Steelers’ Super Bowl Odds Improve, But Only Slightly, After Beating Colts to Clinch AFC North

• The Steelers trailed the Colts 24-7 in the third quarter, but rallied to top Indianapolis 28-24 to officially clinch the AFC North
• Pittsburgh’s win breaks what was a three-game losing streak after the team started the season 11-0
• Is there any value betting the Steelers right now? Check out the updated Super Bowl odds below

It was a painful last three week for Steeler Nation, as Pittsburgh went from the talk of the NFL at 11-0 to a team that was struggling just to close out and win their division.

Sunday things didn’t appear to be going in their direction, as the club was down in the third quarter to the surging Indianapolis Colts 24-7, but as quickly as things looked grim, the team rallied and eventually walked away with a 28-24 win.

The victory clinched the AFC North for the third time in five years and also their 24th overall division title in the franchise’s history.

👑 AFC NORTH CHAMPS 👑#HereWeGo | 📝: https://t.co/DMM2RrK9NK pic.twitter.com/tdZjuPFATj

— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) December 27, 2020

Now at 12-4, the club’s odds at upsetting the number one seed Kansas City Chiefs to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl remain somewhat slim at +650.

The latest Super Bowl odds overall for the Steelers have them at 10th overall, a far cry from where they were earlier in 2020.

Super Bowl LV Odds

Odds taken Dec 27 at Fanduel

A Tale of Two Halves – Again

The Steelers despite their three-game losing streak sat at -350 after Monday’s upset loss 27-17 to the Cincinnati Bengals.

The team needed to beat a 10-4 Colts team to clinch the North, but the way the team had played in their losing streak that was no easy task.

*might* 😈💛🖤 https://t.co/LVXDfQEO9t pic.twitter.com/P4Ma2ADaJi

— Ramon Foster (@RamonFoster) December 27, 2020

The club had just 56 yards in the first half, and many on social media were calling for the team to make a move at quarterback to sit Ben Roethlisberger and give Mason Rudolph.

Instead, Roethlisberger rallied and threw three second half scores, the last a 25-yard score to JuJu Smith-Schuster with 7:38 left to give Pittsburgh a four-point lead.

Like Monday night it was a tale of two halves, as the Steelers looked more like a team that was going to be one and done in the playoffs than a true Super Bowl contender.

Second Half Magic

If Pittsburgh is going to make any real noise in the AFC playoff picture, they are going to have to figure out how to play a much better first half. The last two weeks have been simply brutal watching them struggle over the first 30 minutes against the Bengals and Sunday against Indianapolis.

Against Cincinnati the team was able to get back in the game despite being down 17-0 to close it to 17-10, but that was as close as they would get, as Cincinnati scored 10 more points to close out a 27-17 win.

Next week against Cleveland will be tough to gage where the Steelers are at entering the postseason, as they likely will give players like Roethlisberger and most of the starters a break after the team lost their bye week early in the season.

What Happened to the Colts?

Indianapolis has to be kicking themselves, as a victory would have put them in an excellent position to make the playoffs as either a wild card or possibly even as the champs of the AFC South depending on the results the next two weeks of the Tennessee Titans.

No clue why the Colts abandoned the run game in the second half. Taylor was killing it in the first half.

— Zak Keefer (@zkeefer) December 27, 2020

The first half saw Indianapolis hold Pittsburgh to just 93 yards on 28 first-half plays. The Colts piled on 21 points in the first half, and in the second half with a chance to put the game away they scored just one field goal.

Are the Steelers Good Betting Value?

At +2100 to make a surprise run and win the Super Bowl, it’s going to be interesting to see how many fans put their money on the black and gold.

If the Steelers can play in the postseason like they did in the second half of Sunday’s affair when they scored 21 points, they might just be a dark horse.

Steelers might win the Super Bowl or lose by 30 in the first round.

I have no clue.

— Mikey (@fsmikey) December 27, 2020

Now sitting at the number two-seed in the conference depending on the outcome of the Buffalo showdown with New England Monday night, Pittsburgh will only play one playoff game at Heinz Field.

From there the team would have to go on the road for two more games, one being at Kansas City against Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs in likely the AFC Title game. Kansas City showed last postseason they know how to rise to the occasion when it counts, which is why it’s hard to think about putting money on any other team in the AFC team to represent the conference in the Super Bowl.