As training camp begins, Pittsburgh Steelers‘ fans are looking to the future – and placing NFL future bets. The upcoming season promises a mix of stability from their coach-quarterback combination and changes with the tumultuous departure on the team’s star receiver.
Mike Tomlin is back for an added year as the Pittsburgh Steeler’s coach, through at least the 2021 season. Tomlin is just the third head coach of the team since 1969.
A winning coach, Tomlin’s under pressure to get the team to the Super Bowl once again in his 13th season at the helm. The team last won the Super Bowl in 2008. Tomlin’s record is 125–66–1 in his previous 12 seasons and he has reached the playoffs eight times.
But last year, the Steelers missed the postseason for the first time since 2013.
The online sportsbooks at BetRivers and SugarHouse put the over/under for season wins by the team at nine out of 16 games, matching their record for last season.
Also back is Roethlisberger, the Steelers’ QB since 2004
Ben Roethlisberger, 37, is also back as the quarterback, with an extension worth $68 million in the two new years of the extended deal, including a $37.5 million signing bonus.
That means Big Ben will still be a Steeler when he turns 40 and he’ll likely finish his career with the team.
Together, the coach and QB have 115 regular-season NFL wins, the most of any coach-QB combo in Steeler’s history.
Roethlisberger is one of the main focuses of future betting action at the at BetRivers and SugarHouse.
He’s +2,500 to win the MVP title, which is the 12th-lowest odds of anyone. The over/under on his TD passes is 27.5.
Star receiver Brown is gone. So is the drama
Missing from the field, but not necessarily missed, is talented and temperamental wide receiver Antonio Brown, now playing for Oakland after begging for a trade.
Tomlin had benched Brown for the final game of last year’s season after Brown skipped meetings and took to Twitter to rough up Roethlisberger.
While Brown’s 15 touchdown receptions from last season will be missed, the drama won’t.
Former Steelers QB Terry Bradshaw, speaking on a podcast this week summed up the sentiment of many Pittsburgh fans about Brown:
“I cannot stand divas. Can’t stand ’em.”
With Brown off the roster, the two books predict a big season for JuJu Smith-Schuster. His odds of having the most receiving touchdowns in the league this season stand at +1,200. Additionally, with odds set at +1,800, James Conner is in the running for most rushing TDs in the league.
First regular-season game on Sept. 8
The team begins with an exhibition game against the Buccaneers on Aug. 9.
But the real deal kicks off against the fearsome New England Patriots on Sept. 8. Playing away, the Steelers are 6 point underdogs right now, according to the books.
Sports bettors are also already looking toward February 2020, wagering on the Super Bowl, and the Steelers’ odds of being in the big game.
BetRivers and SugarHouse put the Steelers’ odds making it to Hard Rock Stadium just outside Miami at +1,000. That’s the sixth-lowest odds for reaching the Super Bowl.
The books put Steelers at +2,200 to win the Super Bowl.
The top four teams contending for the Super Bowl, according to the oddsmakers, are:
- New England Patriots (+700)
- Kansas City Chiefs (+850)
- Los Angeles Rams (+1,000)
- New Orleans Saints (+1,000)
