Cincinnati Bengals at Pittsburgh Steelers Odds

Opening Line: Steelers -7 O/U 41.5

Time: 1 PM EST Sunday November 15, 2009 on CBS

by Marasoft.com Staff

In a big AFC North game on Sunday afternoon the defending champion Pittsburgh Steelers host the surprising Cincinnati Bengals. Both teams are 6-2 and the winner of this game will be all alone on the AFC North. The surging Steelers have won 5 in a row after beginning the season 1-2. Their D has been stellar in their winning streak and they are starting to look like the dominant unit that they have been in the past few seasons. The Bengals have not been in the playoff race in the past few years and they are this year because they have a solid offense and they have already beaten division foes Baltimore and Pittsburgh this season.

Last week the Bengals beat the Baltimore Ravens 17-7 and the Steelers came out on top in a big AFC game beating the Denver Broncos 28-10 on Monday night.

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The Bengals are led by Carson Palmer (1,832 yds 14 TD 7 INT) and his main targets are Chad Ochocinco (44 rec 639 yds 5 TD) and Andre Caldwell (29 rec 272 yds 3 TD). The Stellar Bengals' rushing attack is led by RB Cedric Benson (837 yds 6 TD). The Steelers are led by QB Ben Roethlisberger (2,062 yds 11 TD 6 INT) and his main targets are WR's Hines Ward (42 rec 602 yds 2 TD) and Santonio Holmes (30 rec 497 yds 1 TD). The Steelers' rushing attack is led by Rashard Mendenhall (418 yds 4 TD).

One of the main reasons the Bengals are 6-2 is the play of RB Cedric Benson, who is 2nd in the league in rushing yards. Carson Palmer is playing well and they have a well-balanced offense with the run and pass. Overall, the Bengals' offense ranks 12th in the league. Their offensive line has been solid, as they have only given up 12 sacks this season and they will have to play well in this game against Pittsburgh and their 4th ranked defense. The Steelers are great at stuffing the run only allowing an average of 70 rushing yards per game. If the Steelers can contain Benson then Palmer will have to shoulder the offensive load and move the chains through the air.

Pittsburgh's offense is ranked 7th in the league and they are also very well balanced averaging 267 passing yards per game and 115 rushing yards per game. The Steelers have yet to lose at home this season. The Bengals' D ranks 14th in the league and while they are great at stopping the run their secondary has given up an average of 241 passing yards per game. The Bengals have to get to Big Ben in this game and not allow him time to find Ward and Holmes, who are each averaging at least 14 yards per reception. The Bengals have 21 sacks this season the Pittsburgh offensive line has given up 23 sacks this season.

The Bengals may have already shown they are legit, but if they win this game they will be all alone in the AFC North and will have swept the Steelers this season. That will not be easy to do against a Pittsburgh team that is on fire and on a 5-game winning streak

The Marasoft Pick: Steelers -7