NFL Expert Picks: Experts like the Steelers over the Bengals, but not by much

The Pittsburgh Steelers and Cincinnati Bengals are slated to face off in Week 3 of the 2021 regular season, and there are a lot of narratives between these two AFC North division rivals. For the Bengals, they have the look of a vastly improved team, while the Steelers are a team who are trying to forge a new identity as they look to right the ship after losing to the Las Vegas Raiders in their home opener in Week 2.

At this point, it is time to check in and see who the pundits who call themselves experts like in this showdown at Heinz Field this Sunday.

For those new to this article, there are two types of experts, when it comes to NFL picks. There are those who just pick the overall winner, and those who expound on their picks and give a reason for their prediction.

As for the former of the above types of experts, there is a resounding feel the Steelers are going to roll in this game. According to experts at ESPN, Sports Illustrated and many other sites, they see this game as a slam dunk. Another win for the Steelers, and another win for Ben Roethlisberger over a team which resides in Ohio.

As for the experts who expound on their predictions, and give an explanation for why they made the pick, let’s take a look at how Pete Prisco of CBS Sports thinks this game will go down.

The Bengals are on the road for a second straight week after losing at Chicago. They get a Steelers team that looked bad in losing to the Raiders, but the Bengals have struggled against the Steelers in recent years. That will continue here as the Steelers bounce back with a good defensive showing.

Pick: Steelers 27, Bengals 13

The Sporting News is another outlet which gives an explanation to their picks, and they too like the Steelers to advance their record to 2-1 on the 2021 regular season.

There is no love lost between these AFC North rivals. Joe Burrow has taken nine sacks through two games, but Pittsburgh averages just 57 rushing yards per game. The Bengals haven’t won at Heinz Field since 2015. That won’t change in Week 3.

Pick: Steelers 23, Bengals 19

But it isn’t as if every site which makes picks is all-in on the Steelers. In fact, the folks over at The Pro Football Network think it will be the Bengals who leave Heinz Field victorious in Week 3.

The Bengals were oh-so-close to starting the 2021 season 2-0 and leading the AFC North. However, Joe Burrow struggled against a good Bears defense. The Steelers have yet to look convincing through two weeks and could be there for the taking if the Bengals can perform consistently on offense in Week 3.

Prediction: Bengals 23, Steelers 20

These are just a few sites who make weekly NFL picks. When you think about all those sites not listed above, this is when we turn to our friends at NFL Pick Watch, a site dedicated to tracking NFL expert picks by the week. They take all expert picks and put them into an easy-to-read graph for fans to enjoy. When it comes to the Steelers vs. Bengals game, a whopping 81% of NFL experts like the Steelers to hold serve at home Sunday.

What do you think about the upcoming game? Will the experts have it right? Or are they way off? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below, and be sure to stay tuned to BTSC for the latest news and notes surrounding the black and gold as they prepare for the Bengals in Week 3.