Pittsburgh (5-2) at Detroit (3-3)
When: Sunday, October 29th 2017
Where: Ford Field, Detroit, MI
Time: 8:30 ET | TV: NBC
Opening Odds: Pittsburgh -3/45
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For the first team in nearly four years, the Pittsburgh Steelers and Detroit Lions will battle in a regular season game when they meet in the national spotlight on NBC’s Sunday Night Football from Ford Field. Pittsburgh rallied in that contest behind a huge passing day from Ben Roethlisberger, who is coming off solid back-to-back games after an awful five interception performance against Jacksonville in Week 5. He will be tested against a Lions defense that has forced an NFL third-best 14 turnovers, including nine interceptions. Pittsburgh may let running back Le’Veon Bell do most of the work, as he’s recorded at least 180 yards from scrimmage in three of his last four games. Detroit’s Matthew Stafford took last week’s bye to recover from hamstring and ankle injuries while also getting a mental break after getting intercepted three times in a 52-38 loss to New Orleans on October 15th.
Wide receiver Antonio Brown comes into this contest leading the league with 52 catches for 765 yards in just seven games, which puts him on pace for an enormous season. Rookie JuJu Smith-Schuster likely will get the start in place of disgruntled wideout Martavis Bryant, who was demoted to the practice squad and ruled out of Sunday’s contest. Smith-Schuster has gone as far as to say he’d give Roethlisberger his game check – approximately $27,000 – should the quarterback join himself, Brown, Bell and others as part of a choreographed celebration. Bryant needs to keep his mouth shut and just play. He’s a talented receiver who could have a Hall of Fame-type career if he focused on the team more.
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Like Stafford, Golden Tate took advantage of the bye week to nurse and injured shoulder and was even spotted with his right arm in a sling, but he remains intent on playing versus Pittsburgh. Tate practiced this week and looks to continue his strong showing at home, as he has recorded at least five receptions in each of his last six games at Ford Field. Running back Theo Riddick’s 23 catches trail only Tate on the team, although wideout Marvin Jones Jr. is proving to be the deep threat with five receptions of 20-or-more yards. Rookie Kenny Golladay is bothered by a hamstring injury but is expected to return to play his first game in over a month.
WEEK 8 NFL FREE PICKS AGAINST THE SPREAD
To me it looks like Pittsburgh may be back to playing like Pittsburgh. Meaning, the offense has shaken-off some of the early-season rust and could be the best team in the AFC right now. The Lions defense is giving up way too many points and Stafford is coming off a poor game and doesn’t play well against tams with winning records. I like Pittsburgh a lot in this one.
Pick: Steelers -3
- Steelers are 8-2-1 ATS in their last 11 games after accumulating more than 150 yards rushing in their previous game.
- Steelers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games after accumulating more than 350 total yards in their previous game.
- Steelers are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games after allowing less than 15 points in their previous game.
- Steelers are 14-6-1 ATS in their last 21 games in October.
- Steelers are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 road games.
- Steelers are 11-5-1 ATS in their last 17 games overall.
- Steelers are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games following a ATS win.
- Lions are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games following a bye week.
- Lions are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games after scoring more than 30 points in their previous game.
- Lions are 12-5 ATS in their last 17 games after accumulating less than 90 yards rushing in their previous game.
- Lions are 15-34-2 ATS in their last 51 games after allowing more than 30 points in their previous game.
- Lions are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games following a ATS loss.
- Lions are 3-8 ATS in their last 11 games overall.
- Lions are 3-8 ATS in their last 11 games on fieldturf.
- Lions are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 home games.
- Lions are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games after allowing more than 350 total yards in their previous game.
- Lions are 1-6 ATS vs. a team with a winning record.
- Lions are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games in Week 8.
- Under is 8-1 in Steelers last 9 games in Week 8.
- Under is 13-2-1 in Steelers last 16 games after accumulating more than 350 total yards in their previous game.
- Under is 12-2 in Steelers last 14 games following a straight up win of more than 14 points.
- Under is 6-1 in Steelers last 7 games on fieldturf.
- Under is 8-2 in Steelers last 10 games after allowing less than 15 points in their previous game.
- Under is 20-6 in Steelers last 26 road games.
- Under is 20-6 in Steelers last 26 games in October.
- Under is 22-8 in Steelers last 30 games overall.
- Under is 8-3 in Steelers last 11 games after accumulating more than 250 yards passing in their previous game.
- Under is 8-3 in Steelers last 11 games after accumulating more than 150 yards rushing in their previous game.
- Under is 20-8-1 in Steelers last 29 games following a ATS win.
- Under is 11-5 in Steelers last 16 games after allowing less than 90 yards rushing in their previous game.
- Under is 35-16-1 in Steelers last 52 games following a straight up win.
- Under is 4-0 in Lions last 4 games following a bye week.
- Over is 4-0 in Lions last 4 home games.
- Under is 4-0 in Lions last 4 games after scoring more than 30 points in their previous game.
- Under is 8-1 in Lions last 9 games after accumulating more than 250 yards passing in their previous game.
- Over is 6-1 in Lions last 7 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
- Under is 4-1 in Lions last 5 games after allowing more than 30 points in their previous game.
- Over is 5-2 in Lions last 7 games in Week 8.
- Under is 22-9 in Lions last 31 games after accumulating less than 90 yards rushing in their previous game.
- Over is 28-13 in Lions last 41 games after allowing more than 150 yards rushing in their previous game.
- Over is 5-0 in the last 5 meetings.
- Underdog is 4-1 ATS in their last 5 meetings.
