1. First place is on the line: Both teams are 6-2, each riding four-game winning streaks. Pittsburgh already beat Cincinnati 30-27 in Week 3, and a Steelers win would give them the season sweep and head-to-head tiebreaker. Pittsburgh is coming off a bye, while Cincinnati is coming back from a victory in Madrid.
2. Can Pittsburgh get to Joe Burrow? Cincinnati has scored at least 30 points in four straight wins, and Burrow went 24-for-29 against Atlanta. If the Steelers can pressure him without blitzing, they can keep seven in coverage and make him work for the explosive plays to Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins that have fueled this streak.
3. Jaylen Warren is Pittsburgh's best weapon: He's averaging 5.9 yards per carry, tops among players with at
least 50 attempts, and has 294 receiving yards. His work underneath matters even more with Michael Pittman Jr. still on injured reserve and without a clear return date.
4. Rest is overrated, or is it? According to Evan Abrams' NFL betting primer, the Bengals are 12-1 against the spread at a rest disadvantage of at least three days dating back to 2020, which is the league's best mark in that span. However, teams with a rest advantage this season have performed well, going 34-12 straight-up and 32-13-1 ATS.
5. Primetime Joe: With Joe Burrow, the Bengals are 5-1 overall and 2-3-1 ATS in Cincinnati in primetime. Burrow was favored in all of those games, just as he is for this one.
Bengals vs Steelers odds, moneyline, over/under
Opening lines:
- Spread: Bengals (-3.5)
- Moneyline: Bengals -198; Steelers +164
- Total: 47.5
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Bengals vs Steelers USA TODAY expert picks
Adam Kaufman: Bengals 27, Steelers 24
Pittsburgh won the first meeting 30-27 back in Week 3, and I'll take the same score the other way. The Steelers are coming off a bye, and Jaylen Warren is averaging 5.9 yards per carry. Feed him, use him in the passing game and make Joe Burrow watch as much of this one as possible. Of course, Burrow has a say in that. Cincinnati has scored at least 30 in four straight wins, and the MVP candidate completed 24 of 29 throws against Atlanta in Madrid. It's incredibly difficult to beat a good team twice in one season, even when you're hot. That's enough for me to lean into the split in a close finish.
Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz: Bengals 27, Steelers 20
The Bengals hit primetime for this season on a tear worthy of the spotlight. With Joe Burrow operating at an MVP clip, Cincinnati now averages 30 points per game, good for second in the NFL. Pittsburgh has largely been able to coast against inferior opponents with inert passing attacks, so this should be a meaningful checkpoint for the defense. But the Bengals have their own concerns on the back end, with a wobbly secondary on notice after allowing Aaron Rodgers to throw for three touchdowns in the Week 3 loss to Pittsburgh.
Nicholas Brinkerhoff: Bengals 28, Steelers 23
This is an awful spot for the Bengals. They are returning from Spain and get to face the division rival Steelers, who are coming off a bye week. To make matters worse, Cincinnati already dropped the first matchup against Pittsburgh this season. However, are the Steelers really that good? They are riding a four-game winning streak with victories over the Colts, Saints, Browns, and Baker Mayfield-less Bucs. The Bengals have Joe Burrow playing at an MVP level and feel like legitimate contenders. We're going to learn a lot about Pittsburgh this week, but they will lose in Cincinnati.
Where to watch Steelers at Bengals
- Matchup: Bengals vs. Steelers
- Date: Nov. 15
- Time: 8:20 p.m.
- Venue: Paycor Stadium
- Location: Cincinnati, Ohio
- TV: NBC, Peacock
Steelers at Bengals updated injury report
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Steelers at Bengals: Predictions, picks and odds for NFL Week 10 game
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