The Pittsburgh Steelers hit the West coast as the Oakland Raiders await them, on Sunday Sept 23rd. The Steelers will be looking for their first win in Oakland since 1995 when they won 29-10. The Raiders are struggling for a win and going up against the big bad Steelers; they might have to wait one more week. Oddsmakers latest NFL Odds have the Raiders as +4 point homedogs against the spread with the game total set at 45 points. We recommend you compare NFL Betting Odds on the Steelers vs Raiders Spread.
Pittsburgh (1-1) smothered the New York Jets 27-10, at home, Sunday. Ben Roethlisberger completed 24 of 31 passes for 275 yards and two touchdowns. Roethlisberger hit Heath Miller for a 1-yard score to give the Steelers the lead late in the first half, then found Mike Wallace for a 37-yard strike early in the third quarter to break open the game. Isaac Redman added a late 2-yard touchdown run for the Steelers, who had little trouble avoiding their first 0-2 start in a decade.
The Steelers’ struggling running game could get a shot in the arm on Sunday. Starting running back Rashard Mendenhall practiced on Wednesday and is inching closer to returning from right knee surgery. The Steelers could certainly use Mendenhall to help take some of the pressure off quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. Pittsburgh is currently 30th in the NFL in rushing yards and nearly 20 per cent of its running plays carries have gone for losses.
The Raiders struggling running game is in serious trouble this week. The Steelers last surrendered more than 100 yards per game rushing in 2003. That’s over 144 games.
Oakland (0-2) lost badly in Miami 13-35 in Week 2. QB Carson Palmer completed 24 of 48 passes for 373 yards with two touchdowns, while RB Darren McFadden had 11 carries for 22 yards. The Raiders, under new coach Dennis Allen, are 0-2 for the first time since 2007.
Darren McFadden has been ineffective through the first two weeks of the NFL season. He has 54 rushing yards in two games, including 22 on 11 carries last week. And we’re not talking about an overpowering Dolphins team. The Raiders switched to a zone-blocking scheme under offensive coordinator Greg Knapp. Some question if McFadden fits? “I’m very comfortable in this scheme,” McFadden said. “I just feel like we have to get going. Like I say, you hit one or two runs here, three-yard runs here, and eventually it’s going to start popping.”
Michael Huff is taking some snaps at corner. The Raiders are hurting for some solid cornerback play. They lost both starters Ron Bartell, and Shawntae Spencer, in the first two games and the fill-ins, Pat Lee and Joselio Hanson, have looked outmatched. Huff will not remedy the issues with Lee and Hanson but he could help with the lack of depth behind them.
After going 4-1 ATS last week, Sports-Odds.com recommends you check out our consensus Week 3 NFL Picks before the Sunday games kick off.
NFL Predictions Week 3 & Betting Trends:
Underdog is 6-2 ATS in their last 8 meetings.
Raiders are 6-2-1 ATS in their last 9 games after allowing more than 30 points in their previous game.
Raiders are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games in Week 3.
Steelers are 0-5 ATS in their last 5 games following a S.U. win.
Steelers are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games following a ATS win.
Steelers are 0-5 ATS in their last 5 road games.
Over is 5-1 in Raiders last 6 games in September.
Over is 4-1 in Raiders last 5 home games.
Over is 4-1 in Raiders last 5 games in Week 3.
Pittsburgh Steelers vs Oakland Raiders
When: Sunday Sept 23rd@4:25 PM ET
Pick: Raiders +4
The Bottom Line: The Raiders are way over their heads this week. The Steelers are 5th against the pass (184ypg), 11th against the run (92ypg) and 9th in points allowed (20.5ppg).
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