This Sunday Night Football game probably wasn’t going to be good anyway. The Steelers are inconsistent at best and are an aging football team that gives little hope for even the next couple of years. The Seahawks didn’t fix their defense, and Russell Wilson is still getting hit at an alarming rate. The second portion of that sentence is at least partially responsible for Geno Smith starting for Seattle. Either way, this is why gambling was invented. To take games that suck, and make them interesting again! As always, we will take a look at a few plus-money plays that we can sprinkle some lunch money on. If you want all the plays from each game, click Buy Packages and get the expert picks of BTB and BTBJesse.
In both the Steelers and Seahawks first five games, the first score of the game was a touchdown in three of five. Not much there as a trend. Will Geno Smith be able to drive down the field and punch it in against a Steelers team that allows 2 passing touchdowns a game? Or, will the Steelers, at home, be a place of comfort for Big Ben and he can take advantage of a rough Seattle secondary. I personally think that both offenses will be good enough, but likely it starts with a field goal. Drives might stall out with the old quarterback without his best wide receiver and the backup. I’m going to start my plays with both teams first score as a Field Goal. The Steelers are +330 for the first score of the game to be a field goal, and the Seahawks are +370. I’ll play them both knowing one will certainly lose and both could.
Geno Smith spread the ball around pretty well when he came into the game. DK Metcalf, Tyler Lockett, and Will Dissly all saw multiple targets. Again, the Seahawks were playing from behind so it is hard to say how much coach Pete Carroll will look to have Smith throw in comparison to the run game. Pittsburgh is allowing 272 passing yards and 100 rushing yards. I’m going to play Dissly to score a touchdown anytime at +550. I think there is good value there, but keep in mind, the Steelers have allowed just one touchdown to tight ends this season.
As far as first touchdown, the Seahawks have allowed five touchdowns to running backs and six to wide receivers. Najee Harris leads the Steelers in targets this season with 39. He’s scored one receiving touchdown and two rushing. I like him to be the first touchdown scorer at +450. I also think this is an opportunity for him to have a big game.
One last consideration. DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett to score the Seahawks first touchdown are at +360 and +400, respectively. I prefer Metcalf as I think he is more talented, but both are very good receivers. I’m going to play Metcalf, but I wouldn’t hesitate to put a taco dinner on both of them. Just like the field goal play, only one can win.