Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Jacksonville Jaguars: Odds and point spread

Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Jacksonville Jaguars: Odds and point spread Sports betting websites are expecting an activity smaller than usual for NFL Week 5, mostly due to the well-adjusted odds on many of the games, but the match-up Steelers vs. Jaguars will be the most bet on football game, no doubt. The Pittsburgh Steelers (3-1) painted a picture perfect last Sunday against Baltimore about their physical condition, when the No.2 ranked defense in the league had a really hard time stopping a rookie quarterback, who is the Ravens starter this season only due to a string of bizarre events. And let's face it, the only rally the Steelers staged last Sunday was thanks to QB Ben Roethlisberger and Jacksonville managed to sack Roethlisberger last season 11 times the two times these AFC rivals met.

Following this logic, there is no surprise on the betting sheets this week. At the online sportsbook Bookmaker the Jacksonville Jaguars (2-2) are the favorite team to win the Sunday night game, listed with odds of -215 on victory. Meanwhile Pittsburgh are now the big underdog, sitting on odds +185 on winning their Week 5 game. The Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Jacksonville Jaguars point spread is now posted at -4 points chalk the Jaguars with the total expected by the odds makers at just 36 points. Keep in mind that betting trends show that Pittsburgh is 1-5 against the spread in its last 6 games on the road and 1-5 against the spread in its last 6 games when playing Jacksonville. Meanwhile the Jaguars are comfortably 4-2 against the spread in their last 6 games at home and the total has gone OVER in 5 of Jacksonville's last 6 games at Jacksonville Municipal Stadium.

Most of the handicappers agree that the Jaguars have a great chance to cover the 4-point spread and only the question mark around quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, who missed Thursday practice with shoulder issues, has not moved the spread even higher. Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Patrick Bailey, running back Carey Davis and defensive end Nick Eason also missed Thursday practice, all with injuries, while DT Casey Hampton, DE Brett Keisel and RB Willie Parker are officially out of the Week 5 roster. Three Steelers linebackers did a limited practice - Andre Frazier, James Harrison and Keyaron Fox.

So far the Jacksonville Jaguars are gearing up to come out on Sunday full force. No football players in Jacksonville are 100% out of the game, although CB Drayton Florence and safety Reggie Nelson missed Thursday practice with knee and groin injuries respectively. Cornerback Rashean Mathis had a limited practice yesterday, but linebacker Justin Durant, defensive end Reggie Hayward and defensive tackle Tony McDaniel seem to have recovered from their injuries and had a full day of practice Thursday.

Published on 10/03/2008