Steelers Betting Odds: Could Pittsburgh Overtake Bengals In AFC North?

, , , , ,
Written By Derek Wagner | Last Updated
steelers betting odds

As the 2023 NFL regular season gets underway, one team flying under the radar is Mike Tomlin‘s Steelers. They currently slot in as the longest shot in AFC North odds. Pittsburgh could be primed for ascension. So let’s examine Steelers betting odds to see if the price matches the range of outcomes.

Click on any of the Steelers betting odds below to place a wager from the best sports betting sites.

POTENTIAL PICKETt LEAP

Despite fans begging for offensive coordinator Matt Canada to be fired, Steelers brass let him stay on for a third season as the play-caller. The team finished 26th in points per game with 18.1 and 22nd in redzone offense a year ago. 

Mitch Trubisky struggled the first month of the season and was eventually benched at halftime of their Week 4 loss to the Jets. He would only see action down the stretch when Pickett was injured. Pickett suffered a concussion early in the first quarter against Baltimore in Week 14, a Steelers loss. A healthy Pickett and a second year in the offense should give Steelers fans optimism.

After their Week 9 bye last season, the Steelers offense logged a top-four offensive EPA during their impressive 7-2 closeout to the season. During the stretch, Pickett led game-winning drives in the 4th quarter against the Colts, Raiders, and Ravens. Stretches of game-winning drives like that are rare — even more so from rookie quarterbacks. If Pickett repeats his performance from late last season, perhaps he’s an intriguing longshot in NFL MVP odds at .

For what it’s worth, Pickett posted a perfect 158.3 passer rating in the preseason.

Offensive Upgrades

Second-year receiver Calvin Austin III had foot surgery, causing him to miss most of his rookie campaign. Austin enters a crowded receiver room in Pittsburgh but has one thing the other receivers don’t have — elite speed. Diontae Johnson and George Pickens are fantastic talents, but neither possesses Austin’s speed to take the top of a defense. They also added Allen Robinson, who doesn’t have any separation speed whatsoever but does provide a red-zone target for Pickett.

To address an offensive line that ranked bottom 10 in pass blocking (via PFF), the Steelers drafted OT Broderick Jones. Jones slots in as the backup left tackle to begin the season, but starter Dan Moore Jr. allowed 39 pressures (tied for 13th most) a year ago.

DEFENSE PRIMED TO TAKE OVER AFC NORTH

From a defensive standpoint, the Steelers should take a natural leap back to a top unit if T.J. Watt can stay healthy. Watt missed seven games a year ago with a torn pec. The Steelers defense ranked 31st in EPA with Watt out. Furthermore, the pass rush was putrid, accumulating a bottom-three pressure rate in 2022. Before last season, they had not finished outside the top 10 in pressure rate since Watt was drafted. Alex Highsmith notched a team-high 14.5 sacks, but he’s viewed as the beneficiary of Watt facing double teams, as 11 of his sacks came when Watt played.

Pittsburgh revamped their secondary by adding veteran cornerback Patrick Peterson in free agency and drafting Joey Porter Jr. in round two. While Peterson is on the back end of his career, Porter enters the fray with a chance to bolster a defense that finished bottom-12 in coverage last season (via PFF). The rookie from Penn State is unlikely to have a campaign like Jets cornerback Sauce Gardner had, but he can stabilize a unit that yielded 17 touchdowns to wide receivers a year ago (fourth most).

FINAL THOUGHTS ON STEELERS ODDS

Catapulting in front of Joe Burrow and Lamar Jackson in the AFC North is a tall task, but the Steelers have Tomlin at the helm, who has never had a losing season. Combine an ascending quarterback with a healthy pass rusher in Watt — the Steelers are poised to make the AFC North a nightmare for their opponents once again.

If you think winning the AFC North is too steep a hill for Tomlin’s squad to climb, perhaps a bet on the Steelers to make the playoffs at is the better route. Best of luck with Steelers betting odds!

  • Join TheLines.com’s free sports betting Discord with more than 4,000 community members and our staff sharing betting ideas every day. Go to the #roles server to get push notifications to the Discord app from TheLines.com staff when they lock in a bet.

BEST US SPORTSBOOKS TO BET STEELERS ODDS

Find the best sportsbook promo codes available in your state below. Click PLAY NOW in the banner below to get started.

Rank
Sportsbooks
Bonus
Features
Play
1
up to $1,500
In Bonus Bets
Up to $1,500 in Bonus Bets if Your First Bet Doesn’t Win*
*Bonus Bets Expire in 7 Days. One New Customer Offer Only. Add’l terms
21+. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER
Use Bonus Code: THELINES
2
UP TO $1,000
In Bonus Bets
Bet $5 Get $150 in Bonus Bets Win or Lose
OR First Bet Safety Net up to $1,000 
Sign Up, Deposit and Play Today in VA!
T&Cs Apply. Gambling Problem? Call or TEXT 1-800-Gambler 21+
Use Bonus Code: THELINES
3
Bet $1, Double Your Winnings
On Next 10 Wagers
Bet $1, Double Your Winnings 10 Times
Stream NFL Games In-App for Free
21+ Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER
Use Promo Code: THELINESDYW
4
Bet $5
Get $250
In Bonus Bets
Bet $5 Get $250 in Bonus Bets if Your Bet Wins
Available on Desktop, Android & iOS
To Claim: Click Play Now
5
Up to $100
 In Bonus Bets
Up to $100 in Bonus Bets if Your First Bet Doesn’t Win
Get Your Bets Boosted
21+. Gambling Problem? Call/Text 1-800-Gambler. T&Cs apply
To Claim: Click Play Now
6
Up to $1,000
In No Sweat Bets
Bet & Get up to $1,000 in No Sweat Bets
Earn FanCash & Spend it on New Team Swag or More Bets
21+. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER 
To Claim: Click Play Now
7
Up to $1,250 BONUS
New User Bonus. T&Cs Apply
Bet $5 and Get $200 in Bonus Bets
PLUS up to $1,000 Deposit Bonus
PLUS $50 Bonus Bet on Deposit
Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER 

21+ at most sportsbooks; gambling problem? Call or text 1-800-GAMBLER

RELATED ARTICLES