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Steelers look for redemption Monday at Titans
By: Zach Cohen - StatFox
Published: 11/17/2014  at  5:34:00 AM
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PITTSBURGH STEELERS (6-4)
at TENNESSEE TITANS (2-7)

Kickoff: Monday, 8:30 p.m. ET
Line: Pittsburgh -6, Total: 46.5

The Steelers look to bounce back from a humiliating loss when they visit the struggling Titans on Monday night.

Here is the BetDSI Sportsbook betting preview for this matchup:

Pittsburgh is coming off a 20-13 defeat to a Jets team that was on an eight-game losing skid. The Steelers trailed the entire game before ultimately falling, which snapped a three-game win streak (SU and ATS). Tennessee dropped its third straight contest in a 21-7 defeat in Baltimore, and fell to 1-6-1 ATS over its past eight games. But the Titans have gotten the best of the Steelers recently, winning-and-covering the last two years. They are also 8-2 SU (6-4 ATS) when hosting in this matchup since 1997. Pittsburgh will likely attack on the ground in this game, as Tennessee is allowing 136.6 rushing yards per game. Titans rookie QB Zach Mettenberger has been rather unimpressive as a starter this season, leading his team to a paltry 23 combined points in his two starts. The Steelers are 13-5 ATS after the first month of the season over the past two years and are up against a team that is 0-6 ATS in home games after the first month of the season in that time. However, Tennessee is 13-4 ATS in home games after scoring nine points or less in its previous game since 1992. DB Troy Polamalu (knee) and LB Ryan Shazier (ankle) are both doubtful for Pittsburgh in this one while S Shamarko Thomas (hamstring) is questionable). The Titans will likely be without starting TE Delanie Walker (concussion).

Can the Steelers recover from last week with a convincing road win on Monday night? For the answer, connect to NFL Best Bets for all the StatFox Experts picks throughout the 2014 regular season and playoffs. The experts have remained hot over the past eight weeks, combining for a 58% ATS mark (72-52). StatFox Scott is 69% ATS (22-10) in Best Bets during this timeframe, and 63% ATS (25-15) on the season. StatFox Dave is 60% ATS (21-14) in Best Bets during these eight weeks to improve to 56% ATS (25-20) on the season, while StatFox Brian has gone 54% ATS (15-13) in NFL Best Bets since Week 3, and continues to roll in NFL Totals with a stellar 70% record (21-9) for the season. StatFox Gary is coming off a perfect 4-0 ATS mark in his Week 10 Best Bets.

The Steelers are angry after losing to the lowly Jets a week ago. QB Ben Roethlisberger (3,063 pass yards, 23 TD, 5 INT) threw for 343 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions in the loss to New York and will need to take much better care of the football to pick up a big road win on Monday night. RB Le’Veon Bell (747 rush yards, 1 TD) could be in for a big game in this one, as the Titans are allowing 136.6 rushing yards per game (29th in NFL) and Bell will get a ton of carries. If Bell is running the ball well, it should open up the field for top WR Antonio Brown (79 rec, 1,070 yards, 8 TD) to make plays. Brown had eight catches for 74 yards in the loss to the Jets, and has now caught eight or more passes in each of the past four games. Pittsburgh’s defense will be the deciding factor in this game, as they are allowing just 107.5 rushing yards per game (12th in NFL) and 239.5 passing yards per game (15th NFL). This is a rock-solid unit and they’ll need to be aggressive in trying to make the Titans’ rookie quarterback turn the football over. If they can apply constant pressure on Zach Mettenberger, they should be able to win this game pretty easily.

The Titans will be playing with some fire when they host the Steelers in this game as well. They should be pumped up for a chance to defeat an AFC team, but they’ll need improved play from QB Zach Mettenberger (495 pass yards, 3 TD, 3 INT) in order to do that. Mettenberger has a cannon for an arm, but he must limit his mistakes and throw the ball more accurately on shorter routes. He’s up against a good defense and a coach that will really make this game difficult on him. One guy who could really help Mettenberger is rookie RB Bishop Sankey (357 rush yards, 1 TD). Sankey has seen an increase in carries recently, but he has not yet exploded for a 100-yard game. He’s got to make more out of his touches going forward and the Titans will need to do a better job of getting him involved in the passing game as well. Defensively, this team has not been bad against the pass. They’re allowing just 232.1 passing yards per game (11th in NFL) and they’ll need to keep that up with their matchup against one of the hottest quarterbacks in football. Stopping the run has likely been their focus during the practice week, however, as they’re facing an elite rusher in Le’Veon Bell.


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