and JonathanDwyerhas a career game rushing for 122 yards.
Pittsburgh will be looking to accomplishsomething for the first time this season. That would be winning two games in a row. After every win they have lost the very next game. After defeating the Jets on 9/16 they lost to the Raiders. After winning vs. the Eagles on 10/7they lost at Tennessee. They are coming off a big win on Sunday Night and now return home to play an NFC East foe. Ben Roethlisberger is 14-1 all-time at home against NFC East opponents. However, the Redskins are the only team Roethlisberger has never thrown a TD passagainst, and his 37.8 completion percentage and 42.7 quarterback rating represents his worstmarks versus any opponent. Look for the Steelers to have success through the air as these Redskins are awful against the pass. Washington is stout against the run though,holding teams to just 85.3 yards per game. Against the pass, they allow 328.4 yards per game. UGH! So you see what teams will try to do and that’s spread the Redskins out using multiple pass formations. The Steelers defense will be the best that the Redskins have played so far.Pittsburghis ranked No. 2 allowing just 287.5 yards per game. In the Steelers win last week they held the Bengals to a scant 185 yards, matching the third-lowest total by any team this season.
QUIT WASTING MONEY! STOP BETTING AT -110
ODDS; START LAYING ONLY -105 AT 5DIMES SPORTSBOOK
The big thing for theSteelers is not to look ahead to next week’s foe which happens to be against the defending Super Bowl champion NY Giants. The Steelers are getting a little healthier. CenterMaurkicePounceyis expected to return after being outwitha right knee sprain while running backsRashard Mendenhalland IssacRedmanmight also return. Washington will be without top receiver Fred Davis, who is out for the year after tearing his Achilles against the Giants. Chris Cooley returns to the team after getting released before the season started. The Steelers have a secret weapon in defensivecoordinatorDickLebeau. He has been in football for over 40 years and has never lost to a rookie QB. I am sure RG3 will be one of the better rookies that he will have to game plan for. Look for the Steelers to use one of their linebackersas a “spy” in trying to stop RG3. Not sure that will work for the whole game, but should be fun to watch.
This will be the first game between the two teams since 11/3/08, when the Steelers won 23-6 as 1-point roaddogs. Ben Roethlisberger did not play the whole game for some reason that I don’t know right now. The Steelers have won four straight games vs. the Redskins dating back to 1997. Mike Tomlin is 1-5 ATS as afavoritein games after defeating the Bengals. Pittsburgh is 16-4 SU and 13-7 ATS atHeinz Field over the last three seasons. Washington is 4-13 SU and 5-12 ATS vs. the AFC North Division since 1993.
Jeff’s Pick to Cover the Spread:Pittsburgh Steelers -4.5 & Under 47.5.
Both teams are coming off games against division rivals, but the Redskins went up against the more physical team. I justlike small home favorites with the better defense by approximately 130 yards. Look for Dick Lebeau to come up with something new against RG3. I like the Steelers to win two in a row for the first time this season in a low-scoring grind it out type of game.
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