The oddsmaker always remembers the good things you have done in the past and believes you will do it again in the future.
How else to explain the Steelers going from suffering the worst defeat of any Week 1 team to being the biggest favorite on the NFL odds menu just a few days later. http://oddsshark.com/nfl/steelers-biggest-chalk-opening-lines
That's the nature of the betting business where the Steelers come home to face the Seattle Seahawks, opening as 15-point favorites, according to several shops tracked by OddsShark.com.
After turning the ball over seven times in a humbling loss at Baltimore, Pitt turns its focus to its Super Bowl XL victim. Those Seahawks were in the game in Week 1, but a pair of fourth-quarter returns for TDs by Ted Ginn turned a close game into a lopsided final score.
But giving 15 points? After looking so bad on Sunday?
"It's still the Steelers, it's still their home opener and they are still facing a team with Tarvaris Jackson at the helm, so it could still get ugly," said Mike Pickett of OddsShark.com.
Indeed, the Week 1 loss to the 49ers continued a couple of ugly trends in Seattle. It makes them 1-8 ATS in their past 9 September road games and pushed the game OVER the total for the 10th time in 11 games when they were an underdog. They also have been obedient dogs, losing ATS 8 of the past 9 times they were dogged by 9 points or more.
All trends that point to backing the home team in Week 2, while offering a glimpse into a possible OVER play.
Week 2 Opening Lines
The Steelers are the biggest chalk of the week but the Jets (-11.5 at home to Jacksonville) and Green Bay (-10.5 at Carolina) are also double-digit chalk. And there are some whopping large totals on the board, including 50.5 in New England where the Pats host the Chargers.
The biggest drama of the week will be in Atlanta where the Falcons welcome back Michael Vick. But if history is any measuring stick, do not expect Vick's Eagles to be gracious guests. The Eagles are 10-1-1 ATS in the past 12 meetings with the Falcons. http://oddsshark.com/nfl/falcons-vs-eagles-betting-preview-september-18-2011
Check out all the latest live odds, matchup reports and trends analysis on every pro and college game, including Pitt and Penn State — only at OddsShark.com. http://oddsshark.com/ncaaf