Sports betting

NFL Trends—Titans vs. Steelers

by SPORTSBETTING.COM staff | September 9 2009

It's been a long offseason and a seemingly equally long preseason but good things come to those who wait and the NFL's 2009 season is about to start.

On Thursday, the defending champion Pittsburgh Steelers—listed +700 to repeat—begin defense of their title at home against the Tennessee Titans (+1800 to win the Super Bowl).

At SPORTSBETTING.COM the Steelers are listed as 6-point home favorites and the Total is set at 35.

Ever since the Houston Oilers became the Titans and moved to Tennessee, Pittsburgh has been below .500 against the franchise going 7-8 against the spread.

More recently however, the Steelers have had the edge against the Titans going 6-3 ATS in their last nine overall.

While Pittsburgh is only 4-3 ATS at home against Tennessee (not Houston), it has fared better on the Total, taking 6 Overs and 1 Under in the same time.

Including postseason games, the Steelers had a winning ATS record at home last season going 6-4 ATS while going Over 6 times and Under 4 times.

Tennessee hasn't been a slouch on the road either going 14-6 ATS in its last 20 games away from LP Field.

Last season, the Titans yielded a record of 6-2 ATS in eight road games.

Pittsburgh's last 6 tilts against teams from the AFC South, have all resulted in Overs.

This isn't the first time the Steelers have opened up the regular season on Thursday night.

Pittsburgh defeated the Miami Dolphins 28-17 in the 2006 season opener, covering as 1.5-point home favorites while going Over the Total of 34.

In fact, the defending 2008 champions have been a solid Over bet in their last nine home games in the month of September, going above the Total 8 out of 9 times.

The Titans on the other hand, have racked up 7 Unders and 3 Overs in their last 10 September road games and have matched that with a record of 7-3 ATS.

In their last 10 games when listed as favorites of 6-points or less, the Pittsburgh Steelers have struggled against the spread going 3-7 but at the same time have taken 7 Overs and 3 Unders.

Christmas might come in December but the most wonderful time of the year for bettors begins this Thursday.

The NFL season is about to begin and with it, four months worth of betting action.

Enjoy the rest of your week.