NFL Week 3 Odds - Pittsburgh Steelers at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Sunday, September 26, 2010
by Bodog Sportsbook
The only matchup of unbeaten teams on Sunday takes place in Tampa, when the Pittsburgh Steelers – on yet another starting quarterback – face the surprising Bucs. Pittsburgh is a 3-point favorite on Bodog’s NFL Football odds.
Charlie Batch gets the start for Pittsburgh with Ben Roethlisberger still suspended, Dennis Dixon hurt and Byron Leftwich still not 100 percent from a preseason knee injury, although Leftwich, a former Buc, will be the No. 2 quarterback. Batch, who hasn’t started a game since the end of the 2007 season, played the final three quarters in last week’s win over Tennessee but went just 5-for-11 for 25 yards. The Steelers haven’t even scored an offensive touchdown yet in regulation.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are easily one of the surprise teams in the NFL after registering just three wins a year ago. An opening home win over Cleveland wasn’t shocking but last week’s road win at Carolina was certainly unexpected. Josh Freeman has been very solid in his second year with just one pick. This is Tampa Bay’s first 2-0 start in five years.
This should be an incredibly low-scoring game. Pittsburgh’s defense is ranked sixth overall and just shut down Tennessee’s Chris Johnson last week, not to mention forced seven Tennessee turnovers. The Steelers are tied for the NFL lead in allowing just 10 points per game. Meanwhile, in the eight games since head coach Raheem Morris also took over as defensive coordinator, the Bucs are allowing an average of only 15.9 points and no opponent has scored more than two touchdowns. That Tampa Bay defense, which is allowing 10.5 points this season, did lose starting free safety Tanard Jackson this week to a one-year suspension for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy.
Pittsburgh leads the all-time series 7-1 but the teams haven’t played since 2006. Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin was the defensive backs coach for Tampa Bay from 2001-05.
Can Pittsburgh win in its first visit to Tampa since winning the Super Bowl two seasons ago? Bet a player and bet at Bodog Sportsbook
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ben roethlisberger - byron leftwich - charlie batch - chris johnson - dennis dixon - josh freeman - mike tomlin - pittsburgh steelers - raheem morris - super bowl
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