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Bengals vs Steelers Props: James Conner Rumbles on Monday Night Football

Nick Mangold

by Nick Mangold in NFL Football

Updated Apr 3, 2020 · 11:17 AM PDT

James Conner celebrating with teammates
James Conner has totaled just 97 rushing yards through the first three games of the 2019 NFL season. Photo from @WPXI (Twitter).
  • Nick Mangold highlights his two favorite props to bet for Week 4’s edition of Monday Night Football, featuring the Cincinnati Bengals vs Pittsburgh Steelers
  • The former Jets center went 1-1 again on his props last week and is now 4-2 on the season (+1.51 units); he’s 5-5 on all his bets (-1.17 units)
  • Check out his two best bets for the game tonight

I am five yards shy of being a perfect 6-0 on my Monday Night Football props this season … F-I-V-E … Y-A-R-D-S … 5!!!!

Thanks to Washington not being competitive at all in Week 3, Chicago just sat on their lead most of the second half and Mitchell Trubisky came up two yards short of going over his passing yards total of 232.5.

But I can’t complain too much since the lead was what led to David Montgomery racking up the necessary yards in the fourth quarter to surpass his rushing total.

Onward we go into Week 4, though, where I can feel a 2-0 night coming up. This week’s matchup sees the Cincinnati Bengals take on the Pittsburgh Steelers (Monday, September 30) at 8:15pm ET. Here are the two props I’m focusing on:

Prop #1: James Conner Rushing Yards

James Conner Rushing Yards Odds
Over 69.5 -143
Under 69.5 +110

*All odds taken September 30

James Conner’s 2019 season has gotten off to an extremely slow start. The Steelers RB has totaled just 97 rushing yards on 34 carries through three games. But this is the week Conner breaks loose and gets his season on track.

In 2018, Conner rushed for 175 yards in his two games against Cincinnati.

The Bengals defense ranks 31st against the run in 2019, and they’re allowing 4.9 yards per carry, the fifth-worst figure in the league.

One of these teams has become accustomed to losing over the last few years, the other was supposed to remain a Super Bowl contender even after two of their biggest offensive stars left them.

With Ben Roethlisberger on the shelf, and Mason Rudolph preparing for the second start of his career – after the first one didn’t go so well – expect a desperate Steelers team to rely on Conner all night.

Prop #2: Andy Dalton Passing Yards

Andy Dalton Passing Yards Odds
Over 260.5 -130
Under 260.5 +110

Here’s something new: I’m betting an under this season!

As I mentioned earlier, 0-3 isn’t far from what most were expecting from the Bengals this season. But an 0-3 start for Pittsburgh is very out of character.

The Steelers still have a lot of talent on the defensive side of the ball, and Minkah Fitzpatrick certainly proved to be a difference-maker in his first game with the team in Week 3. The concerning part for Cincinnati is that Fitzpatrick will only improve after each week he plays in their system.

At home, on Monday Night Football, I foresee Pittsburgh’s defense making a statement against a Bengals offensive line who’s allowing Andy Dalton to get sacked 3.7 times per game so far – the sixth-highest average in the league.

With limited time in the pocket, and long breaks on the sideline while Pittsburgh pounds the rock, give me the under on Dalton’s passing yards.

If you’re looking for more betting options on the game tonight, check out our Cincinnati Bengals vs Pittsburgh Steelers odds.

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