The Oakland Raiders will try to break out of their slump this Sunday when they host the Pittsburgh Steelers at O.co Coliseum.
Oakland is 1-6 SU and 2-5 ATS over its last seven games, although they are 3-1 ATS against Pittsburgh with two outright upsets in the last four games between these two teams.
But Pittsburgh won the last one in a blowout, 35-3. [ Get line updates and injury reports on Twitter ]
Still, Oakland has been tough as a dog (9-3 ATS in past 12 games), while the Steelers have struggled on the road early in the season (2-8 ATS past 10 September road games, including loss at Denver in Week 1).
View Pittsburgh vs Oakland Odds and Stats.
Betting Line:
Sportsbooks such as Sportsbook had the Raiders pegged as 3-point underdogs in this matchup but the line has been moving this week. The total, meanwhile, was listed by books like Sportsbook at 43.
Power Rankings / Prediction:
The Raiders sit at No. 24 in the current NFL Power Rankings here at OddsShark, while the Steelers are at No. 12 on that chart. Math models have concluded that the Steelers will win this game 24-6.
How They Match Up:
Offensively, the game matches up Oakland's No. 31-ranked offense (13.5 PPG) against a Steelers defense that ranks No. 9 at 20.5 PPG. The Raiders passing attack has averaged 324.5 yards per game, more than the Steelers give up through the air (184.5 YPG on average).
In comparing defenses, the Steelers own the league's No. 14-rated front 7 in terms of stopping the run, allowing 94 yards per game when on the road. Oakland, on the other hand, rates No. 27 this week in generating rushing yards at home.
The Steelers were a 27-10 Sportsbook in their most recent outing at home against the Jets. They covered the 4.5-point spread as favorites, while the total score (37) made Sportsbooks of UNDER bettors. Ben Roethlisberger threw a pair of TD passes in Pittsburgh's last match, defeating New York 27-10 in Week 2 action on Sunday.
In their last action, Oakland was a 35-13 loser on the road against the Dolphins. They failed to cover the 1.5-point spread as favorites, while the combined score (48) was profitable news for OVER bettors. In Oakland's last outing, Carson Palmer threw for 373 yards in a losing cause against the Dolphins, 35-13 at Sun Life Stadium.
Pittsburgh Steelers Trends:
When playing in September are 6-4
When playing on grass are 6-4
After outgaining opponent are 7-3
When playing outside the division are 7-3
Oakland Raiders Trends:
When playing in September are 4-6
When playing on grass are 3-7
After being outgained are 4-6
When playing outside the division are 5-5
A few Steelers at Raiders trends to consider:
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Pittsburgh's last 5 games when playing on the road against Oakland
The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Pittsburgh's last 9 games
Pittsburgh is 11-4 SU in its last 15 games
The total has gone OVER in 8 of Pittsburgh's last 12 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Oakland's last 5 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Oakland's last 5 games when playing at home against Pittsburgh
The total has gone OVER in 7 of Oakland's last 9 games
Oakland is 3-6 SU in its last 9 games when playing Pittsburgh
Next up:
Pittsburgh home to Philadelphia, Sunday, October 7
Oakland at Denver, Sunday, September 30
