The Steelers opened as favorites against the Tenessee Titans in Week 7. Here’s why the odds quickly shifted away from Pittsburgh.
It doesn’t take a Las Vegas oddsmaker to tell you that the line for this game was going to be close. The Pittsburgh Steelers and Tenessee Titans are just two of the three remaining undefeated teams left in the NFL this year, and this game should prove to be the most difficult matchup either team has faced yet.
In Week 6, the Steelers clicked on both sides of the ball – scoring 31 offensive points (38 total), and holding the Browns to just 7 on the game. The Titans also kept their win steak alive, but their contest against the Texans was much closer. In a back-and-forth game, they eventually topped Houston in overtime in what proved to be a shootout.
Now, Pittsburgh will take on Tennesee on the road in a game that was supposed to be played back in Week 3. However, a slue of positive COVID-19 tests forced the NFL to reschedule this contest.
With both teams sitting at 5-0, it’s not a shock to see either favored in this contest that will likely come down to the wire. While the Steelers opened as 1.5-point favorites, that line has since shifted in favor of the Titans, courtesy of The Action Network. As of Wednesday afternoon, Tenessee holds a 1-point advantage.
Why the Steelers are no longer favored
It’s hard to put a finger on exactly why these lines have changed. Obviously, oddsmakers already knew about the serious knee injury to Devin Bush, but the rest of the team remains in good health entering Week 7. Meanwhile, Titans Pro Bowl offensive tackle, Taylor Lewan, suffered a knee injury that is now confirmed to be a torn ACL.
More than likely, the reason for the shift in this line is that bettors were taking Tennessee to win this week. To the surprise of many, the Titans are the 2nd-highest-scoring team in the league with 32.8 points per game. Their total offensive yardage per game (422.0) is also good for 2nd in the NFL, according to Team Rankings.
However, the Steelers have made plenty of improvements of their own on the offensive side of the ball, and defensively, things really aren’t that close. Steelers are just behind the Buccaneers for the NFL’s top defense in terms of yardage allowed per game, and they are 3rd in scoring defense – allowing just 18.8 points per contest. Meanwhile, the Titans rank 26th and 15th, respectively, in each of these defensive categories.
I can’t tell you exactly why the Steelers are no longer favored against Tennessee, but a lot can change before game day. I would not be surprised if this game was a pick’em when the final odds lock in before kickoff. Stay tuned for updates.