Washington vs. Steelers Week 13 Predictions, Odds, Preview
- December 7, 2020
- By Jonathan Willis
- VegasInsider.com
Washington vs. Pittsburgh - Predictions
- Score Prediction: Pittsburgh 20, Washington 13
- Best Bet: Under 42.5
In a normal year, the only Monday night doubleheader would take place in Week 1. However, this is anything but a normal year, so the fourth Monday Night Football doubleheader of the 2020 season will take place on Monday, December 7.
The NFL was forced to reconfigure the schedules of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens after their Thanksgiving game was delayed three times, so Pittsburgh will host Washington prior to Buffalo taking on San Francisco this Monday night.
Betting Resources
- Week 13 Matchup: AFC vs. NFC
- Expert Picks: Vegas Insiders
- Venue: Heinz Field
- Location: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Date: Monday, Dec. 7, 2020
- Time: 5:15 p.m. ET
- TV: FOX
- Bet: BetMGM | BetRivers | FanDuel | PointsBet | All |Pennsylvania Sports Betting
Alex Smith and Washington seek a third straight win as it battles undefeated Pittsburgh. (AP)
Washington-Pittsburgh Betting Odds
Odds Subject to Change
2020 Betting Stats
(Straight Up - SU, Against the Spread - ATS, Over-Under - O/U)
Washington
- Overall: 4-7 SU, 6-5 ATS, 5-6 O/U
- Road: 1-4 SU, 2-3 ATS, 3-2 O/U
- Offense PPG: 21.9 (Rank 24)
- Defense PPG: 22.1 (Rank 7)
- Offense YPG: 325.3 (Rank 26)
- Defense YPG: 309.5 (Rank 4)
Pittsburgh
- Overall: 11-0 SU, 8-3 ATS, 4-5-2 O/U
- Home: 6-0 SU, 4-2 ATS, 3-2-1 O/U
- Offense PPG: 28.8 (Rank 6)
- Defense PPG: 17.1 (Rank 1)
- Offense YPG: 346.5 (Rank 22)
- Defense YPG: 298.9 (Rank 3)
How to Handicap Washington-Pittsburgh
There has been considerable line movement in this game. When the line was originally released last Sunday evening, Pittsburgh was a double-digit favorite.
The continued postponement of Pittsburgh’s game with Baltimore will likely give Washington an edge though, as the visitors have had almost an extra week to prepare. That led to an adjustment in the line and solid action on Washington once the number was available.
Pittsburgh is the NFL’s last unbeaten team. The Steelers are 11-0 SU and 8-3 ATS. They have been favored in all but two games this season, yet four of their last six wins have been by five points or less.
Pittsburgh didn’t get ahead of the number until the fourth quarter last week against Baltimore, and the Steelers’ hopes for a cover were dashed when a poor decision by Terrell Edmunds led to a 70-yard touchdown reception for Marquise Brown.
Washington hasn’t seen the field since Thanksgiving. This team is tied with the New York Giants for first place in the NFC East at 4-7. Three of Washington’s four victories came against NFC East opponents, and the only win aside from that was over Cincinnati two weeks ago. Washington is out to win its third straight game following the team’s 41-16 throttling of Dallas.
Betting Analysis - Washington Football Team
Straight Up - SU, Against the Spread - ATS, Over-Under (O/U)
- 2020: 4-7 SU, 6-5 ATS, 5-6 O/U
Although Alex Smith’s comeback is a feel-good story, his play on the field has been mediocre at best. Smith has largely been dinking and dunking underneath, completing 69 percent of his passes for 6.9 YPA with three touchdowns and five interceptions.
Smith has been marginalized in Washington’s last two wins, throwing for 166 yards against Cincinnati and 149 yards against Dallas.
The run game has looked much better the last couple weeks with Antonio Gibson leading the charge. Gibson averaged 5.9 YPC against the Bengals and 5.8 YPC against the Cowboys. He is averaging 4.6 YPC on the season, and his only three games with more than 60 rushing yards have been Washington’s last three victories.
Star receiver Terry McLaurin is listed as questionable with an ankle injury. McLaurin has been the only reliable part of this offense, and he has been significantly better than Washington’s other receivers.
The second-year player out of Ohio State has 69 receptions for 963 yards and three touchdowns, and the next two top receivers on the team are RB J.D. McKissic (338 yards) and TE Logan Thomas (328 yards). If McLaurin is unable to play, this offense is in serious trouble.
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The Steelers rank first in sack percentage, but Washington is right behind them thanks to the most intimidating defensive line in the NFL. This franchise has used a first-round pick on a defensive lineman for four straight years.
The laser focus on this one position group has led to a lot of pressure on opposing quarterbacks thanks to Chase Young, Montez Sweat, Jonathan Allen, and Daron Payne. That has made things a lot easier for the cornerbacks so Washington ranks second in the NFL, allowing 194.2 YPG through the air.
Betting Analysis - Pittsburgh Steelers
- 2020: 11-0 SU, 8-3 ATS, 4-5-2 O/U
Ben Roethlisberger is listed as questionable to play on Monday night. Roethlisberger is expected to start after practicing on Sunday though, so the Steelers won’t have to deal with the ineffective quarterback play that plagued them in 2019.
While Big Ben is no longer the quarterback he was a few years ago, he is still an above average signal caller. He is avoiding mistakes, completing 67.5 percent of his passes for 2,800 yards with 25 touchdowns and six interceptions.
However, his 6.5 YPA is telling regarding how this offense has changed. Roethlisberger is no longer stretching the field often with mid to deep range passes as Pittsburgh’s receivers are averaging an NFL-worst 10.2 YPR.
The Steelers do have a quartet of talented receivers in JuJu Smith-Schuster, Diontae Johnson, James Washington, and Chase Claypool. The rookie has been the most impressive of the bunch, leading the team with 611 yards (13.6 YPR) and eight touchdowns. However, fumbles have been a major problem for Claypool (three) and the receiving corps as a whole (six).
The most underrated unit on the Steelers is the offensive line. Pittsburgh lost two starting offensive linemen in the season opener, but Roethlisberger has only been sacked 10 times in 11 games.
Unfortunately, the offensive line will be without its rock against Washington as Maurkice Pouncey will miss the game. Top running back James Conner won’t play either, leaving Benny Snell Jr. as the Steelers’ No. 1 option at running back.
Pittsburgh has the best defense in the league. The Steelers rank first in DVOA, first in scoring defense (17.1 PPG) and third in total defense (298.9 YPG). However, this defense lost another one of its standout linebackers as Bud Dupree suffered a season-ending injury against Baltimore. Dupree and Devin Bush are now lost for the year, so the linebacking corps can’t afford another big injury. Cornerback Steven Nelson is listed as doubtful.
Historically Speaking
Head-to-Head
Washington leads Pittsburgh 42-33-3 all-time in this series between original NFL teams. Washington’s last victory came all the way back in 1991 though, as the Steelers have won six straight games. The last five victories have all been by more than one score.
Last Meeting
Pittsburgh cruised to a 38-16 victory in the 2016 season opener between these two teams. Roethlisberger ended the day with 300 yards and three touchdowns, while DeAngelo Williams ran for 143 yards and two scores. Antonio Brown had eight receptions for 126 yards and two touchdowns for the Steelers.
Notable Betting Trends
- -- The under has cashed in four of the last five games between these teams
- -- Pittsburgh is 6-3 ATS as a favorite in 2020
- -- Washington is 1-3 ATS as a dog of seven or more points
Key Injuries
Washington
- LB Jared Norris: Hamstring - Probable
- S Deshazor Everett: Ankle - Questionable
- LB Ryan Anderson: Knee - Questionable
- T Cornelius Lucas: Ankle - Questionable
Pittsburgh
- QB Ben Roethlisberger: Knee - Probable
- DE Stephon Tuitt: COVID - Probable
- CB Steven Nelson: Knee - Questionable
- RB Jaylen Samuels: Quad - Questionable
- RB James Conner: COVID - Questionable
- C Maurkice Pouncey: COVID - Questionable
- LB Bud Dupree: Knee - Out
2020 Monday Night Football (MNF) Betting Results
Betting Results
Straight Up (SU), Against the Spread (ATS)
- Home-Away: 4-8 SU, 7-5 ATS
- Favorites-Underdogs: 8-4 SU, 5-7 ATS
- Over-Under: 5-7
| 2020 Monday Night Football Betting Results | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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