The Pittsburgh Steelers and the Buffalo Bills meet Thursday in NFL preseason action from Highmark Stadium. Here’s a Bills vs Steelers prediction. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best Bills vs Steelers pick.
Pittsburgh Steelers Betting Preview
The Steelers kicked off their preseason with a pretty nice performance against the Green Bay Packers on August 13. In that one, Pittsburgh held a modest 14-9 lead after three quarters, then added a couple of scores for a 28-9 win. QB Drew Allar threw two touchdowns on 10-of-13 passing for 153 yards. Lew Nichols had 10 carries for 36 yards and a TD while Kaden Wetjen added two catches for 79 yards and a touchdown.
In preseason game two versus the Jets last Friday, the Steelers gave up a TD in the first quarter but held the New York in check for a couple more periods. Pittsburgh couldn’t find the scoreboard in an eventual 17-0 loss, though. QB Drew Allar threw for 110 yards on 11-of-23, and Kaleb Johnson had 10 carries for 39 yards. Lake McRee added two catches for 46 yards as the top receiver.
Buffalo Bills Betting Preview
Over on the Bills’ side, they kicked things off against the Carolina Panthers in preseason activity on August 15. Buffalo posted points in every quarter along the way to a nice 29-14 victory. Kyle Allen was 14-of-16 for 108 yards, and Josh Allen was 6-of-8 for 111 yards and a TD. Ian Wheeler rushed seven times for 41 yards and a TD. Frank Gore Jr. put up seven carries for 38 yards and a score of his own.
Matched up against the Cleveland Browns on Saturday, the Bills didn’t have too many issues. Buffalo scored touchdowns in every quarter on the way to a 31-7 blowout win. QB Kyle Allen was 10-of-12 for 128 yards and a TD. Ian Wheeler put up 14 carries for 56 yards, and top receiver Ja’Mori Maclin caught two passes for 108 yards and a score.
Why the Pittsburgh Steelers will win
- The Steelers have won nine of their last 10 games against NFC South opponents.
- The Steelers have covered the spread in each of their last 10 games against NFC South opponents.
- The Steelers have won the first quarter in nine of their last 10 home games against NFC South opponents.
- The Steelers have scored the first touchdown in 16 of their last 19 games as home favorites against NFC opponents.
Pittsburgh Steelers Player Prop Facts
- Rico Dowdle has scored the first touchdown in three of his last four appearances with his team as a favorite.
- D.K. Metcalf has scored at least one touchdown in each of his four previous appearances against the Falcons.
- D.K. Metcalf has recorded 64+ receiving yards in each of his last eight appearances against NFC South opponents.
- Jaylen Warren has recorded 68+ rushing and receiving yards in each of his last four appearances against NFC opponents.
- Aaron Rodgers has recorded 246+ passing yards in nine of his 10 previous appearances against the Falcons.
- Rico Dowdle has recorded 53+ rushing yards in six of his last seven regular season home appearances.
- Aaron Rodgers has recorded 24+ completions in nine of his 10 previous appearances against the Falcons.
- Chris Boswell ranked T1st in the AFC for 50+ yard field goals made (9) last season.
Matchup/League Facts
- Steelers – two different players recorded 80+ rushing yards in a game last season – equal-most in the NFL.
- Steelers – two different players recorded 90+ rushing yards in a game last season – tied for most in the NFL.
Why the Buffalo Bills will win
- The Bills have won nine of their last 10 games in September.
- The Bills have won the first quarter in each of their last four season openers against AFC opponents.
- The Bills have scored the first touchdown in five of their last six Week 1 games.
- The Bills have won the first half in each of their eight previous September games against AFC South opponents.
Total Points Facts
- Each of the Bills’ last eight road games in September have gone UNDER the total points line.
Buffalo Bills Player Prop Facts
- James Cook has scored a touchdown in each of the Bills’ last five regular season games against AFC South opponents.
- D.J. Moore has recorded 38+ receiving yards in each of his 13 previous September road appearances.
- D.J. Moore has recorded 38+ rushing and receiving yards in each of his 13 previous September road appearances.
- Josh Allen has recorded 232+ passing yards in each of the Bills’ last seven Week 1 games.
- James Cook has recorded 87+ rushing yards in seven of the Bills’ last eight regular season road games.
- Josh Allen has recorded 20+ completions in each of the Bills’ last 12 games as favorites against AFC South opponents.
- James Cook ranked 1st in the NFL in rushing yards (1621) last season.
Matchup/League Facts
- Bills – two different players recorded 80+ rushing yards in a game last season – tied for most in the NFL.
- Bills – two different players recorded 90+ rushing yards in a game last season – equal-most in the NFL.
Bills vs Steelers Prediction
I’ll lean toward Buffalo. The Bills got past Cleveland pretty easily in their last game, notching 368 total yards (230 passing), 6.5 yards per play, and 20 first downs. Buffalo could have been slightly better on third downs (5-of-11), but otherwise there wasn’t much to complain about. On defense, the Bills came up with two takeaways while allowing only 194 total yards, 12 first downs, and 3-of-11 on third-down tries.
As for Pittsburgh, they didn’t look great against the Jets in game two. The Steelers could only muster 242 yards (144 passing, 3.6 yards per play, 14 first downs, and two picks. The defense was pretty good overall with 5-of-15 on third downs and just 12 Jets first downs allowed. The 5.1 yards per play and no takeaways hurt, though. I like the Steelers to play better in this one.