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Steelers Vault to 1.5-Point Favorites After Opening as Underdogs vs Bills in Week 15 SNF

Daniel Coyle

by Daniel Coyle in NFL Football

Updated Apr 11, 2020 · 6:37 PM PDT

Devlin Hodges celebrates
Now riding a three-game SU win streak that has lifted them into the AFC wild card race, the Pittsburgh Steelers have quickly climbed to 1.5-point home favorites in their Week 15 clash with the Buffalo Bills on Sunday Night Football. Photo from @steelers (Twitter).
  • Pittsburgh Steelers quickly climb to 1.5-point home favorites in Week 15 date with Buffalo
  • Steelers have won three straight and are 7-2-2 ATS in their past 11
  • Bills have emerged as legitimate playoff contenders while going 9-4 SU, but have yet to earn respect at the sportsbooks

The Pittsburgh Steelers have quickly gained momentum in the NFL odds ahead of next weekend’s date with the Buffalo Bills on Sunday Night Football. Within minutes of opening as 1-point underdogs on Sunday evening, the Steelers vaulted to 1.5-point home favorites in Week 15 at sportsbooks.

NFL Week 15 – Bills vs Steelers Odds

Team Spread Moneyline Total
Buffalo Bills +1.5 (-110) +110 Ov 37 (-110)
Pittsburgh Steelers -1.5 (-110) -130 Un 37 (-110)

*Odds taken 12/08/19

Steelers Producing on the Gridiron and at the Sportsbooks

On Sunday afternoon, the Steelers did themselves a big favor in their bid to nail down a wild card spot in the AFC, knocking off the Arizona Cardinals 23-17, and paying out as 2.5-point road favorites. With the victory, the Steelers extend their current SU win streak to three games, and maintain control of the second AFC wild card, just one game back of the Bills.

The Steelers now sport a 7-2-2 ATS record in their past 11 contests, including a 3-1-1 ATS mark in their past five as betting chalk

Sunday’s victory over the Cardinals also extends Pittsburgh’s steady performance at the sportsbooks. The Steelers now sport a 7-2-2 ATS record in their past 11 contests, including a 3-1-1 ATS mark in their past five as betting chalk. However, despite that success, Pittsburgh had been receiving lukewarm support at the sportsbooks in recent weeks.

Steelers Odds Subject to Erratic Swings

Steelers backers endured a roller coaster ride at the sportsbooks leading up to Sunday’s clash in the desert. After climbing to 2-point chalk in the wake of last weekend’s 20-13 win over Cleveland, Pittsburgh dipped back to a 1-point favorite by Saturday before seeing the odds tilt back in its favor in the hours prior to game time.

The line also swung wildly back and forth prior to last weekend’s clash with the Browns. Pegged as 2.5-point home favorites on the opening odds, the Steelers tumbled to 2.5-point underdogs over the course of the week before settling as 1-point underdogs just before game time. And despite the recent success that has lifted them back into playoff contention following a dismal 1-4 SU start, sports bettors loyal to the Steelers are likely to endure another wild ride this week as the team prepares to face the Bills.

Injuries are bound to play a factor. Already missing receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster and rusher James Conner due to injury, the Steelers lost tight end Vance McDonald to a concussion in Sunday’s victory in the desert. And Pittsburgh has yet to earn respect from oddsmakers despite the team’s recent success, emerging as an underdog in each of its past two home contests, against the Browns and Los Angeles Rams.

Bills Battling to Earn Respect

Tempered expectations at the sportsbooks is something the Bills can relate to. Buffalo turned in yet another strong defensive effort on Sunday, but it wasn’t enough to get past the visiting Baltimore Ravens, who clinched the AFC North title with a 24-17 win as 6-point road chalk.

Fresh off an impressive 26-15 win in Dallas on Thanksgiving Day, the Bills enjoyed a boost at the sportsbooks, briefly improving to 5-point underdogs in their Week 14 date with Baltimore before hitting the gridiron as 6-point dogs. That marked somewhat of a turnaround for the Bills, after watching the struggling Cowboys garner most of the action in their Week 13 contest. That continued a trend that saw Buffalo tumble from its opening position as 5.5-point home favorites against Denver in Week 12 to being favored by just 3.5 points by game time in a decisive 20-3 win.

Bandwagon Jumpers Likely to Fade Bills

While the Bills missed a golden opportunity on Sunday to pull even with the wobbling New England Patriots, they largely proved effective at shutting down the Ravens’ vaunted offense, particular on the ground, limiting Baltimore to just 118 rushing yards, and to their lowest point total on the road this season.

The Bills also remain remarkably healthy for early December. However, the Bills own a dismal track record on the road against Pittsburgh, where they have failed to earn a SU victory since 1975. And with increasing numbers of public sports bettors likely poised to jump on the Steelers bandwagon, expect the betting line to continue to tilt in Pittsburgh’s favor throughout the week.

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