New York Jets Vs. Pittsburgh Steelers Betting Odds and Pick

Losers of their last two games both straight-up and against the spread (ATS), the New York Jets are an underdog this weekend for just the fourth time this season. The Jets have lost their last two games and things won’t get any easier as they travel to western Pennsylvania to take on the 10-3 Pittsburgh Steelers.

Online betting outfit Sportsbook.com currently has the Jets vs. Steelers point spread at Jets plus-six points.

Over the last two weeks the Jets have scored a combined nine points. Their offense has not produced a touchdown in over nine quarters of play. The task of getting in the end zone won’t be any easier Sunday—the Steelers’ defense allows just 15.2 points per game (ppg), second lowest in the NFL. Over their last four games, their opponents averaged just nine ppg—not surprising the Steelers covered the "Under" in each of those four contests.

The Jets vs. Steelers total is currently listed at 36 points with 57 percent of the bettors at Sportsbook.com are on the "Under".

When looking at the New York Jets schedule, one thing jumps off the page: despite their 9-4 record, they have not beaten many good teams. Only two of their victories came against a team with a winning record and both of those wins came in the second and third weeks of the season. Additionally, only one of those wins, their Week 2 win over the Patriots, came against a team that will make the playoffs.

All that being said, the Jets are still in line for the playoffs; but they obviously need to start winning games, NOW.

The Steelers will be without their best player as Troy Polamalu is on the shelf for the rest of the regular season with a bum achilles tendon. No. 43 is one of those rare defensive players that can totally change a game and alter an NFL point spread all by himself.

No coincidence that in 2009 when Polamalu missed 11 games, Pittsburgh missed the playoffs. In the five games he played, the Steelers were 4-1 SU and never gave up more than 18 points. In the 11 games where he was on the sideline, the Steelers were just 4-6 and held only two teams to fewer than 18 points.

In order for the Jets to keep this game close, they’ll need to take care of the ball. Quarterback Mark Sanchez can’t turn the ball over against Pittsburgh’s opportunistic defense that has a plus-14 turnover margin.

Sanchez was brilliant in this department earlier in the season as he did not throw an interception in his first five games. However, he has thrown a pick in every game—12 in all. Again, having Polamalu on the sidelines will only help the Jets cause here—as No. 43 is tied for second in the NFL with six picks.

Oddsauthority.com Jets vs. Steelers Prediction:

Although the Jets aren’t as good as many thought earlier in the season, they aren’t as bad as they’ve played the last two weeks. With a game next week in Chicago, this is almost a "must win" game; their backs are up against the wall.

With Polamalu out, the Steelers are a different team. The Jets will be able to hang around with the AFC North leaders and New York will cover the point spread.

Final score: Steelers win 17-13.