Seattle Seahawks at Pittsburgh Steelers NFL Week 6 Odds
It’s been a long time since someone other than Russell Wilson started a game for the Seattle Seahawks. Wilson’s ironman streak will come to an end on Sunday night when Seattle visits the Pittsburgh Steelers thanks to a thumb injury sustained in last week’s loss to the Rams. Here’s a trivia question for you: who was the last player other than Wilson to start at quarterback for Seattle? We know Geno Smith will be the next starter barring anything drastic happening between now and kickoff. The hope is that Smith can win some games until Wilson is ready to return, which could happen in a few weeks. That is enough time, though, to fall out of the race in the ultra-competitive NFC West.
Seattle Seahawks at Pittsburgh Steelers
Date and Time: Sunday, October 17, 2021, 8:20 p.m. ET
Location: Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, PA
Opening NFL Odds: Pittsburgh -4, O/U 43
Seahawks at Steelers TV Coverage: NBC
Odds Analysis
We often see injuries affect the line and when someone as important to his team as Wilson goes down the betting public takes notice. Pittsburgh hit the board laying 4-points and the number has been wagered to Pittsburgh -5. When early lines surfaced before the season the Seahawks were a slight 2-point favorite, so things have taken a big turn in favor of the home team. Seattle dropped to 2-3 SU and ATS with last week’s 26-17 loss to the Rams as a 2.5-point home dog. The Seahawks are hoping for a little more road magic with both wins and covers coming away from home. Most recently they beat San Francisco outright 28-21 as a 2.5-point dog. They are 2-1 SU and ATS on the road. Pittsburgh stopped a three-game SU and ATS slide by beating Denver 27-19 as a 2-point favorite. Both teams are trending to the UNDER this season with the total bet down a half point to 42.5.
Seattle Seahawks
In case you were wondering the answer to the trivia question is Tarvaris Jackson, who started the final game of the 2011 season. Seattle drafted Wilson in 2012 and the rest is history. Smith has bounced around since entering the NFL as a second round pick of the Jets in 2013. He started 29 games over his first two seasons but has been relegated to backup duty ever since. He’ll likely make his first start since the 2017 season.
Smith took over in the fourth quarter against the Rams and played well completing 10 of 17 for 131 yards and a touchdown. He led a pair of scoring drives, including a 98-yarder that he capped with a TD pass to D.K. Metcalf. Down six points with about two minutes to play, Smith threw an interception when his intended receiver fell down. “Everybody believes that Geno is going to come through and do a great job, just like he showed (against LA),” Pete Carroll said.
Seattle isn’t going to win many games if the defense continues to spring leaks. They allowed 476 yards to the Rams and are last in the NFL conceding over 450 yards a game. They have tightened up in the red zone, though, allowing opponents to score on just half their trips. Seattle has played below the total in three straight games and the UNDER is 4-1 overall.
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers snapped out of their funk with a decent all-around game against the Broncos. They scored a season-high 27 points with Ben Roethlisberger throwing for 253 yards and a pair of touchdowns and rookie Najee Harris rushing for 122 yards and a score on 22 carries. The Steelers will go forward without one of their top receiving threats, though. Juju Smith Schuster was lost to a season-ending shoulder injury last week. “You can’t replace Juju,” Roethlisberger said.
There are some capable weapons in the passing game with Diontae Johnson and Chase Claypool getting more targets. Tight ends Pat Freiermuth and Eric Ebron have combined for 16 receptions while Harris has a team-best 28 catches out of the backfield. And for the first time Roethlisberger looked comfortable behind a rebuilt offensive line taking one sack without an interception against the Broncos.
One thing the Steelers need to do is take care of the football. They have a total of five turnovers with Roethlisberger tossing four picks in their losses. In the Week 1 upset of Buffalo and last week against Denver Big Ben didn’t turn the ball over.
Bet Seahawks at Steelers at BookMaker.eu
The loss of Wilson is huge, but it’s not the end of the world. And Pittsburgh hasn’t been blowing teams out this year so there’s a good chance Seattle hangs in there. Tightening the screws defensively will help and I expect everyone to step up in the absence of their leader. And as the spread continues to climb with a lot of folks backing the home team, I’ll take the points with Seattle primed for an upset.
NFL Score Prediction: Seattle 26, Pittsburgh 22
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- Phil Simon, Gambling911.com
