by Chuck Sommers
Saturday, Dec 17, 2022
Time: 1 p.m. ET
Venue: Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, NC
Where to watch: CBS
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: Panthers -2.5
FanDuel: Panthers -3
BetMGM: Panthers -3
Caesars: Panthers -3
Season record
Steelers: 5-8
Panthers: 5-8
We’re coming down the home stretch of the NFL season and there’s still a lot left to get excited for on your TV screen (or your streaming device if you’re like me and watch Sunday Ticket on a Fire Stick. That works, too). Nevertheless, the final few weeks of the regular season are going to be hectic for everyone on the field, but just as much as everyone off it. You’re probably going to need to figure out which plays are the best ones in terms of teams sitting the star players for the playoff advantage, or which teams are going all in for the final playoff push. If you need that extra push, trust that our champion handicappers can get the job done for you. Matt Fargo has a 17-9-0 run over the last 30 days in the NFL. Brian Bitler has continued to stay consistent, despite a wild, unpredictable season, by going 16-9-0. Do you want a piece of this action? Make sure to stay locked to bigal.com and follow our champion handicappers so you can be a champion, too!
Steelers - Panthers preview, analysis and prediction
Last week
Steelers: lost 16-14 vs. Ravens
Panthers: won 30-24 at Seahawks
Steelers analysis
Steelers analysis
The Pittsburgh Steelers have been unable to find that consistency needed for a young team. Better luck next year, I suppose. The way that the Steelers were supposed to progress this year I think has taken some people aback. Not only people cannot take the Steelers seriously when it comes to the actual on field aspect, but against the spread it has been not that good either.
Pittsburgh is coming off a 16-14 loss to the Baltimore Ravens at home last week in which the Steelers were an interesting favored by 1.5 points. It was set up nicely for the Steelers to face a Baltimore team that did not have it's starting quarterback and MVP candidate.
The Steelers aren’t just there yet. Kenny Pickett hasn’t had the gracious start to his career the likes of which would’ve been easily attainable after not needing to move far from the University of Pittsburgh to the actual Pittsburgh Steelers.
But the Steelers have found a way to cover in three of their last five, but the spread has been tight over the last month. The largest Pittsburgh has seen is getting 3.5 in the 37-30 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. Keep in mind that the Bengals were just getting Ja’Marr Chase back into the lineup and it being a home Pittsburgh game right before Thanksgiving would have played the element card fine.
Panthers analysis
No idea in this world what to make of the Carolina Panthers right now. Fired coach, no more Baker Mayfield, scoring at least 20 points in their last three wins (they’ve won three of the last four) and are 6-1-0 in their last seven against the spread. I have no idea what to make of this team at this current juncture.
Because this Carolina team, currently constructed, should not be a game back of the NFC South. But thanks to the ineptitude that is the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Carolina now has a chance to take the lead in the division with a win and a Tampa Bay loss. That will be hard to do with their last two games on the road, but that’s how reliable of an option the Panthers have been to this point.
Think of how Carolina’s form has taken shape since. It started with the 21-3 win against the Bucs when the Panthers were 13-point underdogs. Since that time, the Panthers are 4-3 straight up in their last seven and are somehow finding a formula with Sam Darnold at quarterback.
Darnold didn’t do much in the 30-24 win in Seattle last week, but someone needs to explain how this team has figured out how to run the ball AFTER trading Christian McCaffrey. D’onta Foreman ran for 74 yards, Chuba Hubbard ran for 74 yards. This team eclipsed 200 rushing yards. Again, it makes no sense.
Prediction
You give a young team life, especially when they’re playing well on both sides, you’re going to find something resembling of hope to cling to. And if that home crowd has something to cheer for, it’s going to be a good day for Carolina. Panthers by 6
Betting trends
Steelers are 97-66 ATS as an underdog since 1992.
Steelers are 65-42 ATS as a road underdog of 7 points or less since 1992.
Steelers are 0-6 ATS after a loss by 6 points or less the last 3 seasons.
Statistical leaders
Steelers:
Passing: Kenny Pickett -- 1,797 yards, 4 TD, 8 INT
Rushing: Najee Harris -- 704 yards, 5 TD
Receiving: Diontae Johnson -- 647 yards
Defense: Alex Highsmith -- 10 sacks
Panthers:
Passing: Sam Darnold -- 284 yards, 2 TD
Rushing: D'Onta Foreman -- 637 yards, 4 TD
Receiving: DJ Moore -- 605 yards, 4 TD
Defense: Brian Burns -- 10.5 sacks
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Chuck Sommers
About the Author:
Chuck Sommers has camped outside of sportsbooks since he can remember, learning the tricks and nuances of the trade. He still has nightmares of betting $5,000 on the Raiders in the Tuck Rule game but has since turned that to 25 years of veteran handicapping greatness. You can find him mostly in the shadows at the Red Rock or Aliante casinos wondering if the over is cashing on any given Sunday.
