Thursday, September 10, 2015

Gillette Stadium

For Updated Odds on This Game Click Here

The Pittsburgh Steelers take on the New England Patriots on Thursday at Gillette Stadium. The opening line for this matchup has the Patriots as 3 point favorites and the over/under was set at 48.5. The Steelers had a 9-8-0 ATS record last season, which meant they covered the spread 53% of the time. Their over/under record finished at 9-7-1. The Patriots covered the spread 58% of the time, finishing the campaign with an ATS record of 11-8-0. Their over/under record was 11-7-1.

Ben Roethlisberger comes into the season as the Steelers' veteran quarterback. He had another stellar season in his 16 games that he played last year leading the team with 4,952 yards passing. He threw 32 touchdown passes by completing 408 passes of the 608 he attempted for a completion percentage of 67%. Roethlisberger threw for over 300 yards on nine different occasions. Once again, Roethlisberger will have one of the best wide receivers in the NFL to throw to in Antonio Brown. Brown had a fantastic 2014 season by catching 129 passes for 1,698 yards. He scored 13 touchdowns and went for over 100 yards in eight games. Le'Veon Bell will carry the ball for the Steelers this season after he serves a two game suspension. Bell carried the ball 290 times last season for 1,361 yards on the ground. He scored eight touchdowns and went for over 100 yards four times on the season.

On the other side of the field will be the Tom Brady led Patriots. Brady will now be ready to start the season with the rest of the Patriots as he had his suspension lifted. Brady led the Patriots last season, throwing for 4,109 yards with 33 touchdowns and nine interceptions. He completed 373 of his 582 attempts for a 34% completion rate. He threw for over 300 yards five times last season. Taking some of the load off of Brady for the season will be LeGarrette Blount. Blount is suspended for game one so the Patriots will use a running back by committee approach in their season opener. However, when Blount returns, he'll be the starter again. In 2014, Blount carried the ball 125 times for 547 yards, giving him an average of 4.4 yards per carry. He ran for over 100 yards one time last season and scored five touchdowns on the year. Julian Edelman will come into the opener as Tom Brady's number one target. Edelman had a solid 2014 season catching 92 balls for 972 yards. He caught four touchdowns and went for over 100 yards one time last season.

The Steelers are 4-1 against the spread in their last 5 games overall and 2-5 ATS in their last 7 Thursday games. They are 1-8 ATS in their last 9 games in September and 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games in Week 1. The under is 3-0-1 in the Steelers last 4 games overall and 5-2 in their last 7 Thursday games. The over is 5-1 in their last 6 games in September and 10-3 in their last 13 games in Week 1.

The Patriots are 13-5 ATS in their last 18 home games and 14-6 ATS in their last 20 games on field turf. The over is 6-1 in the Patriots last 7 Thursday games, 13-5 in their last 18 games in Week 1 and 45-18 in their last 63 games on field turf. The over is also 49-22 in their last 71 vs. the AFC, 11-5 in their last 16 games overall and 35-16 in their last 51 home games.

Head to head, the over is 8-2 in the last 10 meetings and the underdog is 9-3 ATS in their last 12 meetings. The Steelers are 3-10 ATS in their last 13 meetings and 1-4 ATS in their last 5 meetings in New England.

Pittsburgh Betting Trends

Pittsburgh was 9-7-1 against the over/under last season

Pittsburgh had an ATS record of 9-8-0 last season

New England Betting Trends

New England was 11-7-1 against the over/under last season

New England had an ATS record of 11-8-0 last season

Injuries to Watch

Pittsburgh

09/04/15 CB Senquez Golson Shoulder IR
09/04/15 T Mike Adams Back PUP
08/29/15 C Maurkice Pouncey Ankle IR - designated to return (eligible to return week 12)
08/28/15 WR Martavis Bryant Suspension expected to miss first 4 games of regular season
06/03/15 RB Le'Veon Bell Suspension expected to miss first 2 games of regular season

New England

09/04/15 WR Julian Edelman Ankle probable Thursday vs. Pittsburgh
09/04/15 RB LeGarrette Blount Suspension expected to miss Thursday vs. Pittsburgh
09/03/15 QB Tom Brady Not Suspended expected to start Thursday vs. Pittsburgh
08/29/15 FB James Develin Tibia IR
08/26/15 WR Brandon LaFell Foot out indefinitely

Tony's Pick: Take Pittsburgh

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