Houston Texans vs Pittsburgh Steelers Point Spread Picks

Houston already has some action under its belt as the Hall of Fame Game was called in the third quarter. DeMeco Ryans was 2-1 SU/ATS in his rookie preseason, and all three games stayed UNDER. Davis Mills completing 10 of 13 passes against Chicago, notching 102 yards and a TD. Case Keenum went 7-for-9 for 78 yards and a TD, and Tim Boyle finished 2-for-5 for 17 yards. C.J. Stroud is unlikely to see action vs. the Steelers, so it'll be the same three QBs sharing the load. Mike Tomlin is 33-30-1 ATS in the preseason, and 37-26-1 UNDER. He's won eight consecutive preseason home games straight-up. The Steelers QB meetings are a full house and Justin Fields appears to be the team's starter for now as Russell Wilson has been hampered by a calf injury. Kyle Allen and John Rhys Plumlee are the backups, and Allen will probably get the bulk of the snaps in this game. Plumlee is a rookie from UCF. Pittsburgh is 6-0 UNDER its past six preseason games vs. AFC opponents, and Pittsburgh is undefeated the past two preseasons, going 6-0 SU/ATS. Five of those six wins were by a touchdown or more. Take the Steelers and the UNDER.

Pittsburgh once again won and didn't cover as a home favorite when it defeated the Broncos 26-21 as a 6-point favorite and that was the sixth time in the last eight games that the Steelers haven't gotten the money in that role. Houston is 8-1 ATS following a 10-plus home loss and the Texans were beaten 33-16 by the Ravens. Deshaun Watson threw for 275 yards and a touchdown, but was sacked four times in the Baltimore loss. The Texans are 10-3-1 ATS their last 14 games after an ATS loss. Watson says the Texans will have to concentrate on picking up the blitz this week as the Steelers have blitzed 58 times, the most in the league. Houston is in a nearly must-win situation after starting 0-2. Ben Roethlisberger was 29 of 41 for 311 yards and two TDs and James Connor ran for 106 yards on 16 carries against the Broncos. The Houston defense must improve its run defense although it did manage to somewhat contain Lamar Jackson and the Ravens for three quarters before collapsing in the fourth. The Steelers run offense isn't as prolific as the Ravens and Houston will keep this one close. Play the Texans.

Pittsburgh is 11-3, but just 6-8 ATS and now is being asked to cover a big number after four crucial and physical games that ended with a controversial loss to the Patriots. The Steelers were 0-4 ATS in that span and is in a possible letdown situation in this matchup. Ben Roethlisberger was 22 of 30 for 281 yards with two touchdowns and an interception against New England, and Le'Veon Bell rushed for 117 yards on 24 carries. Houston has been out of the playoff picture for awhile and has nothing to lose. And the Steelers are 8-24-1 ATS their last 33 road games against teams with losing home records. Meanwhile, the Texans are 15-5-1 ATS their last 21 games after scoring 15 or fewer points their previous game. Pittsburgh will likely get the win, but the Steelers can't be trusted to cover a big number as they have been money burners in December. Grab the big points with the Texans.