Sports Handicapping Pro Football Free Picks: Steelers – Bengals 8/1/06

On January 8, 2006, the Steelers will go to Cincinnati to play the Bengals in an AFC North playoff matchup. The Steelers have dominated the AFC North for the past decade, but this season they lost the divisional title to the Bengals.

Both teams finished the season 11-5 but because the Bengals have a better division record, they won the division. With the Bengals having home court advantage, they should be favorites, right? Mistaken. The Steelers are giving up 3.5 points. This is all based on the public perception that these Steelers are great because they went to the AFC Championship game last season. The only thing keeping the Steelers from having a better record this season was Big Ben Roethlisberger’s injury. The public knows it.

normal football sports handicap suggest betting on the local underdogs in a game of cross-division rivalry. The public is not looking at the Bengals’ home field advantage and this can spell a lot of trouble for the public.

The Bengals lost the first game in this matchup this season by two touchdowns. The media portrayed this matchup as the rivalry between big brother and little brother where the big brother always wins. The second game between the two teams showed the Bengals dominating offensively.

The Steelers dominate with their fast defense, but the strength of the Bengals is their passing game that will give the Bengals the advantage.

I suggest taking the 3.5 points with the Bengals as our Free professional soccer teams.