The Pittsburgh Steelers will visit the New England Patriots for some American football betting action on Sunday, January 22nd. Here are the NFL games odds for the AFC championship game by SBG sportsbook:
Steelers +6 (-115) 50 (-115)
Patriots -6 (-105) 50 (-105)
American Football Betting on The Steelers
The Steelers beat the Chiefs by the skin of their teeth on Sunday, with a little help from the officials who, according to Kansas City tight end Travis Kelce, “shouldn’t even be able to work at (expletive deleted) Foot Locker.” Pittsburgh made a two-point conversion late in the fourth quarter to tie the proceedings 18-18. However, Eric Fisher was penalized for holding (how about a nickel bag, man?). The Chiefs tried again from 12 yards but it was to no avail. After that, the Steelers were contented to run out the clock to become the first team to win a postseason game without scoring a touchdown since the Colts in 2006.
Chris Boswell
And while Chris Boswell’s six field goals were enough to overcome KC, a similar underperformance will not fly against the Patriots. Pittsburgh found that out first hand when they lost to New England in week 7 of the regular season, though Ben Roethlisberger missed that game, and backup Landry Jones was no match for Tom Brady and the Pats. “There are a lot of things to do to be successful against (the Patriots),” Big Ben said. One thing they will do better – barring any unforeseen event – is have their starting QB, though that’s still no guarantee of victory.
The Pats
The Pats are often NFL games odds-on favorites almost by default, and the Steelers are very well aware of that American football betting fact. The Steelers have lost the last three regular season head-to-head matchups with the Patriots, and are 1-4 in the last five meetings. Nonetheless, New England and Pittsburgh have not faced each other in the playoffs since the former beat the latter in Roethlisberger’s rookie season. Furthermore, this will be the Steelers’ first AFC title game since 2010, while the Pats will be setting a record with their six straight AFC championship game after making short work of the Texans on Sunday. Truth be told, though, the game was closer than reflected by the final score, and while winning is par for the course for the Pats, it was the matter of winning that was uncharacteristic.
Brady
By way of example, Brady threw two (gasp!) interceptions. For a team that capitalizes on opponents’ mistakes, the Pats made plenty of their own against Houston – as a matter of fact, 13 of the Texans’ points were a direct result of New England’s turnovers. On the upside, running back Dion Lewis was en fuego. Lewis ran for 41 yards and one TD, scored a 13-yard receiving TD, and returned a kickoff 98 yards for yet another TD – thus becoming the first player in league history to score rushing, receiving and kickoff return touchdowns in a postseason game. In the locker room after the game, Brady told Michael Floyd that “we’ll be better next week.” The Pats will be NFL games odds favorites regardless, but that statement certainly does not bode well for the Steelers’ American football betting chances.