The AFC is packed full of contenders for the Kansas City Chiefs’ conference championship this year and two of those aiming to be in the mix meet in week one at the newly named Highmark Stadium.
Buffalo ended their 25-year stay in football’s wilderness in 2020 as they went 13-3 and reached the AFC Championship. The Bills are looking to go at least one step further this year and hope to have made the necessary upgrades, while still allowing Josh Allen to sling the football.
Pittsburgh’s outlook is a little less clear due to question marks over Ben Roethlisberger’s durability and the offensive line but after a summer to recharge his batteries, this could be a dangerous time to take on Big Ben.
This is one of the standout fixtures of week one and why not enhance the enjoyment of the game by backing our fourfold parlays that pays out at +784.
Pittsburgh Steelers + 6.5 (-113)
Over 48.5 match points (-118)
Najee Harris to score a touchdown (+105)
Cole Beasley over 48.5 receiving yards (-114)
Parlay odds: +784
Pittsburgh Steelers +6.5 (-113)
It’s easy to forget how well Pittsburgh started the season given the train wreck that was their finale to the 2020 campaign. The Steelers were 11-0 entering December with the best points differential in the league. Both the defense and offense were ranked in the top-10 with Roethlisberger and co averaging 28.8 ppg.
That was achieved despite the lack of a running game and the addition of Najee Harris should only enhance this unit.
Throw into the mix a lights out defense that ranked in the top three for interceptions, points allowed and yards allowed per game and this looks like a team that can stay with Buffalo.
Be sure to check out our full game preview for Pittsburgh Steelers vs Buffalo Bills
Over 48.5 match points (-118)
While the Pittsburgh defense is top draw, so is the Bills offense, which ended last season scoring 29.9 ppg. Buffalo quarterback Josh Allen threw for 37 touchdowns, adding a further eight on the ground and forming an almost unstoppable partnership with Steffon Diggs.
As mentioned, Pittsburgh’s offense is being criminally undervalued as a result of recency bias. They have a trio of top wide receivers who can hurt this Bills team in Chase Claypool, Diontae Johnson and JuJu Smith-Schuster, a tight-end in Eric Ebron who caught five touchdown passes last year and have added a dynamic running back.
Last year, offenses started out hotter than the defenses and that trend could play out in Buffalo.
Najee Harris to score a touchdown (+105)
The hints have been sprinkled in throughout this article that this bet was coming. Harris put up some monster numbers in his final two years at Alabama, averaging 1345 rushing yards. In his last season, Harris scored 26 rushing touchdowns while he also caught four.
Having not had a top level running back since Le’Veon Bell left town, expect Roethlisberger to utilize the first round pick right from day one, making him a viable threat to get his first professional touchdown.
Cole Beasley over 48.5 receiving yards (-114)
Whether you like what he stands for off the field or not, there’s no questioning Cole Beasley is a fine football player. He played a big role on the Bills offense last year, putting up 967 yards and four touchdowns as part of a competitive receiving core. He could have a big role to play in this game against a Steelers team likely to put their focus on cutting off Allen’s route to his favorite target Diggs. With John Brown no longer in the building, Beasley is now Allen’s no.2 receiver and as such should see plenty of action when on the field.
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