The line was Browns -4.5 and it looks like it may drop on down to -4 or maybe lower. Both teams come into week 3 1-1, and both teams have been involved in the closest games possible. The Browns a 2 point win and a 1 point loss, the Steelers a 3 point win and a 3 point loss. In this series we have new quarterbacks however the series has been all Pittsburgh over last 20 meetings. The last 10 meetings has been 5-3-1 Pittsburgh’s way. The last 20 however its been 14-5-1 the Steelers way. That will only mean a Steelers side that believes it can win and a Browns side that is motivated to turn that stat around. The Browns under Stefanski are 79% winners the game after a loss. The Steelers in the division as underdogs around the same under Coach Tomlin.
Last year Chubb only ran for 61 and 58 in the two losses to the Steelers. Things went the Browns way in 2020 but everything went the Browns way in the playoff game to a tune of a 28-0 first quarter lead, and they split the regular season matchups that year. If you look at schedule the Browns have played what most would call an “easy” opening two games in Carolina and the Jets, while the Steelers have had two AFC playoff teams from last year including the conference champs and while they don’t have great stats by any means they have only allowed 20 and 17 in the first two games. The Browns allowed 24 to Carolina and 31 to the Jets. The Steelers mentality here has to be keeping the game under 40 as both games last year were. That indicated by the tight low total opening at 40.5 and now sitting at 38.
In the close division game where things are expected to be possibly points at a premium I’ll take the points and be ok if they beat me with the Browns. If I was to want to take the Browns I would wait and will most likely see an almost even money wager or + money or odds via live bet at some point during the natural flow of the game. My pick Steelers +4.5 and my prediction 19-17 Browns, but at least with the points here feel like I’ve got the Steelers in the close loss, a win or a tie.