Take Advantage of This First Half Bet for Steelers vs. Chiefs

While many of those who routinely bet on NFL football prefer full game spreads, there is a lot of value in betting first quarter and first halves. This can be particularly true for games that feature what are known as “second-half teams.” While this is an optimistic term, in reality, many of these so-called second-half teams are just slow starters and struggle to find traction in the early going. 

One example of a team that has been labeled as a bad first-half team is the 2021-22 Pittsburgh Steelers. 

As we head into Week 16, the 7-6-1 Steelers are somehow still in playoff contention but have not been helped by their awful first-half stats. The Steelers are the second-worst team in the NFL in terms of first-half scoring and average just 7.2 points per game before halftime. Only the Giants are worse at 6.7 points per game in the first half. This trend has been getting far worse over the last few weeks and the Steelers are averaging just 2 points per game in the first half in their last three outings. This is no way to win football games. 

The Steelers' tepid first-half stats have left them with a 3-11 straight-up record in the first half this season And yet, somehow they are just a half-game behind the Bengals for first place in the division. Of those three games that the Steelers led at the half, all three ended in victory for Pittsburgh. Of the games that they were down in the first half, they are 3-5 overall including their Week 15 win over the Tennessee Titans 19-13. 

Further compounding their scoring issues in the first half is their defensive woes. They are 10th worst in the NFL in terms of points allowed in the first half at 11.6 PPG. Much like their offense, the defense has been even worse over the last three weeks and is allowing 14.3 first-half PPG in that span. 

They will have a good chance to turn things around in Week 16 against a Kansas City Chiefs defense that is allowing 12.1 first-half points to opponents on average. The Steelers opened as 10.5 underdogs on the road at WynnBET Sportsbook and will need a big first half to keep pace with the Chiefs’ offense.