The 2020 NFL season has gone from magic to tragic for the Pittsburgh Steelers – and turning things around this weekend won't be an easy task.
The Steelers host the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday with plenty at stake for both teams. Pittsburgh started the season with 11 straight victories but has since dropped three in a row, including a stunning 24-17 setback to the Cincinnati Bengals on Monday Night Football. The Colts, meanwhile, are tied with the Tennessee Titans atop the AFC South and can clinch a playoff berth with a win in The Steel City.
We break down the NFL odds with our free Colts vs. Steelers picks and predictions for Sunday, December 27, with kickoff at 1:00 p.m. ET.
Indianapolis Colts at Pittsburgh Steelers Betting Preview
Weather
You couldn't ask for a much better set of playing conditions for a late-December game at Heinz Field, with temperatures in the mid-30s and partly cloudy skies. Winds are expected to be relatively light at just 7 mph. Be sure to monitor the gametime conditions with our NFL weather info.
Key Injuries
Colts: Anthony Castonzo T (Out), Braden Smith T (Out).
Steelers: Olasunkanmi Adeniyi LB (Out), Marcus Allen LB (Out), Chris Boswell K (Out).
Find our latest NFL injury reports.
Betting Trend to Know
Under is 5-1-1 in Steelers' last 7 games overall. Find more NFL betting trends for Colts vs. Steelers.
Against the Spread (ATS) Pick
It's impossible to know which Steelers team is going to show up Sunday: The one that rolled through one opponent after another en route to being the NFL's last undefeated team, or the one that has failed to crack the 20-point plateau in its last four games. Pittsburgh still has one of the best defensive units in football, but that doesn't matter much if they can't get to the end zone.
That challenge takes on added significance – and added difficulty – this week. Pittsburgh is just one game ahead of the Cleveland Browns and two games clear of the Baltimore Ravens atop the AFC North, and would love to gain a little more breathing room. The Colts have other ideas – and have the defense to make life miserable for Pittsburgh, having held teams to an average of 22.3 points over their last three.
In a game that will likely be decided in the trenches, we have a lot more confidence in a Colts team that boasts a middle-of-the-pack rush offense and a Top-10 pass attack. The Steelers have been truly awful on the ground for an extended period and now rank second-last in the league in rushing yards, while quarterback Ben Roethlisberger looked dreadful last week and will get no quarter vs. Indy.
We like the Colts to not only cover here, but to win outright.
PREDICTION: Colts -1.5 (-110)
Over/Under Pick
The Colts have been an Over magnet for most of the past three months, having posted a 7-3 O/U mark over their last 10. We don't see the Colts putting up 30+ points at hostile Heinz Field, and with the Steelers likely unable to make much of an impact against the Colts' No. 5 run defense, they'll be in tough to score enough points to challenge the Over. We're making the safe call here.
PREDICTION: Under 44.5 (-110)
First Quarter Prop Pick
A big part of the Colts' success in 2020 – and recent games in particular – has been their ability to strike early and often. Indianapolis ranks fourth in the NFL in first-quarter scoring (6.4) and has averaged 12.7 first-quarter points in its previous three games. The Steelers, meanwhile, haven't scored a single first-quarter point since Week 12. That gives us plenty of confidence in an Indy first-quarter cover.
PREDICTION: Colts First Quarter -0.5 (+135)
Colts vs Steelers Betting Card
- Colts -1.5 (-110)
- Under 44.5 (-110)
- Colts First Quarter -0.5 (+135)
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