Pittsburgh vs. Denver Betting
It’s Manning Time Again! Broncos Open at Home versus Steelers
In one of the most anticipated opening Week games in years, Peyton Manning and his Denver Broncos (still sounds weird to say!) play host to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday night. Both teams are early Super Bowl contenders and both will be using this game as a measuring stick for just exactly where they are as a team.
Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Denver Broncos
Date/Time: Sunday, September 8, 2012, 8:20 PM ET
Venue: Mile High Stadium, Denver Colorado
Broadcast: NBC
Steelers vs. Broncos Betting Lines from betonline.com
Spread: Broncos -1 (-110)
Moneyline: Steelers -105: Broncos -115
Over/Under: 44 1/2 points
The Pittsburgh Steelers are always going to be a tough matchup for any team. They have a defense that is unrelenting and of course they have Ben Roethlisberger guiding the offense. We know the defense will hold up their end of the bargain in Week 1 – it is the offense that will gain the ire of media and fans.
Pittsburgh enters Week 1 with Mike Wallace back in the fold and Antonio Brown ready to build on a break-out season. Together they make up arguably one of the scariest and quickest tandems in the NFL.
With new Offensive Coordinator Todd Haley in town, expect the Steelers to air it out a little more than we have become accustomed to even though some guy named Champ Bailey lingers on the other side of the ball.
Pittsburgh could get Rashard Mendenhall back for the game – incredible. Not too long ago he was being mentioned as a candidate for the PUP list which would make him eligible for return in Week 6!
Without him Pittsburgh’s passing game becomes more critical. Even with him the passing game is still going to be leaned on heavily.
For Denver, the name of the game is keeping Peyton Manning safe! Bottom line. He showed in the preseason that he can still guide an offense and that he can take a hit. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
That said, the Broncos are not going to be willing to take any chances here – the health of Manning is THE determining factor in this team’s season.
Lining up against Pittsburgh’s vaunted defense will be a solid running game with Willis McGahee ready to prove once again that age is not an issue and a couple of intriguing wideouts in the form of Demaryius Thomas and Eric Decker.
Denver is suddenly a well balanced offense – one that could give the Pittsburgh defense a run for their money.
Betting Prediction: The Steelers won the last meeting between the two clubs and they had Tim Tebow running the show!
There are question marks on both teams but the bigger questions are of the team in orange. The Steelers are still the Steelers and I think the balance especially on defense will be too much for an emotional Denver squad.
In a close and entertaining game, take the visitors to start the season in the win column!
Pick: Pittsburgh Steelers +1
