David Dermer-USA TODAY Sports
The Week 14 Thursday Night Football contest is not a pretty one. But we’ve got some picks to make it a little more interesting.
On any given Sunday, or Thursday night in this case, anything can happen in the NFL. But when it comes to the matchup between the New England Patriots and the Pittsburgh Steelers this week, the odds are definitely stacked against the Patriots. Over at DraftKings Sportsbook, the Steelers are favored with a six-point spread, the over/under is set at 31.5, and the moneyline is -245 for Pittsburgh and +200 for New England.
The Patriots’ struggles have been well-documented this season. The decision to bench quarterback Mac Jones and start Bailey Zappe did not produce the offensive results that coach Bill Belichick had hoped for in their recent game against the Los Angeles Chargers when they were unable to score any points in a 6-0 shutout. They only managed to convert 4 out of 14 third downs and generated a mere 109 passing yards. The lack of offensive productivity has been a major factor in their poor 2-10 record this season.
However, the Patriots’ defense has been a bright spot for them. Despite their struggles on offense, they have been able to keep their opponents in check, as evidenced by their ability to hold the Chargers to just 6 points and 241 total offensive yards in their last game. The defense has only allowed an average of 8.7 points over their last three games, and their ability to limit the Chargers to no touchdowns in that game was a significant achievement. If the offense can find a way to contribute to the team’s success, the Patriots could have been in a better position this season in an already stacked AFC conference.
On the other hand, the Pittsburgh Steelers have been surprising many with their 7-5 record this season. However, they too are facing some challenges with injuries. With their starting quarterback Kenny Pickett likely to miss a couple of weeks with an ankle injury, Mitch Trubisky is expected to step in as the starter against the Patriots. Defensively, the Steelers will also have to make adjustments due to injuries, particularly the absence of inside linebacker Elandon Roberts. However, they will look to players like TJ Watt to step up and help fill the void left by these key injuries.
Look for a Steelers win somewhere in the range of 27-17. The Patriots may find it difficult to generate points, especially with running back Rhamondre Stevenson sidelined for the game. Despite Trubisky’s past struggles, he is still a capable starter and should be able to lead the Steelers to victory over the struggling Patriots.
Now for the fun stuff. Let’s talk parlays!! In the world of sports betting, a parlay refers to combining multiple bets into a single wager. To win a parlay bet, all the individual wagers within the parlay must be successful. This type of bet offers higher potential payouts compared to individual bets if all the selected outcomes are correct. However, if even one of the bets loses, the entire parlay bet is lost. It’s a high-risk, high-reward betting strategy that can add excitement to football games by amplifying the potential winnings.
So let’s check out my suggestion for a good parlay tonight:
Parlay +575: Ezekiel Elliott over 40 rushing yards, Over .5 Mitchell Trubisky Passing TDs, Over 3.5 Total FGs Made
Ezekiel Elliott over 40 rushing yards (-145): As I previously mentioned, if Rhamondre Stevenson can’t play then the Patriots will have to lean on Zeke. He’s had moments this season where he has shown flashes of what made him great. There will be plenty of opportunity in this game and Elliott will make the most of it.
Bailey Zappe Over 175+ Passing Yards (+125): A full week of reps with the first team will do Bailey Zappe a world of good. It won’t be enough to win the game by any means, but the offense will look better than it did last week against the Chargers. I am also hoping for good chemistry with JuJu for a fun revenge game.
Over 3.5 Total FGs Made (+105): I don’t expect fireworks in this game. There won’t be a blowout on either side. I expect the bulk of the scoring to come from special teams play. Struggling offenses will do enough to get in field goal range throughout the night. I expect both sides to get at least two field goals throughout the night.
A parlay, also known as an accumulator or combo bet, is a type of sports bet where multiple wagers are combined into a single bet. In a parlay, the bettor selects two or more outcomes and places a single bet on all of them. The outcome of each individual wager must be successful for the parlay bet to win.
This Parlay is +575. When a parlay is indicated as +575, it means that the potential payout for a winning bet is $575 for every $100 wagered. The plus sign indicates that it is the underdog or less likely outcome in the bet, while the number indicates the profit that would be made on a $100 bet. Therefore, if you were to place a $100 bet on a parlay with +575 odds and it wins, you would receive a total payout of $675 ($575 profit + $100 initial bet).
Betting can be an exciting and entertaining activity, but it is crucial to approach it with responsibility and caution. It is important to set limits for yourself before engaging in any form of gambling. Only bet an amount of money that you can comfortably afford to lose without impacting your well-being or financial stability. Bet responsibly and prioritize your overall well-being.
