Week 9 MNF

[Stifler's Mom]

Pittsburgh -3.5 +130

3 units

I have been looking at this game and line and thinking a little different than most. Why exactly is the 6-1 team a home dog to the 5-2 one? Granted they are super bowl champions, but Denver beat New England at home, so surely they are going to beat Pittsburgh too, and from what I've seen there are just as many people looking at the game that way as any other.

I see numbers that say the public is on Pittsburgh, but everywhere I look at this forum and others, EVERYONE is on Denver +3. I have seen way more people not only on Denver +3, but calling it a guarantee, etc.

Interesting to me how so many thought Denver was crap and the worst 3-0 team ever, the worst 4-0 team ever, worst 5-0 team ever, etc etc. Now they want to back them? I'm not buying it. Nice start Denver, you're a good team....but you got lucky at CIN, NE was still struggling a bit when they came to town, as was Dallas, and the rest of your schedule was ****. Oakland, Cleveland and San Diego (who is still crap imo....just because they beat the equally crappy Giants yesterday doesn't change my mind), and that's why you're 6-1. You got exposed at BALT, who is a .500 team, and PITTS can do the same.

Lots of concerns. Lang is on PIT & PIT hasn't been real spectacular on the road, to name a few. But those road losses were back when PIT was struggling to run the football, which they seem to have under control now with Mendenhall, and they weren't off a bye week.

The bottom line for me is that I believe big game experience and superior overall talent level and superior coaching wins out here over mere homefield advantage, and all of that, imo, lies with the Steelers, so that's how I played it, even though it's against my normal tendencies to jump on the supposedly anti-public home dog. If i lose, then so be it.

[GMoney]

New England let Denver have that game by blowing the huge lead, as opposed to Denver winning, imo. Especially considering NE's run game was non existant at that time. I think the Steelers match up to this team the same way Cincy or Baltimore does especially if Mendenhall continues to pound the ball inside. Denver is more of a finesse squad and undersized on D (Dumerville, in particular) and Pitts is easily the more physical squad (as Baltimore was). Pitts, like Dallas, is playing much better football now than a month ago.

I'm considering playing this one by the half as well, with my first half $ on Pittsburgh - off a bye with Denver not being a fast start team this year and then possibly look at a Denver 2h play for a possible middle.

Good luck

[Franchise]

Thanks Stiff. My thoughts exactly on the game. I think Baltimore really exposed Denver's lack of big play ability and against the steelers I just see that being a problem since they aren't a team that you can consistently sustain drives against. Plus the Steelers have won so many games on the road over the last few seasons they are one of the better teams in terms of handling adversity on the road. I was also a little apprehensive about the perceived public team but I agree with you that it does seem everywhere I look that Denver is the popular choice. GLTA.

[Daws1089]

Another issue that I think people don't realize is that Ryan Harris, the Broncos starting RT and best OL is out tonight. That could be huge trouble against a blitzing defense like PITT. GL

[Reggie Hamlin]

I like Pit tonite as well but they are going to be short on d tonite

[DE] 11/05/2009 - Travis Kirschke is downgraded to expected to miss Monday vs. Denver ( Calf )

[S] 11/04/2009 - Ryan Clark is downgraded to doubtful Monday vs. Denver ( Illness )

[LB] 11/08/2009 - Andre Frazier is upgraded to probable Monday vs. Denver ( Thigh )

[LB] 11/07/2009 - Lawrence Timmons is downgraded to expected to miss Monday vs. Denver ( Ankle ) troy head and shoulders is back today and should help I just see pitt outlasting them and Mendenhall puts it away in the 4th quarter

[Stifler's Mom]

Originally Posted by Daws1089

Another issue that I think people don't realize is that Ryan Harris, the Broncos starting RT and best OL is out tonight. That could be huge trouble against a blitzing defense like PITT. GL

I was going to point that out, but I didn't wanna sound like I was quoting Lang

[gsad]

I was nervous to pound the Steelers tonight but when I saw your play I tailed you, thanks Stif.