Expert prediction
Cincinnati Bengals vs. Pittsburgh Steelers NFL Week 18 Preview, Odds, Lines Prediction (Jan 3)
Pick rationale
Analysis & key factors
- Bengals vs. Steelers Week 18 game will have huge NFL playoff picture implications.
- According to the NFL odds, the Bengals are 3-point favorites.
- Total line is set at 48.5 points.
The Bengals are coming to Pittsburg red-hot, having won four in a row and having a chance of appearing in the playoffs. Meanwhile, the Steelers have slowed down in the worst possible moment of the season.
Check out NFL Week 18: Browns vs. Ravens NFL Week 18 Preview, Odds, Lines Prediction (Jan 4)
How To Watch
- When: Friday, January 3, 2025 at 8:00 PM ET
- Where: Acrisure Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- How to Watch: ESPN, ABC, ESPN+
NFL Week 18 Odds
| Team | Odds | Spread | Totals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bengals | -145 | -3 | 48.5 |
| Steelers | +125 | +3 | 48.5 |
Game Preview
The Bengals and Joe Burrow have been fantastic lately, posting four straight triumphs. Burrow has 4641 passing yards this year, with 42 touchdown passes and eight picks.
The potential problem for the Bengals is that their running back, Chase Brown, might not play. He’s been dealing with an ankle sprain and might miss this event. So far this year, Brown has recorded 990 rushing yards for seven scores. He also has four receiving touchdowns, making 11 in total.
As for the Steelers, we simply don’t know what happened to them in recent times. Their attack deflated, scoring 40 points over the last three appearances.
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Russell Wilson didn’t play well at all. The Super Bowl XLVIII champion posted 550 passing yards combined during this stretch, looking pale and without any solution to the offense’s problems. By the way, he suffered 10 sacks throughout the same period.
Bengals vs. Steelers Head to Head
At the start of December, the Steelers were better than the Bengals in Cincinnati in a high-scoring game, 44-38. Wilson threw a season-high 414 passing yards in that one.
Bengals vs. Steelers Prediction
This AFC North matchup may be the most important of the entire round. The Steelers need a win to stay at No.5 in the AFC, while the Bengals have to triumph to keep their playoff hopes alive. The over/under line is set at 48.5 points, and even though Cinci comes in firing on all cylinders, we pick under here. The reasons are the weather, the Steelers’ sense of urgency, and the home-field edge.
- Free NFL pick: Under 48.5 points.
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