Betting Picks

Week 12: Green Bay at Pittsburgh SNF NFL Betting Preview and Pick

There are three current quarterbacks who are sure-fire first-ballot Hall of Famers five years after they hang up their cleats: New England’s Tom Brady, Pittsburgh’s Ben Roethlisberger and Green Bay’s Aaron Rodgers.

Brady and Big Ben have met plenty of times, will again in Week 15 barring injury and could face off in another AFC title game in January. But have we seen the last meeting ever between Roethlisberger and Rodgers?

Unfortunately, they won’t both be playing this Sunday night as Pittsburgh hosts Green Bay in a matchup of franchises that have combined for 13 Super Bowl appearances and 10 victories in the game. The last time each franchise made the Super Bowl was against one another following the 2010 season in Arlington, Texas. The Packers won 31-25 and Rodgers was named the game’s MVP.

The reason Big Ben and Rodgers might not face off again is the teams won’t play in the regular season for another four years. Roethlisberger will not be playing then – he threatened to retire after 2016 and might following this year. Thus, it might be Super Bowl or bust to see Big Ben vs. Rodgers again.

Pittsburgh is a 14-point home favorite against Green Bay, a line that would be considered preposterous if Rodgers was healthy. In fact, the Pack haven’t been such a big underdog since Dec. 19, 2010, at New England when Matt Flynn started with Rodgers sidelined due to a concussion.

Of course, Rodgers broke his right collarbone in a Week 6 loss in Minnesota. Including that game, the Packers (5-5 SU, 4-6 ATS) are 1-4 since, and backup QB Brett Hundley continues to struggle. This past Sunday, Green Bay was blanked 23-0 at home by Baltimore. It was the first time the Packers had been shut out at Lambeau Field since Nov. 19, 2006, vs. New England. Brett Favre was knocked out of that game injured.

Hundley was 21 of 36 for 239 yards and three interceptions against Baltimore while also losing a fumble. The Packers turned it over five times for the first time since Week 5 of the 2007 season. Coach Mike McCarthy says he’s sticking with Hundley. His backup is little-known Joe Callahan, an undrafted free agent out of Wesley College.

Barring a major collapse or injuries, the Steelers (8-2 SU, 6-4 ATS) are going to repeat as AFC North champions with a three-game lead over second-place Baltimore. The Steelers would be the top seed in the AFC playoffs as things stand, but that Week 15 matchup vs. New England likely will decide that.

Pittsburgh is on a few days extra rest here, beating the Tennessee Titans 40-17 last Thursday night for its fifth straight victory. Roethlisberger had his best game of the season in throwing for 299 yards and four scores. Antonio Brown also had his best effort of 2017 with 10 catches for 144 yards and three scores. The Steelers got some bad news this week when starting right tackle Marcus Gilbert was suspended four games for violating the NFL’s policy on performance-enhancing drugs.

The Steelers have won nine of their past 10 as a double-digit favorite but covered only three. The Packers have covered three of their previous four as a road dog. Take all those points.