Fresh off an improbable win over the rival Cleveland Browns on Monday night, the Pittsburgh Steelers will try to make it two in a row against the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 3 of Sunday Night Football.
Pittsburgh scored a pair of defensive TDs in its 26-22 win Monday. The Raiders, like the Steelers, are 1-1 after falling 38-10 to the Buffalo Bills on Sunday.
Here’s a look at the odds for Pittsburgh vs Las Vegas.
Pat Pickens’ 2023 SNF Betting Record: 4-4 (+0.2 units)
Steelers vs Raiders Odds
The Steelers are the slightest of favorites in what is a virtual pick-em as of Tuesday morning.
- Check out all the Sunday Night Football odds for the 2023 season.
Steelers vs Raiders Implied Score
Steelers 22.5, Raiders 21.5
The Raiders have scored just 27 points through two games. The Steelers offense has as many touchdowns (two) as their defense has scored through two games.
Take a look at the best Steelers odds and Raiders odds for the 2023 NFL season.
Sunday Night Football Pick of the Day
Read more on this Steelers vs Raiders bet below.
Sunday Night Football Matchup
Each team is 1-1, but these have been two of the NFL’s most hapless offensive teams through two weeks. Pittsburgh has a nonexistent running game, averaging just 48 yards per contest, and was bailed out by its defense, which scored twice, on Monday night.
The Raiders, who dealt with Josh Jacobs‘ contract dispute all offseason, also have failed to commit to running the ball. They are tied for 31st in yards per carry (2.6) and are only ahead of the Steelers and Vikings with 116 rushing yards through their first two games.
The key matchup is going to come down to Jimmy Garoppolo, Davante Adams, and the Raiders passing game against T.J. Watt and the Steelers pass rush/defense. After getting picked apart by Brock Purdy and the 49ers in their season-opener, the Steelers sacked Deshaun Watson six times and forced four turnovers in their resurgent effort Monday night.
Sunday Night Football Prediction
Steelers 20, Raiders 17
I’ll be blunt: I don’t care for either team’s offense. The Raiders have names like Garoppolo, Adams, Jacobs, and Hunter Renfrow, yet are averaging only 250 offensive yards per game through two weeks
The Steelers haven’t even tried running the ball with Najee Harris, despite Kenny Pickett‘s struggles and the injury to Diontae Johnson. They didn’t run a play inside the Cleveland red zone Monday night and are averaging just 275 yards on offense per game.
So it will likely come down to the defenses. The Raiders pass defense does not have an interception and allowed 274 yards and three touchdowns to Josh Allen and the Bills offense on Sunday.
Pittsburgh’s defense is much better and can win a game effectively by itself, especially against mediocre-to-bad offenses as it did Monday night. I’m expecting it to do so again Sunday night in what should be a de facto home game given the way Steelers fans travel and the number of Eastern transplants in Vegas.
Sunday Night Football Bet Tips
Here are a couple of betting trends to consider before making your Steelers vs Raiders bets:
- Pittsburgh has won four straight road games, with no more than 41 total points scored in any game, dating back to 2021.
- The Raiders are 9-8 in their past 17 games at Allegiant Stadium, with five games decided in overtime.
- The Under is 2-for-2 on Sunday Night Football this season.
Sunday Night Football Best Bets
Under 44 Points (-110)
DraftKings Sportsbook • WAGER: 1 Unit
The game may seem like a toss-up, but the Under should be a lock. Both teams’ Week 2 games had exactly 48 points, but Las Vegas was playing the high-flying Bills and the Steelers scored a pair of touchdowns on defense.
With both teams scuffling offensively, and an incomprehensibly high number — the Steelers-Browns O/U was 38.5 — I’d mash this Under as the NFL bet of the day.
Steelers -1 (-108)
DraftKings Sportsbook • WAGER: 1 Unit
The Steelers have a well-earned slight advantage due to their dominant defense, which is capable of wreaking havoc on opposing offenses.
The Raiders’ offense is far from prolific, averaging just 13.5 points per game through two games. Despite playing its home opener, playing the Pittsburgh defense isn’t likely to help.
Taking the Steelers to cover -1 is better than taking them to win on the moneyline because the odds are superior. If you’re concerned about the spread bet pushing, you can take ML, but the risk of Pittsburgh winning by two-plus is worth the $0.07 profit-per-dollar payout.
Want to bet on the Steelers? Check out the best U.S. sportsbooks.
Sunday Night Football Same-Game Parlay
Best SNF Same-Game Parlay (+255)
DraftKings Sportsbook • WAGER: 0.5 Units
- Steelers ML (-110)
- Under 44.5 (-110)
I usually advocate for teasing the total but won’t in this matchup given the fact I think it is inordinately high to begin with.
If you think the Raiders will get off the mat and rebound with a win, be sure to take them at the same odds.
Sunday Night Football Prop Bet
Raiders: Under 20.5 Points (+140)
DraftKings Sportsbook • WAGER: 1 Unit
This isn’t a prop available to bet as of Tuesday morning but will absolutely be worth mashing when DraftKings begins offering props. The Raiders offense hasn’t yet surpassed 17 points, let alone 21, and will be facing another elite defense in Pittsburgh’s.
The Steelers are allowing 26 points per game through two weeks and surrendered 22 to the Browns on Monday. But neither the Browns nor the 49ers have as feckless an offense as the Raiders have shown through two weeks.
SNF Prop Odds Week 3
Track the best ways to bet Sunday Night Football props with us for Week 3:
