TEDDY COVERS
Minnesota Vikings @ Pittsburgh Steelers
PICK: Minnesota Vikings +6
The betting marketplace isn’t showing much respect for the Vikings this week, as money continues to pour in on the Steelers, driving the line up from -4 to the current number of -6. Sure, Minnesota has been on the lucky side to get to 6-0, surviving a missed field goal from the Ravens last week and winning on a miracle Brett Favre touchdown pass in the closing seconds against San Francisco.
Still, the Vikings offense has been nearly unstoppable, the second highest scoring team in the league, producing at least 27 points in every game. The Vikings have been money in the bank on the highway, winning all three of their road games by at least two touchdowns.
With Adrian Peterson upgraded to probable (ankle), the Steelers defense is going to have a hard time slowing down Minnesota’s balanced attack. This is the best offense they’ve seen all year and the Steelers are playing without one of their best defensive linemen, the injured Aaron Smith. Troy Polamalu is still less than 100% despite his return to the lineup.
Pittsburgh has been a money burner since opening day, covering only one pointspread in six tries this season. They’ve been dominating the statistical battle, winning ‘yards per play’ in every game; but those dominating stats haven’t resulted in pointspread success. Even in their Super Bowl season last year, the Steelers only won half of their home games by a TD or more. Look for Minnesota to trade points with Pittsburgh right through the final gun, making them an attractive choice in this pointspread range. 2* Take Minnesota.
