Sports betting fans have to love December – especially football fans. It’s almost bowl season and the NFL playoff races are heating up. As we take an early look at Week 14 NFL picks, we focus on the defending Super Bowl champs and their season on the brink. Pittsburgh Steelers (-10) @ Cleveland Browns
Thursday, December 10, 8:20 p.m. ET
OK, Pittsburgh. The practical joke’s over. You really had us with those losses to Kansas City and Oakland. Can you get back to business and destroy Cleveland, please?
Talk about a bizarre slide. Possibly enduring the dreaded Super Bowl hangover, the Steelers have lost four straight games for the first time in five years – including a total heartbreaker to the Raiders in the dying seconds last week. Even with Troy Polamalu and Hines Ward both possibly out this week, however, sportsbook bettors would be crazy to go against Pittsburgh. The Steelers a tough defensive team in a must-win game, as a loss could virtually eliminate them from playoff contention. Facing the worst defense in football, the Steelers have to romp, don’t they?
NFL betting pick: Steelers -10
Cincinnati Bengals @ Minnesota Vikings (-6.5)
Sunday, December 13, 1:00 p.m. ET
Going against the Bengals is playing with fire this season; they burned many a bettor by shocking the Packers, Steelers (twice) and Ravens (twice). But playing football against the Minnesota Vikings at the Metrodome is also an extremely tall order. Minny will be angry after the Cardinals pummeled them last week. In the comfort of their own home, they’ll do anything in their power to get their pass rush going again. It could be a long day for Carson Palmer. Also, though the Bengals play tight “D,” Brett Favre has a 119.1 passer rating and 16:1 touchdown-to-interception ratio. He’s converted from Lord of the Green Bay Tundra to Dome Dynamo. Expect a nice bounce-back performance for the Vikes.
NFL betting pick: Vikings -6.5
