Any Rams fan who sat through all four quarters of last week’s game should get free season tickets for life. One week after upsetting Seattle, the Rams looked like the team we all remember in a disappointing loss to the Redskins.
Now the Rams get the Steelers, who just annihilated the Niners and looked like the team Ben Roethlisberger said could score 30 points a game.
ODDS
Pittsburgh opened as a 2.5-point favorite with the total at 48. The line was wagered down to its current -1.
St. Louis opened with a SU win at home as a 3.5-point dog and is 4-2 ATS in its last six in the dome.
KEY INJURIES
Ryan Shazier – Sustained a shoulder injury in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s game with San Francisco and exited. He did not return, but the game was already well in hand. The team doesn’t believe the shoulder issue is a major problem, but the 2014 first-round pick will be closely watched.
Janoris Jenkins – Left last week’s game with a knee injury and is listed as questionable for Sunday. The Rams claim the injury isn’t serious and the starting cornerback should be on the field against Pittsburgh. We know how truthful teams are about injuries, though.
KEY MISMATCH
The Steelers made a mockery of San Francisco’s secondary with Ben Roethlisberger shredding the Niners for 369 passing yards and three touchdowns without a hint of pressure. Big Ben had ample time to find Antonio Brown nine times for 195 yards but the Steelers could be facing a more difficult challenge against the Rams front line. That’s where the running game comes into play and the Steelers are getting their top rusher Le’Veon Bell back in the lineup after serving his two-game suspension. DeAngelo Williams filled in nicely, collecting 204 yards and three touchdowns in Bell’s absence and supplies the Steelers with a potent duo in their ground attack. Bell totaled 1,361 yards and eight scores on the ground last season. A rested Bell and a rejuvenated Williams should spell trouble for the Rams defense that has allowed nearly 400 rushing yards in its first two games.
KEY STAT
458.5 – Pittsburgh’s NFL leading yards per game. St. Louis is surrendering 153 rushing yards per game to rank 30th and 358 total yards per game.
BETTING ANGLE
A week after four extra points were missed or blocked, the Steelers aggressively went for a 2-point conversion on their first two touchdowns, and converted both last week against the 49ers. The strategy might have been unusual, but it appeared sound when Josh Scobee missed his first extra-point attempt, on the Steelers third touchdown of the day. Extra points have become so automatic – just eight were missed all of last season – that the league felt the need to move attempts back to the 15-yard line. While the distance is still well within range of kickers, the move clearly has had an effect. The additional points can wreak havoc with spreads and totals just as the missed opportunities can.
ANALYSIS AND PREDICTION
Roethlisberger said there’s no reason why the Steelers shouldn’t score 30 points a game and he delivered with a spectacular performance last week. Now for a team that gets one of the most explosive running backs in the league back in the lineup, Pittsburgh can be even more explosive. They’ll get a test from the Rams front, but the group was blitzed by the Redskins last week and there will be holes for Bell to exploit. And if the running game works, watch out for Big Ben to go deep. The Rams offense reverted back to a form we’re more familiar with in its loss. The Steelers D looked far more improved shutting down the Niners and could have a similar day against the Rams.
Pittsburgh 27, St. Louis 22
The NFL odds for this Sunday game were first available at BookMaker Sportsbook. The Steelers were pegged as 2.5-point chalk while the total opened at 48. Gamble on the game between every commercial break with BookMaker’s live betting feature. Along with an adjusted in-game moneyline, you can wager on what will happen on the next play or how many points will be scored in the next quarter. Live betting is the most exciting way to play!
Need to fund your account before the big game but don’t have your computer? No problem, BookMaker Sportsbook now offers a mobile betting cashier so you can deposit money directly from your smartphone. Don’t miss out on getting paid because you couldn’t bet, click here and deposit at BookMaker now! The game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and St. Louis Rams will take place Sunday, September 27, 2015, at 1 p.m. ET at the Edward Jones Dome. The matchup will be televised live on CBS.
