The Pittsburgh Steelers put together its usual solid season, finishing with a 12-4 record in 2011, but its early playoff ouster has created some doubts about the team chances this year, doubts which are reflected in the latest 2013 Super Bowl XLVII Odds. The Steelers are presently listed at +2250 odds to win the Super Bowl, a moneyline number which leaves them looking up at 10 different teams on the odds leaderboard. Four of those teams are in the AFC as Pittsburgh, at +1075 odds to win the AFC Championship, is expected to play second fiddle to the Baltimore Ravens, New England Patriots, Denver Broncos, and Houston Texans.
Pittsburgh’s vaunted defense ruled the league, once again, in 2011, allowing just 271.8 yards and 14.2 points per game, both NFL bests. The Steelers wrecking unit did not, however, show up for the team’s opening round playoff game as the mild mannered Broncos’ offense, led by Tim Tebow, racked up 447 yards and 29 points in a stunning upset. Despite that showing and some concerns about aging, Head Coach Mike Tomlin should feel confident in the team’s ability to consistently shut down the opposition. The team’s offseason actions and draft day approach reflected that sentiment and indicated the offense was a bigger concern. Pittsburgh elected to fire its offensive coordinator, Bruce Arians, and replace him with former Cardinals OC and Chiefs head coach Todd Haley. The Steelers, who ranked 12th in yards per game and 21st in scoring, also took six offensive players with their nine draft picks.
How well Haley and the occasionally cantankerous Ben Roethlisberger mesh could prove critical to the Steelers success this season. Roethlisberger made his feelings well known in regard to Arians dismissal and he will not be pleased with an offensive approach that shifts the focus back to the ground game. The folks at Cantor Gaming seem to feel those problems will work themselves out, though, and that Pittsburgh will be the among the league’s elite once more. The Las Vegas bookmaker’s early game lines have the Steelers favored in 11 of 15 games (week 17 not listed). Pittsburgh is listed as a dog in its season opener at Denver (+2), at NY Giants in week nine (+3), at Baltimore in week 13 (+3), and at Dallas in week 15 (+1.5). The Steelers are favored by 4.5 or more points on five occasions (Week 2 – Jets, Week 8 - Redskins, Week 10 - Chiefs, Week 12 - Browns, Week 16 – Bengals).
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