Seahawks vs Steelers Odds, Lines, Spread, and Picks for Week 6 SNF
- The Seattle Seahawks will be without QB Russell Wilson and rusher Chris Carson when they visit the Pittsburgh on Sunday Night Football as fading underdogs
- SNF Betting Record: 0-0 ML; 2-2 ATS; 4-1 Totals; + 2.6 units
- Read below for odds, analysis and a betting prediction
The Seattle Seahawks will be missing two of their biggest offensive weapons when they visit the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday Night Football, October 17th, as 5-point underdogs. Both quarterback Russell Wilson and the team’s top rusher Chris Carson will be absent due to injury, as Seattle takes on a Steelers squad aiming to win two in a row for the first time this season.
Seattle Seahawks vs Pittsburgh Steelers Odds
| Team | Spread | Moneyline Odds | Total at DraftKings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle Seahawks | +5 (-110) | +180 | O 42.5 (-110) |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | -5 (-110) | -220 | U 42.5 (-110) |
*Odds taken at DraftKings on October 16, 2021.
Start time of Sunday night’s contest at Heinz Field is set for 8:20pm ET. Sunny skies are expected throughout the day on Sunday, with the temperature dipping into the low 50s Fahrenheit by game time.
Line Movement
Sunday night’s clash marks the first meeting between these two teams since 2019. Seattle has held the edge of late. The Seahawks have tallied straight up and against the spread victories in each of their past two meetings, capped by a 28-26 victory in Pittsburgh as 4-point underdogs two years ago. Each of those two wins proved to be relatively high-scoring affairs, generating a 2-0 run for the OVER in totals betting, and ending a steady 4-0 run for the UNDER. Indeed, prior to Seattle’s current win streak, these two teams failed to reach 40 total points in six straight outings.
Steelers-Seahawks injury report #Steelers https://t.co/E9gzNN35Ai pic.twitter.com/n84giCRwJX
— Blitzburgh (@Blitz_Burgh) October 15, 2021
The combination of that history, and the absence of Wilson and Carson, has kept a firm lid on the total, which has dipped to 42.5 since opening at 43.5. The Seahawks’ injury woes have also helped give the Steelers a boost at the sportsbooks. Pegged as 3.5-point chalk in the opening odds, Pittsburgh has commanded over 60% of the betting handle, which has fueled their steady climb to -5.5.
Seahawks Bit by Injury Bug
With Russell Wilson on the shelf indefinitely, the Seahawks will hand the ball to journeyman pivot Geno Smith on Sunday night. The 31-year-old took over in relief last weekend, going 10-for-17 for 131 yards and one score in Seattle’s 26-17 loss to the visiting Los Angeles Rams. That marked the most action that Smith has seen in a single game since his last NFL start as a member of the New York Giants almost four years ago. In addition to being forced to turn to the seldom-used Smith, the Seahawks also face injury concerns downfield, with DK Metcalf looking to the weekend with a nagging foot injury.
GENO SMITH FINDS DK METCALF FOR THE TOUCHDOWN.
(via @NFL)pic.twitter.com/jJAnv2qh8L
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) October 8, 2021
Backfield options are also diminished in Wilson’s absence. The team’s leading rusher Chris Carson is out indefinitely with a neck injury, leaving Alex Collins to fill the void. Collins stepped up in Carson’s absence last weekend, scampering for 47 yards and adding 25 receiving yards. With a busy evening ahead of him, he offers intriguing value as a -110 bet to top 69.5 total yards on Sunday.
Healthy Steelers Poised to Feast on Hobbled Seattle Attack
The Seahawks’ injury woes could not have come at a better time for the Steelers. After struggling on both sides of the ball during a three-game SU losing streak, the Steelers responded with a solid performance in last week’s 27-19 win over the visiting Denver Broncos. After scoring an average of less than 15 points per game during their 0-3 slide, the Steelers found their offensive touch against Denver, marching to a 24-6 lead in the third quarter to put the game out of reach.
Steelers defense saves the day, but what else is new 😬
pic.twitter.com/yeCq2BNx51— Yahoo Sportsbook (@YahooSportsbook) October 10, 2021
In addition to marking the first time this season that Ben Roethlisberger connected on multiple scoring passes, last week’s win cemented the Steelers’ rush defense as a force to be reckoned with. While the Broncos managed to become the first team since November 2020 to run for over 100 yards against Pittsburgh, the Steelers managed to keep Denver rushers out of the end zone, and have surrendered just one total scoring run through their first five contests. And with the Seahawks’ defense currently ranked dead last in the NFL in total yards allowed, opportunity knocks in a big way for Pittsburgh on Sunday night.
The Picks: Steelers -5.5 (-110) – 1 unit
Daniel has been writing about sports and sports betting for over 23 years. The seasoned pro has contributed to the likes of Sports Illustrated, Sportsnet, NESN, Bleacher Report, OddsShark, the Globe and Mail, and The Nation magazine.
