Monday's Tip Sheet
September 11, 2016
Steelers (-3, 49 ½) at Redskins – 7:10 PM EST – ESPN
Pittsburgh
Preseason Record: 1-3 SU, 1-3 ATS
2015 Record: 10-6 SU, 9-6-1 ATS
Season Win Total: 10 ½ (Under -130)
Washington
Preseason Record: 3-1 SU, 3-1 ATS
2015 Record: 9-7 SU, 9-7 ATS
Season Win Total: 7 ½ (Over -120)
LINE MOVEMENT
There hasn’t been much change to this line when openers were released on April 15 at the Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook. Pittsburgh opened up as 2 ½-point road favorites, but have moved slightly up to a field goal favorite. The total has taken a bit of a drop from its opener of 51 five months ago, falling to 50 at several books and even down to 49 ½ at others.
ROAD OPENER WOES
The Steelers haven’t fared well in their opening road game of the season, losing five consecutive times in this situation. Last season, Pittsburgh lost a 28-21 decision at New England, but managed a cover as 7 ½-point underdogs thanks to a touchdown pass from Ben Roethlisberger to Antonio Brown with two seconds left. In three of those losses in this span, the Steelers’ defense has allowed 28, 31, and 35 points in openers away from Heinz Field.
YOU LIKE THAT?
The Redskins were profitable in the underdog role in 2015, covering in nine of 14 opportunities when receiving points. Kirk Cousins stepped up late in the season for Washington by throwing 19 touchdown passes and two interceptions, while leading the ‘Skins to a 6-2 SU/ATS record in the final eight games and the NFC East title.
SILENT BELL
The Steelers will be without top running back Le’Veon Bell, who is suspended three games by the NFL for missing a drug test. Bell played in only six games last season before suffering a season-ending knee injury, averaged a career-high 4.9 yards a carry. DeAngelo Williams is expected to carry the load in the Pittsburgh backfield in Bell’s absence, as the veteran running back tallied 907 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2015.
O FOR GRUDEN
The Redskins have yet to win a season opener under head coach Jay Gruden, losing to the Texans in 2014 and the Dolphins in 2015. In both of those interconference matchups, Washington cashed the UNDER, while scoring a total of 16 points in those losses. However, Washington has performed well at home against AFC opponents in Gruden’s tenure by posting a 3-1 SU/ATS record.
MONDAY NIGHT MIKE
Playing under the Monday night lights hasn’t fazed Mike Tomlin and the Steelers, who have won four of their last five in this situation. Pittsburgh won in its lone Monday appearance last season, rallying past San Diego on a Bell touchdown in the final seconds of a 24-20 triumph as four-point underdogs. The Steelers are 2-3 ATS in this span, with a pair of wins in the favorite role by three points apiece at Tennessee (2014) and against Kansas City at home in overtime (2012).
RECENT MEETINGS (Steelers 3-0 SU and 2-1 ATS the last three matchups)
10/28/12 – Pittsburgh 27-12 vs. Washington (Pit -4 ½, 44)
11/3/08 – Pittsburgh 23-6 at Washington (Pit +1, 37 ½)
11/28/04 – Pittsburgh 17-6 vs. Washington (Wsh +10, 34 ½)
Rams (-2 ½, 42 ½) at 49ers – 10:20 PM EST - ESPN
Los Angeles
Preseason Record: 2-2 SU, 1-3 ATS
2015 Record: 7-9 SU, 7-8-1 ATS
Season Win Total: 7 ½ (Under -200)
San Francisco
Preseason Record: 2-2 SU, 2-2 ATS
2015 Record: 5-11 SU, 7-9 ATS
Season Win Total: 5 ½ (Under -130)
LINE MOVEMENT
The Rams have held steady as 2 ½ point favorites since the opening numbers were released in April. The total has seen the most movement, starting at 47 and falling all the way to 42 ½ at a majority of books.
LA LA LAND
The Rams are making their return to Los Angeles this season following a 21-year stint in St. Louis. Although the Rams won’t open the season in Southern California, they travel to the northern part of the state as part of their west coast return. Top pick Jared Goff heads back to the area where he played his college football at California, but he will not start the opener for Los Angeles, as Case Keenum will make the start for the Rams. Los Angeles has not tasted a winning season since 2003, while not qualifying for the postseason since 2004.
CHIP’S SHOT
The 49ers took a major step back following Jim Harbaugh’s tenure as head coach, as San Francisco posted a disappointing 5-11 record in Jim Tomsula’s lone season as head coach. Following Tomsula’s abrupt firing, former Eagles’ head man Chip Kelly came on to bring San Francisco’s offense around, even though the quarterback situation is unsettled. Blaine Gabbert will start Monday’s opener ahead of Colin Kaepernick, as this Niners’ offense tries to improve after scoring 20 points or less 13 times in 2015.
UNDER THUNDER
San Francisco was nearly automatic when it came to low-scoring affairs at Levi’s Stadium. In 2015, the 49ers finished UNDER the total in seven of eight home contests, while posting more than 21 points only once in Santa Clara. Both meetings against the Rams last season went UNDER, including San Francisco’s 19-16 overtime victory to close out the campaign in Week 17 on 39 total.
RAM ROUGH
The highway wasn’t friendly to the Rams last season, compiling a 2-6 SU and 2-5-1 ATS record. Coincidentally, their two road victories came at Arizona as seven-point underdogs, 24-22 and at Seattle as 11 ½-point ‘dogs, 23-17. Four of the Rams’ six away losses came to playoff squads, which included defeats at Green Bay, Washington, Minnesota, and Cincinnati. In two opportunities as a road favorites, the Rams lost each time, as Los Angeles is listed as away chalk for the fourth time since 2011.
GOLDEN NUGGETS
The 49ers haven’t been strong inside NFC West play the last two seasons, putting together a 3-9 SU and 3-8-1 ATS mark in this span. However, San Francisco has performed well in season openers recently by winning and covering five consecutive times in Week 1. The 49ers were in a similar spot last season as a home underdog on Monday night, shutting down the Vikings, 20-3 as three-point ‘dogs.
RECENT MEETINGS (49ers 4-2 SU and ATS the last six matchups)
1/3/16 – San Francisco 19-16 (OT) vs. St. Louis (SF +3, 39)
11/1/15 – St. Louis 27-6 vs. San Francisco (STL -7 ½, 41)
11/2/14 – St. Louis 13-10 at San Francisco (STL +10 ½, 44)
10/13/14 – San Francisco 31-17 at St. Louis (SF -3 ½, 44)
September 11, 2016
Steelers (-3, 49 ½) at Redskins – 7:10 PM EST – ESPN
Pittsburgh
Preseason Record: 1-3 SU, 1-3 ATS
2015 Record: 10-6 SU, 9-6-1 ATS
Season Win Total: 10 ½ (Under -130)
Washington
Preseason Record: 3-1 SU, 3-1 ATS
2015 Record: 9-7 SU, 9-7 ATS
Season Win Total: 7 ½ (Over -120)
LINE MOVEMENT
There hasn’t been much change to this line when openers were released on April 15 at the Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook. Pittsburgh opened up as 2 ½-point road favorites, but have moved slightly up to a field goal favorite. The total has taken a bit of a drop from its opener of 51 five months ago, falling to 50 at several books and even down to 49 ½ at others.
ROAD OPENER WOES
The Steelers haven’t fared well in their opening road game of the season, losing five consecutive times in this situation. Last season, Pittsburgh lost a 28-21 decision at New England, but managed a cover as 7 ½-point underdogs thanks to a touchdown pass from Ben Roethlisberger to Antonio Brown with two seconds left. In three of those losses in this span, the Steelers’ defense has allowed 28, 31, and 35 points in openers away from Heinz Field.
YOU LIKE THAT?
The Redskins were profitable in the underdog role in 2015, covering in nine of 14 opportunities when receiving points. Kirk Cousins stepped up late in the season for Washington by throwing 19 touchdown passes and two interceptions, while leading the ‘Skins to a 6-2 SU/ATS record in the final eight games and the NFC East title.
SILENT BELL
The Steelers will be without top running back Le’Veon Bell, who is suspended three games by the NFL for missing a drug test. Bell played in only six games last season before suffering a season-ending knee injury, averaged a career-high 4.9 yards a carry. DeAngelo Williams is expected to carry the load in the Pittsburgh backfield in Bell’s absence, as the veteran running back tallied 907 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2015.
O FOR GRUDEN
The Redskins have yet to win a season opener under head coach Jay Gruden, losing to the Texans in 2014 and the Dolphins in 2015. In both of those interconference matchups, Washington cashed the UNDER, while scoring a total of 16 points in those losses. However, Washington has performed well at home against AFC opponents in Gruden’s tenure by posting a 3-1 SU/ATS record.
MONDAY NIGHT MIKE
Playing under the Monday night lights hasn’t fazed Mike Tomlin and the Steelers, who have won four of their last five in this situation. Pittsburgh won in its lone Monday appearance last season, rallying past San Diego on a Bell touchdown in the final seconds of a 24-20 triumph as four-point underdogs. The Steelers are 2-3 ATS in this span, with a pair of wins in the favorite role by three points apiece at Tennessee (2014) and against Kansas City at home in overtime (2012).
RECENT MEETINGS (Steelers 3-0 SU and 2-1 ATS the last three matchups)
10/28/12 – Pittsburgh 27-12 vs. Washington (Pit -4 ½, 44)
11/3/08 – Pittsburgh 23-6 at Washington (Pit +1, 37 ½)
11/28/04 – Pittsburgh 17-6 vs. Washington (Wsh +10, 34 ½)
Rams (-2 ½, 42 ½) at 49ers – 10:20 PM EST - ESPN
Los Angeles
Preseason Record: 2-2 SU, 1-3 ATS
2015 Record: 7-9 SU, 7-8-1 ATS
Season Win Total: 7 ½ (Under -200)
San Francisco
Preseason Record: 2-2 SU, 2-2 ATS
2015 Record: 5-11 SU, 7-9 ATS
Season Win Total: 5 ½ (Under -130)
LINE MOVEMENT
The Rams have held steady as 2 ½ point favorites since the opening numbers were released in April. The total has seen the most movement, starting at 47 and falling all the way to 42 ½ at a majority of books.
LA LA LAND
The Rams are making their return to Los Angeles this season following a 21-year stint in St. Louis. Although the Rams won’t open the season in Southern California, they travel to the northern part of the state as part of their west coast return. Top pick Jared Goff heads back to the area where he played his college football at California, but he will not start the opener for Los Angeles, as Case Keenum will make the start for the Rams. Los Angeles has not tasted a winning season since 2003, while not qualifying for the postseason since 2004.
CHIP’S SHOT
The 49ers took a major step back following Jim Harbaugh’s tenure as head coach, as San Francisco posted a disappointing 5-11 record in Jim Tomsula’s lone season as head coach. Following Tomsula’s abrupt firing, former Eagles’ head man Chip Kelly came on to bring San Francisco’s offense around, even though the quarterback situation is unsettled. Blaine Gabbert will start Monday’s opener ahead of Colin Kaepernick, as this Niners’ offense tries to improve after scoring 20 points or less 13 times in 2015.
UNDER THUNDER
San Francisco was nearly automatic when it came to low-scoring affairs at Levi’s Stadium. In 2015, the 49ers finished UNDER the total in seven of eight home contests, while posting more than 21 points only once in Santa Clara. Both meetings against the Rams last season went UNDER, including San Francisco’s 19-16 overtime victory to close out the campaign in Week 17 on 39 total.
RAM ROUGH
The highway wasn’t friendly to the Rams last season, compiling a 2-6 SU and 2-5-1 ATS record. Coincidentally, their two road victories came at Arizona as seven-point underdogs, 24-22 and at Seattle as 11 ½-point ‘dogs, 23-17. Four of the Rams’ six away losses came to playoff squads, which included defeats at Green Bay, Washington, Minnesota, and Cincinnati. In two opportunities as a road favorites, the Rams lost each time, as Los Angeles is listed as away chalk for the fourth time since 2011.
GOLDEN NUGGETS
The 49ers haven’t been strong inside NFC West play the last two seasons, putting together a 3-9 SU and 3-8-1 ATS mark in this span. However, San Francisco has performed well in season openers recently by winning and covering five consecutive times in Week 1. The 49ers were in a similar spot last season as a home underdog on Monday night, shutting down the Vikings, 20-3 as three-point ‘dogs.
RECENT MEETINGS (49ers 4-2 SU and ATS the last six matchups)
1/3/16 – San Francisco 19-16 (OT) vs. St. Louis (SF +3, 39)
11/1/15 – St. Louis 27-6 vs. San Francisco (STL -7 ½, 41)
11/2/14 – St. Louis 13-10 at San Francisco (STL +10 ½, 44)
10/13/14 – San Francisco 31-17 at St. Louis (SF -3 ½, 44)