Both the Pittsburgh Steelers and Seattle Seahawks have lost their running backs for long periods of time, but that isn't putting a damper on the spirits of either team. There's still plenty for each to be thankful for going into Thanksgiving weekend, as neither one played to their potential, yet both are still firmly entrenched in the playoff chase in their respective conferences.
NFL Odds at BookMaker.eu
Pittsburgh Steelers +4
Seattle Seahawks -4
Over/Under 44
ODDS ANALYSIS
When BookMaker opened up Seattle at -4 and -128 vig, it was a little bit of a surprise. Why not just -6 or -7 and +110 juice? Now that we've hit Wednesday, it's becoming apparent why.
The betting line in this game is now down to a flat -4 and could drop from here as bettors see more and more to not like about the Seahawks.
The total has come up as well from 44 to 46, something that could be a sign that the Steelers are going to score a bunch of points in this game.
WHEN THE PITTSBURGH STEELERS HAVE THE BALL
Ben Roethlisberger is back from his second injury of the season, and he's going to have to have a big game in this one. We can't imagine DeAngelo Williams is going to find much in the way of room to work on the ground, knowing that the Pittsburgh offensive line has been atrocious and the Seahawks have only let one man rush for more than 80 yards against them this year.
However, there's reason for optimism for live bettors, and the key is going to be Martavis Bryant. Time and time again, the Seahawks have been caught napping in the secondary. Richard Sherman, who has yet to pick off a pass this year, has had plenty of times where he's been burned by double moves, and Earl Thomas and Kam Chancellor just don't feel like they've been on the same page.
If Bryant and Antonio Brown can work over the top against these corners, it could be a long day. No one throws a deep ball quite like Big Ben, and Brown and Bryant are killer receiving options that could both have sneaky good days. If they do, live bettors should take note and know that a score could be coming at any time.
WHEN THE SEATTLE SEAHAWKS HAVE THE BALL
Thomas Rawls might not be Marshawn Lynch, but he's certainly running the ball well at the moment after going for over 200 yards last week against San Fran. The rookie from Central Michigan will again be relied upon heavily, and the Seahawks will have to get him into some space.
If the Steelers bottle up Rawls though, this could be a real problem for Russell Wilson as well as Seattle's live bettors. Wilson still doesn't have great receivers, and Jimmy Graham just doesn't fit with what this offense is trying to accomplish.
The Pittsburgh secondary is awful, allowing a stunning 278.4 passing yards per game, but that's just not Wilson's game. The Steelers still have a lot of team speed and could give hassles to Wilson when he takes off and runs. He'll have to throw the ball a bit to win this football game. If Wilson can't throw it, live bettors should be prepared to back Pittsburgh. If he can, the Seahawks are likely to have a dynamic day offensively, something that we really don't get a chance to say all that often.
BookMaker offers play-by-play betting odds for live sporting events every day! The user-friendly wagering interface on your smartphone provides an easy way to place bets on the go. Mobile betting lines are updated by the minute, so click here to start gambling on thrilling live action at BookMaker Sportsbook! The Week 12 duel between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Seattle Seahawks will go down Sunday, November 29, 2015 at 4:25 p.m. ET at CenturyLink Field. The game will be televised live on CBS.
