Minnesota at Pittsburgh (10/25/2009)

polamalu is back, and i'm predicting 2 interceptions.....

favre will lose against this defense...

wow... Line went up to 4.5... even 5 some places

that suprises me and scares me at the same time...

I don't know if I want to lay 4.5-5 with the way the Steelers have been playing in the 4th quarter...

I don't want that old man driving down the field for a back-door cover lol...

I am a Minnesota believer this year saying that they will be a top-of-the class team, but with the reverse line movement I have to go with Pitt by 9 points or so.  I believe that someone said above that Favre has yet to stumble, and just like every year he has that game where he throws 2 or 3 picks and has 150 yds.  Pitt is a solid team as well and also like someone said above I think this is Vegas trying to pull some more people on Minny's side and make up some of that money they have been losing on the big chalk this year.  Should be a hard-nosed great game to watch, but I think Pitt covers and Minnesota finally loses a game (which has to come eventually).

Minnesota-26

Pitt-35

Don't respond to Pro-V.

Lot of "Easy/Bet the farm/Locks" picks this week...

Pittsburgh -5

The weather won't be a factor in this game. It's supposed to be 54 and partly cloudy in the Burgh this Sunday. What will be a factor are the injuries.

AP hurt his ankle towards the end of last weeks game and hasn't practiced the last 2 days. He will play but it's something to keep an eye on. Percy Harvin also has a sore shoulder and may not play.

The other injury which could be HUGE is Antoine Winfield. He's missed his 3rd straight day of practice and is unlikely to go. Minnesota is already ranked 24th (248 ypg allowed) in the league against the pass. If he can't play or if he isn't 100% this could be huge because Pittsburgh is now a passing team (2nd in the league with 297 ypg).

Joe Flacco was able to pass for 385 yards, 196 in the 4th quarter alone when Winfield went out against this defense last week. Big Ben should be able to match those numbers at least.

With all of the Viking backers in here I'm surprised the line is still going up. Maybe you guys just haven't checked out the injury reports yet.

PIT -5.5

Oh and Polamalu is definitely playing and the steelers just put new grass on the field but they have been getting rain all week and it is supposed to continue to rain up until Sunday. And the Pitt Panthers play a game at Heinz on Saturday. If the field gets a little sloppy I like PITT's chances even more.

SIDE NOTE: This coltsalltheway guy could definitely be Pro-z. I could care less either way but the guy had 12 posts in the STL/INDY thread (which is now on page 3) and he's mispelled some words on his posts (typical pro-z move). Also the guy said he was new to the site but already has 37 posts and continues to argue with everyone. Doesn't that sound like someone we know?

REPOST:

The Steelers by default are going to be facing pointspreads that are juiced all season simply because they are the reigning Superbowl Champs. We faded them successfully last week and it worked out and I'm doing the same this week. The Vikings come into this game at 6-0 and I don't remember a 6-0 team ever getting this many points in a game. I went back to 1989 and found just one time a 6-0 team played as an underdog, and it was back in 2006 when the Colts were a 2.5 point dog to the Broncos in Denver. The Colts went on to win that game outright. The fact is that 6-0 teams are 5-2 ATS as a favorite of 4.5 points or less, including the one time they have been posted as an underdog. While the Steelers have won three straight, they have covered just once and on the season, going 1-5 ATS thus far. Despite playing a schedule of teams that are a combined 11-23 on the season, Pittsburgh has outscored these teams by a grand total of just 28 points. You can take any two teams the Steelers have played to date, and they don't have more wins than the Vikings! This is a statement game for the Vikings, because if they knock off the Steelers in Pittsburgh, they will be in the conversation for the best team in the league. Brett Favre has found a comfortable home in Minnesota, mainly because he has Adrian Peterson who is a constant threat out of the backfield to break off a long one. Pittsburgh has become a pass-happy team (not good), and the Vikings have 21 sacks on the season and will be putting pressure on Big Ben. We have seen that take its toll before on the Steelers' offense. This one sets up to be a field-goal-type game, so getting this many points is certainly an overlay and bonus. I'll ride with the red-hot Vikings here.

this is MIN first game in the elements since week 1

problem is its going to be about 60f and a nice sunny day

how can you not like the gunslinger in this one.

this should be a close game....prolly last team to have the ball wins

i'll take MIN to cover

translation...

PITT  -6

they'll win by a touchdown which is why the books don't care if they're giving away 4 or 6 points.

great stats and trends...

I think the 45 degree weather will be a little challenging for the old man...

that and the Steelers pass rush