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With over three months to go until the start of the 2019 regular season, it would appear that confidence in the Pittsburgh Steelers has yet to be restored among the betting public. Once considered a perennial contender by the bookmakers, the Steelers are starting to slip into the second tier this offseason, their chances of even making the playoffs now in doubt with the sportsbooks.
When speaking with Peter Watt of odds comparison website Oddschecker.com he confirmed to BTSC that the odds surrounding Pittsburgh had drifted constantly in most of the available markets since opening earlier in the year.
“Pittsburgh have actually lengthened steadily since the book opened in February, with the Steelers then as short as +1300 to win the Super Bowl. However, by no means does this mean they should be written off, with a good result against New England sure to see their price slashed”
As of Wednesday, the shortest price available online for the Steelers to win Super Bowl LIV was 20/1, with some sportsbooks offering as high as 28/1. They can be backed at odds as high as 14/1 to win the AFC. And if Pittsburgh is to start the season in strong fashion on the road against the New England Patriots, they will reward backers heartily at a price of +225.
Those who are optimistic that the Steelers will not only open the year with a win over the Patriots, but will continue to roll in the early stages of the season against all of their opponents, Pittsburgh can be backed at a price of 40/1 to be the last team unbeaten.
Available at a best price of +200 to win the AFC North, the gap between Pittsburgh and the Browns continues to grow and Cleveland is now as short as +125 to win their first division title since 1989. Where the favorite for the Steelers win total of nine was once significantly slanted towards the over, some sportsbooks now have the line priced up evenly at -110 for each side. Betting on Pittsburgh just making the playoffs lists “No” as the favorite at -121, as against “Yes” at +100.
The only market that appears to have shortened at this stage in the offseason is the defensive rookie of the year betting where Devin Bush is now third favorite at 8/1 having previously been seventh in the betting at 18/1 with some sportsbooks. Third-round draft pick cornerback Justin Layne has also been priced up with some outlets at 50/1.