Up to NFL Articles

posted June 17, 2008 at 14:35 in NFL Articles

BetUS NFL betting odds: Pittsburgh -7

NOTABLE STAT: Pittsburgh allowed 11.6 ppg at home in '07

KEY NFL FOOTBALL BETTING TREND: Houston is 1-6 ATS in its last seven on road

(For more useful stats and trends, visit our special Matchup Tool)

The Houston Texans (8-8 SU in 2007) look to take that next step and advance to the playoffs this season, and they begin their quest on the road when they visit the Pittsburgh Steelers (10-7 SU in 2007) in an AFC matchup that will take place at 1 PM ET at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh.

At BetUS Sportsbook, the Steelers are listed as a seven-point favorite.

Here are some NFL football betting trends as they relate to this sports betting matchup:

* HOU has lost four of its last six games ATS as a road dog

* HOU has lost six of its last seven road games SU

* HOU has lost six of its last seven road games ATS

* HOU has played four of its last five games OVER the total

* PITT has lost four of its last five games SU

* PITT has won seven of its last nine home games SU

* PITT has covered six of its last nine home games

* PITT has played its last four games OVER the total

* PITT has played four of its last six home games OVER the total

* PITT has covered two of its last seven games as a favorite

The Steelers like to think they have more offensive weapons than at any time in recent memory. Willie Parker, who broke his leg late in the regular season, will be joined in the backfield by Rashard Mendenhall, who gained 1681 yards at Illinois last season. And Limas Sweed has become a third receiving option behind Hines Ward and Santonio Holmes. That tests a Houston secondary that has lost Dunta Robinson for a while with injuries.

The Steeler defense was rock-ribbed again in 2007, as it led the league in yards allowed. That's certainly a challenge for the Houston offense, which did not get a full season from new acquisition Matt Schaub last year. But you don't get to the .500 mark for the first time in your history without a few bright spots, and Houston had some; namely, the ability of Mario Williams to get to the quarterback, in the process justifying his selection as #1 in the draft ahead of Reggie Bush a couple of seasons ago. Now that Amobi Okoye has a year of pro ball under his belt, and DeMeco Ryans has established himself as one of the best linebackers in the league, the Texans have the ability to take advantage of a vulnerable Pittsburgh offensive front, which allowed Ben Roethlisberger to get sacked 47 times last season and then lost Alan Faneca, their seven-time Pro Bowler, to the Jets in free agency.

One of things that makes Houston's fans most optimistic is the addition of new offensive line coach Alex Gibbs, who has gained a well-earned reputation as the catalyst of Denver's "plug-and-play" ground game, which has produced a lot of thousand-yard rushers. Chris Brown and Steve Slaton were added to the backfield to support Ahman Green, so Houston should have an interesting - and relatively effective - running back-by-committee. The Steelers may have allowed just 11.6 points per game at Heinz Field in the regular season, but the Texans' defense, which has the potential to become a force, could create some opportunities if the protection doesn't improve. With Gary Kubiak continuing to institute "Denver south" in Houston, we'll look for the Texans to move inside this impost, and so we grab points with Kubiak's club, the seven-point underdog in the BetUS NFL football betting odds.

JAY'S PLAY: HOUSTON +7 **

(Graded on a scale of 1-4 stars)

The 2008 NFL betting season is coming, and if you like to bet on the NFL, you are in the best possible place for online betting. The BetUS sportsbook has NFL odds up on a ton of games, totals and propositions, and you will also find NFL future lines up for the Super Bowl as well. Join BetUS today and we'll help guide you right through to Super Bowl XLII and beyond!

(Charles Jay of eBookies.com is a member of the NFL too - that is, "not for long" if you don't get results. He is now a regular contributor to the BetUS.com Locker Room)