Betsided

NFL Mid-Week Movement: Total in Steelers-Vikings Keeps Dropping

By Matt De Saro

The Steelers vs Vikings game should be headlined by the defenses in Week 14.
The Steelers vs Vikings game should be headlined by the defenses in Week 14. / Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
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Just when the Steelers looked like a team on the brink of giving up, they came out and beat the Baltimore Ravens 20-19. It was a game they could have easily lost if the Ravens just kicked an extra point to send it to OT. But, a win is a win. The important part of this win is that it keeps the Steelers’ playoff hopes alive for one more week. 

The same cannot be said for the Minnesota Vikings, who did the one thing you never want to do in the NFL. Lose to the Detroit Lions. As if things weren't already going downhill for this team, they went ahead and got beaten by the final winless team in the league. The loss dropped them to 5-7 and pretty much put the kibosh on their playoff aspirations. 

Despite the embarrassing loss, the Vikings are 3.5-point favorites in this home game with the Steelers in Week 14. 

Here are the updated odds for this Week 14 matchup, courtesy of WynnBET Sportsbook.

Steelers vs. Vikings Updated Odds, Spread, and Total

Spread:

  • Steelers +3 (-105)
  • Vikings -3 (-115)

Moneyline:

  • Steelers: +145 / Opened +155
  • Vikings: -165 / Opened -175

Total:

  • 44.0 (Over -110/Under -110) / Opened 45.0

Steelers vs. Vikings Prediction and Pick

The thing that jumps out is the total that continues to drop from the opening line. The Vikings overall on the year are 7-5 on the O/U, 6-1 at home, and are on a 3-0 OVER win streak. 

The Steelers' offense is really suffering due to Big Ben’s age. The age of his arm specifically. Big Ben just doesn’t have it anymore and his mobility is even worse than usual. He’s been sacked 25 times and his arm looks, dare I say, pretty shot. The offensive line isn’t doing him any favors and the whole offense is just lax. This will be a big problem as the Vikings rank second in the NFL in sacks. 

The Vikings offense is also struggling with injuries, missed opportunities, and Kirk Cousins. The offense is also missing some key weapons due to injury. The Steelers defense features TJ Watt who absolutely owned the Ravens last weekend. He alone pressured Lamar Jackson 12 times. He leads the league with 16 sacks, seven of which were on Jackson the last weekend

This game has a reach chance to be very low-scoring. Especially considering that the Steelers average barely 20 points per game as it is. Either way, my pick for this game remains the same. I think the Steelers will continue to overachieve while the Vikings circle the drain.

Pick: Steelers +145 to win

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