Week 16 betting preview: Steelers remain 6-point underdogs vs. Saints

With the Baltimore Ravens facing a tough test against the Los Angeles Chargers on Saturday night, it could be a case of win and you are in for the Pittsburgh Steelers when they take on the New Orleans Saints on Sunday. Needing just one win over the final two weeks of the season if the Ravens lose in Los Angeles, Pittsburgh could claim the division title in Week 16 if everything goes their way this weekend.

Unfortunately, neither the bookmakers or the betting public appear to believe that will happen this Sunday with the Steelers still listed as 6-point underdogs for the game. Considering the line opened at 6.5-points, it is clear there has barely been enough money on Pittsburgh to cause the line to move and if JuJu Smith-Schuster is ultimately ruled out of the game with a groin injury, it should be expected that this spread might actually widen before kickoff.

Although the initial totals position of 56-points had reached 57-points by Monday, it has fallen to 53-points at the time of writing. Presumably gamblers have noted the number of relatively low scoring games both sides have been in as of late when compared to earlier in the year.

There has been little change to an early moneyline price of +220 and a while +215 is currently the best price available online, there are still some Las Vegas sportsbooks offering the opening line.

According to Oddsshark.com, Pittsburgh is 1-3-1 against the spread in their last five games and 7-6-1 ATS overall on the season. The total has under in four of the Steelers last five and the over is 8-6 so far in 2018. Pittsburgh is 10-2-1 outright in their last 13 road games and the total has gone over in four of the Steelers last five games against New Orleans.

Another week without Conner puts Jaylen Samuels in the frame first touchdown scorer in Week 16, but given the strength of the Saints run defense and their struggles against the pass, it makes more sense to look at a receiver this week. With JuJu Smith-Schuster possibly hampered by a groin injury, our preference would be for Antonio Brown to score first at expected odds of around 6/1 for first game touchdown and 3/1 for first team touchdown.