Week 13 NFL Betting Preview: Steelers vs. Bengals Moneyline Play

Pittsburgh Steelers (8-3 SU, 8-3 ATS) at Cincinnati Bengals (4-7, 6-5), 12/1/24
When: 1 pm ET Sunday, Dec. 1
Where: Paycor Stadium
TV: CBS

Betting Odds

Point Spread: Pitt +2.5/Cin -2.5
Money Line: Pitt +125/Cin -150
Over/Under: 43.5

Game Preview

The Steelers are trying to bounce back this week after having a winning streak snapped last week, while the Bengals hope to remain within the AFC playoff picture, heading into Sunday afternoon’s AFC North grudge match in Cincinnati.

Pittsburgh leads the AFC North but has several tough games yet to play. Meanwhile, the Bengals reside on the outskirts of the AFC playoff race but have several winnable games coming up.

It’s not often a team three games under .500 is favored over a team five games over .500, but that’s what we’ve got here. Do the oddsmakers know something we don’t?

Betting Odds

This week’s NFL betting market opened Cincinnati at -1 for Sunday, with an O/U of right around 47. Early betting action bumped the Bengals to -2.5 and, perhaps due to the forecast for Sunday in Cincinnati, dropped that total to 43.5.

Steelers Betting Preview

Pittsburgh just had a five-game winning streak snapped by a 24-19 loss in the snow at Cleveland last Thursday night. The Steelers, favored at -3.5, trailed the Browns 18-6 early in the fourth quarter, then scored twice in two minutes to lead 19-18. But a shanked punt handed Cleveland a short field, which led to a Browns touchdown, and a last-gasp Pittsburgh drive ended with an unanswered Hail Mary.

The Steelers out-rushed Cleveland 120-85, won the turnover battle 3-1, and dominated time of possession by a 35:25 split. So Pittsburgh became just the fifth team this season – out of 54 – to win those three statistics and lose the game.

The Steelers have also out-gained and out-rushed five of their last six opponents.

Pittsburgh started 4-2 this season with Justin Fields at quarterback, then inserted Russell Wilson behind center and won four more in a row, the last two over Washington and Baltimore. So the Steelers are now 4-1 both SU and ATS with Wilson this season, averaging 26 PPG.

At 8-3 overall, Pittsburgh leads the AFC North by a half-game (and a tie-breaker) over the 8-4 Ravens.

The Steelers also already played over their season wins betting total of 7.5.

Bengals Betting Preview

Meanwhile, the Bengals lug a two-game losing skid into Sunday after falling at the Chargers two Sundays ago 34-27. Cincinnati then had last weekend off.

The Bengals fell behind at Los Angeles 27-6 in the third quarter, rallied to tie it at 27-27 early in the fourth, but lost on a Chargers touchdown in the last half-minute.

The Bengals out-gained Los Angeles 452-435, although about 2/3 of Cincinnati’s yardage came in comeback mode after trailing by three scores. The Bengals also had chances to take the lead in the fourth quarter, but kicker McPherson, who’s usually really good, missed field goals of 51 and 48 yards.

Cincinnati has out-gained each of its last three opponents.

The Bengals started 0-3 this season, with tough losses to the Commanders and Chiefs. Cincinnati then won four of its next six, with another tough loss to Baltimore. But two games ago the Bengals lost another tough one to the Ravens 35-34, then lost last time out to the Chargers.

At 4-7 overall, Cincinnati trails 7-5 Denver by 2.5 games in the battle for the No. 7 spot in the AFC playoff standings. However, the Bengals have some winnable games coming up and they get a shot at the Broncos in Week 17. So Cincy’s not exactly dead yet.

Common Opponents

These teams have played five common opponents this season: the Ravens, Browns, Commanders, Raiders, and Giants. Pittsburgh played those foes to 4-1, both SU and ATS, and +32 YPG, Cincinnati to 3-3 SU, 4-2 ATS, and +20 YPG.

Steelers-Bengals Recent History

Pittsburgh is 3-1 SU and ATS over the last four meetings with Cincinnati. Last year the Steelers swept the two games from the Bengals by scores of 16-10 and 34-11.

However, neither of those games involved Wilson, who was playing for Denver, or Cincinnati QB Burrow, who was injured and out.

Betting Trends

Home teams are 87-87 SU, 78-93 ATS this season.

Favorites are 125-54 SU, 95-81 ATS.

Totals Report

The overs are 6-5 in Steelers games this season, which are averaging 40 total points.

The overs are 8-3 in Bengals games, which are averaging 54 points.

The overs are 94-84 in the NFL this season.

Free NFL Betting Pick

Pittsburgh is out-rushing opponents this season by a per-game average of 135-90, while Cincinnati is getting out-rushed 130-92. And teams that win the ground battle in the NFL this season are 117-58 ATS. Also, after losing last time out, we expect a bounce-back performance from the Steelers. Also, the Bengals just seem a little snake-bit, finding ways to lose games rather than win them. We’re playing Pittsburgh Sunday for the win on the money line.