Pittsburgh Steelers at Minnesota Vikings Week 14 Odds & Pick

<p>
It's a rematch, of sorts, of Super Bowl IX when the Steelers take on the Vikings on this week's edition of Thursday night NFL betting action. Pittsburgh is coming off a big, come-from-behind rivalry win over Baltimore last week, while Minnesota just lost to a Detroit team that hadn't won all season. So while the Steelers will play with renewed playoff hopes, the Vikings are in desperation mode.
</p>
<p>
Minnesota's only favored by the standard home-field advantage here, and that hasn't meant much so far this NFL season. How are we playing this game with our free NFL betting pick?
</p>
<h2>
NFL Betting Lines<br />
</h2>
<p>
The Week 14 NFL betting odds opened the Vikings as three-point favorites over the Steelers, with an over/under of right around 45. Early betting action then bumped the Vikes to -3.5 and dipped that total to 44.
</p>
<h2>
Steelers Betting Preview<br />
</h2>
<p>
Pittsburgh just snapped a three-game winless skid with a tough 20-19 victory at home over rival Baltimore last week. The Steelers spotted the Ravens the first seven points of the game and trailed 10-3 through three quarters. Pittsburgh then rallied with 17 straight points to lead 20-13 with two minutes left, allowed Baltimore to score with 12 seconds to go but came up with a stop on a 2-point conversion to hold on. The Steelers got out-gained by the Ravens 326-321, out-rushed 107-85, and lost time of possession by a 36:24 split. But they recorded seven sacks and won the turnover battle 1-0, creating a +3 points differential. Just enough to win the game. Pittsburgh's actually been out-gained each of its last three games and out-rushed each of its last five games. Two games ago, the Steelers got beat by Cincinnati 41-10; three games ago, they gave up over 500 yards of offense in a 41-37 loss to the Chargers; and four games ago, they only managed to tie one-win Detroit 16-16. So Pittsburgh ain't exactly been playing great ball as of late. At 6-5-1 overall, the Steelers trail division-leading Baltimore by a game and a half in the AFC North, but they're also just a half-game back of No. 7 Buffalo in the AFC playoff standings.
</p>
<h2>
Vikings Betting Preview<br />
</h2>
<p>
Minnesota, meanwhile, just lost its second game in a row last week, 29-27, at the previously winless Lions. The Vikings scored the first six points of the game but trailed 20-6 at the half. Minnesota later rallied to lead 27-23 with two minutes left but allowed Detroit to drive 75 yards to a game-winning touchdown on the final play. The Vikings out-gained the Lions 426-372 and won both times of possession 33:27 and the turnover battle 2-1. They just forgot to cover a guy on that last play of the game. Minnesota's actually been out-gained by four of its last six opponents and out-rushed by three of its last five foes. Two weeks ago, the Vikings gave up 34 points through the first three quarters in a 34-26 loss at San Francisco. At 5-7 overall, Minnesota trails division-leading Green Bay by four games in the NFC North, with four games to play. But the Vikes also only trail the 49ers by one game (and a tie-breaker) in the battle for the No. 7 spot in the NFC playoff standings. These two teams last met four seasons ago, a 26-9 Steelers home win.
</p>
<h2>
Common Opponents<br />
</h2>
<p>
These two teams have played seven common opponents already this season. Pittsburgh played the Bengals, Seahawks, Packers, Browns, Lions, Chargers, and Ravens to a record of 3-4-1 SU, 3-5 ATS, and -49 yards per game while Minnesota played those foes to a 4-4 mark both SU and ATS and +8 YPG.
</p>
<h2>
NFL Betting Trends<br />
</h2>
<ul>
<li>
Home teams are just 92-98 SU, 81-109 ATS in the NFL this season.
</li>
<li>
Favorites are 114-78 SU but 86-106 ATS in the NFL this season.
</li>
<li>
Over the last season-plus NFL Thursday night, home teams, for whatever reasons, are just 12-15 SU, 8-19 ATS.
</li>
</ul>
<h2>
Totals Report<br />
</h2>
<p>
The Under is 8-4 in Steelers games this season, averaging 44 total points. Overs are 7-5 in Vikings games this season, which are averaging 51 points. After going 9-5 last week, the Unders are a lopsided 109-84 in the NFL this season.
</p>