Sports Gambling
Steelers-Raiders Betting Preview; $2500 No-Sweat Bet at FanDuel
What was expected to be a festive occasion is likely to have a bit of a somber tone when the Pittsburgh Steelers host the Las Vegas Raiders in a Christmas Eve game at 8:15 p.m. Saturday at Acrisure Stadium. And check out the FanDuel promo for Christmas.
First, the somber news. The Steelers will retire Franco Harris’ No. 32 in a halftime ceremony that will take place 50 years and one day after his Immaculate Reception – voted the greatest play in NFL history — beat the Raiders in the 1972 playoffs at Three Rivers Stadium.
The Hall of Fame running back died unexpectedly Wednesday at 72. Harris’ death figures to cast a pall over a game matching 6-8 teams holding on to faint postseason hopes.
Franco will be missed…
Steelers odds and lines vs. Raiders at DraftKings
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Spread: Steelers -2.5, Raiders +2.5
Moneyline: Steelers -135, Raiders +115
Over/Under: 38 O (-110), U (-110)
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Pittsburgh Steelers Betting Preview
Both teams will almost certainly have to win their last three games and get some help to make the playoffs. The loser of this game will be eliminated from postseason contention.
The Steelers have won three of their last four games, including beating the Carolina Panthers 24-16 last week on the road. The Raiders notched their fourth win in their last five games by defeating New England 30-24 at home when the Patriots botched a lateral on the last play of the game.
Steelers rookie quarterback Kenny Pickett has cleared concussion protocol after sitting last week’s game. The Steelers are 4-5 when the first-round draft pick from Pitt starts and 2-3 when Mitch Trubisky opens the game.
Pickett is more of a game manager than a big-play guy at this early stage of his career. However, Pickett has dramatically cut down on mistakes in recent weeks following a rocky start.
Pickett has thrown 129 consecutive passes without being intercepted. That is the fifth-longest current streak in the NFL and comes after he was picked eight times in his first five games.
Raiders quarterback Derek Carr surpassed 35,000 career passing yards last week. He is just one of four QBs in league history to reach that mark in his first nine seasons.
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However, Carr might not be able to sling it as much in this game. The temperature is expected to be in the single digits at gametime and the forecast also calls for gusty winds.
It’s instructive to note Carr is 0-6 in his career when the temperature is 37 degrees or lower at kickoff.
The Raiders, though, have the NFL’s leading rusher in Josh Jacobs, who has 1,495 yards. Oakland running backs have a league-low 53 rushes that have resulted in no gain or negative yardage.
The Steelers are seventh in the league in run defense and held the Panthers’ potent rushing attack to 21 yards last week.
Field position might be pivotal on a frigid night, and Raiders punter AJ Cole could be a factor. He has put 8% of his punts inside the opponent’s 5-yard line, the best mark in the NFL.
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Pittsburgh Steelers Betting Prediction
Emotion and weather should be bigger factors than normal in this game.
The Steelers should be motivated to honor the memory of Harris, perhaps the most-beloved player in franchise history. Coming from the desert, the Raiders could have a hard time adapting to the bone-chilling cold.
While it sounds cliché, look for the Steelers to win one for Franco.
Steelers 24, Raiders 21
Pittsburgh Steelers Bets We Like
Steelers -2.5 (-110) at FanDuel
Over 38 (-110) at FanDuel
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