Oakland Raiders (3-8) 5-6 ATS, 4-7 O/U at Pittsburgh Steelers (6-5) 4-7 ATS, 6-5 O/U, NFL Week 13, Sunday December 6, 2009 Heinz Field 1:00 p.m. EST TV: Fox
By Wilson of Predictem.com
Point Spread: OFF
Over/Under: OFF
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The Oakland Raiders head to Pittsburgh this weekend hoping to rebound from their 24-7 loss to the Dallas Cowboys a week ago and hoping Week 13 won't be an unlucky number for them. Don't count on it though Raider Nation. The team has had a another dreary year especially with their lack of leadership behind center, but with JaMarcus Russell out and Bruce Gradkowski starting at QB the Raiders have been a tad it more productive. Even though the Cowboys easily beat the Raiders they are definitely playing with more passion now that Gradkowski is on the field.Pittsburgh is coming off a heart breaking overtime loss to the Baltimore Ravens 20-17 last Sunday night. The Steelers were without starting QB Ben Roethlisberger and backup QB Charlie Batch, so enter the Steeler’s third-string quarterback Dennis Dixon. Dixon, out of the University of Oregon, actually played really well for a guy who had barely even seen the field as an NFL QB. He was 12 of 26 for 145 yards, 1 touchdown and 1 interception. The interception, however, came at the worst possible time- overtime. The pick led to the Ravens game winning field goal thus crushing the happy ending for Dixon whose father and sister made the trip to see him play. But he can’t hang his head too low as he gave them a chance to win which more than most third stringers would do…he just made that tiny mistake when he threw into traffic late in the game.
Steeler’s head coach Mike Tomlin showed his emotions after the game by vowing his team would “unleash hell” on the rest of the NFL through the month of December. Perhaps a bit immature but his expectations are realistic given he coaches the defending Super Bowl Champions.
The Raiders may want to be careful as they enter Heinz Field this weekend even though they have nothing to lose. Pittsburgh will be head hunting, and looking to go on another late season run into the playoffs. Oakland shows sparks of offense at times but they have been quite pathetic all year as they only average 10.5 points per game with just over 100 yards each in passing and in the running game. The Raiders also turn the ball over a ton; well they did when Russell was behind center. Oakland’s defense allows 23.5 points per game to their opponents.
Pittsburgh comes into this matchup averaging 22.5 points per contest with 257 yards passing and 115 rushing per game. The Steelers average 7.6 yards per pass play and 4.2 yards per run. Their defense gives up an average of 18 points per outing. All Pro linebacker Troy Polamalu has been out again with injury which really kills the Steeler’s defensive mojo coupled with Roethlisberger’s absence- makes it tough to watch. Big Ben will or should be back for the Raider game but no word yet on Polamalu’s return.
Oakland is 1-4 SU, 2-3 ATS, and 1-4 O/U on the road this season. The Raiders are also 2-7 SU, 4-5 ATS, and 4-5 O/U as the dog this year.
Pittsburgh is 4-1 SU, 2-3 ATS, and 2-3 O/U at home this season, and they are 6-4 SU, 3-7 ATS, and 5-5 O/U as the favorite.
The Raiders are 1-4 in their last 5 games while the Steelers have lost three in a row. This will be a statement game for the Steelers and another test for the lowly Raiders who desperately need wins to save face and build confidence.
Big Ben returns to the lineup and has a huge game to open up the apparent unleashing of hell that Tomlin has promised.
Wilson’s Pick: Steelers 38, Raiders 10. Luck to ya.
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