Despite the pending return of quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, Caesars Sportsbook wasn’t kind when it came to the Pittsburgh Steelers Super Bowl odds this season.
The Steelers had a rough year in 2019 – there’s no getting around that. Though their defense emerged as one of the best units in the league, their lackluster offense finished 30th in the NFL under the direction of Mason Rudolph and Devlin Hodges.
But this year is going to be different. Or is it? Despite the pending return of future Hall of Fame quarterback, Ben Roethlisberger, the Steelers were not favored highly in the latest Super Bowl odds.
According to Caesars Sportsbook, the Pittsburgh Steelers are tied for just the 14th best Super Bowl odds this season at 28-1. Just ahead of them are teams like Bears (25-1), Rams (25-1), and Eagles. Pittsburgh is tied with the Buffalo Bills.
With the exception of the AFC South, every other division has at least one team with better Super Bowl odds than the Steelers this year. Topping the list is the Kansas City Chiefs with impressive 4-1 odds. The San Francisco 49ers are second in the league with 7-1 odds, while the Baltimore Ravens hold 8-1 odds at winning the Super Bowl.
Caesars Sportsbook also offered up a few other betting lines. The Steelers are just 9-1 odds to win the AFC this year, and 4-1 to win their own division. In addition, they are projected at 9 wins this year while the Ravens sit at 12, Browns are projected 8.5, and Bengals a lowly 5 wins.
This all comes just before the 2020 NFL Draft. The Steelers are shorthanded on draft selections, and they are the only team in the league to own just one selection inside the top 100 this year. Because of this, other organizations are more likely to give themselves a boost for the 2020 season with their rookie play.
These odds are far from encouraging. Though fans had high hopes with the return of Ben Roethlisberger, his comeback is apparently only enough to tie the Steelers for the 14th best Super Bowl odds in the league.
If Big Ben does return to form, however, couldn’t the Steelers elevate themselves much higher than this? They had a top-notch defense last season, and while Javon Hargrave is no longer with the team, Pittsburgh was able to retain Bud Dupree. Also, players like Devin Bush, Minkah Fitzpatrick, and Terrell Edmunds should continue to improve.
Offensively, the return of Roethlisberger (even an aging one who isn’t at full strength) should be an improvement over the dismal quarterback play we witnessed in 2019.
Obviously, how far the Steelers could go in 2020 hinges on the healthy of Ben Roethlisberger this season. Perhaps oddsmakers are playing it cautious with the Steelers for now, but I can see their odds increasing after the start of the season.