Steelers vs Colts Odds, Spread, Preview: NFL Week 12 Predictions

Steelers vs Colts matchup preview and current betting lines

It seems like it’ll be a while before the Pittsburgh Steelers are back to being a legit contender. They’re by far the worst team in the AFC North, and having Lamar Jackson, Joe Burow, and Deshaun Watson in their division for the next decade is a scary prospect.

Mike Tomlin’s team continues to have one of the best defenses, especially with TJ Watt leading the way. But Matt Canada’s offense is dead in the water, and it’s become evident that Kenny Pickett isn’t the guy they need at QB.

On the flip side, the Indianapolis Colts have been one of the biggest disappointments this season, but that doesn’t mean their campaign is over. Maybe, just maybe, Jeff Saturday can bring Matt Ryan back from the dead after a terrible first half of the season.

The Colts had a strong team on both sides of the gridiron, at least on paper. But they’ve failed to prove that on a consistent basis this season. Maybe, facing a team that can’t seem to score to save its life is just what they need to get some momentum.

Players to watch:

Najee Harris: Najee Harris looked like a star in the making, but he’s failed to step up in his second year with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Even with a subpar offensive line, he’s failed to be more efficient than his backup, and he could see a diminished role if he doesn’t improve.

Jonathan Taylor: Some analysts made a case for Jonathan Taylor being the best running back in the league entering this season. Injuries and inconsistency have kept him from living up to that hype, but he could still turn things around in the final third of the campaign.

Week 12 Predictions: NFL Bet of the week on Steelers vs Colts

Steelers +2.5

The opening Steelers vs Colts spread has the home side favored by nearly a field goal. That would make sense, given how terrible the Pittsburgh Steelers’ offense has been over the past couple of years, and how their season is nearly over.

But if there’s one thing that history has taught us is that Mike Tomlin fares much better as an underdog than as a favorite. Also, it’s not like the Indianapolis Colts have been a dominant force by any means, and they’re coming off a tough loss.

Of course, facing the red-hot Philadelphia Eagles is nothing compared to squaring off vs. Kenny Pickett. But one can never underestimate the impact good coaching can have on a team, and Jeff Saturday has nearly zero experience at this level.

So, why we don’t expect this to be an exciting game with multiple lead changes by any means, we firmly believe the Steelers could mess around and get another ugly upset, or at least hang around long enough to make this a one-point kind of game.

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Under 39

The opening Steelers vs Colts odds have this game sitting at just 39 projected points. This comes as no surprise, as we’re talking about a Matt Ryan vs. Kenny Pickett kind of matchup. This will likely be a check-down contest between two mediocre QBs.

If any of these teams want to stand a chance, then they need to hand the ball over to their running backs. Both QBs are turnover-prone, and their wideout corps has left a lot to be desired throughout the whole campaign.

So, this will be a game featuring long and boring drives with the clock running its way off. Also, both teams will focus on stopping the run, so we expect multiple three-and-outs and this game to be a bit of a punt-fest from start to finish.

This game won’t be pretty to watch by any means, and riding an under at 39 points is sure tough to bear for most bettors. But there’s a reason this total is so low, so we’re comfortable with this pick even though we won’t be tuning in.

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