Game Time:  8:20 pm ET, Sunday, November 21st, 2021

Venue: SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles, California

Where to Watch:  NBC, Sunday Night Football

FanDuel:  Spread:  Chargers -5.5; Over/Under:  48.5 points

BetMGM:  Spread: Chargers -5.5; Over/Under:  47.5 points

Caesars:  Spread:  Chargers -3.5; Over/Under:  48.5 points

 

Steelers: 5-3 (AFC North)

Chargers: 5-4 (AFC West)

The Steelers were supposed to be dead because their quarterback is old and has fallen off the cliff… They aren’t.  He may have, but they aren’t.  This matchup is not a quarterback duel. Pittsburgh games this NFL season are about supporting Ben Roethlisberger through his decline.  PA has Ben’s back. Pit has Ben’s back.  Right now it’s working and they are in the mix. They are 1 game behind the Baltimore Ravens… can they catch up? Can they win ATS?

The LAC line up in a stadium in Inglewood California.  LA fans really do not care.  The LA fans have bought into the Rams and will go to Chargers games for entertainment purposes only.  Betting sites care more about the Los Angeles Chargers odds than your average Angeleno.  The Chargers have turned in a batch of disappointing performances over the last few weeks.  The team’s record has taken a hit.  Bettors have shied away.  However as we all know Matchup stats can make you money… and the long term profitability of teams has little to do with recent games… so, for your amusement and to take some cash from Sportsbook Operators, let’s look at the stats and add some key insight to make some money.

 

Al McMordie CASHED his NFL Game of the Month last week on the New Orleans Saints (part of a 9-3 Sunday), and is an awesome 100-73 this Football Season going into this week's action (and 777-586 his last 1363). Now, for Sunday, Big Al's #1 NFL Play is RIGHT HERE. Don't miss Big Al's One and Only NFL Game of the Week, as it's out of two angles that combine for a 79-38 ATS record. Go get it!  Get Big Al’s picks… They’re available right now at the Shop Picks page, where you can find all of the Best Bets from our champion sports handicappers.  Stay with us for help with the NBA, NHL, NCAAF, and MLB.

 

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The Steelers are coming off of a tie with the Detroit Lions 16-16.  The NFL has not yet come up with a solution for ties… though they should.  Prior to the tie they were on a 4 game win streak… wins against the Chicao Bears, the Cleveland Browns, the Seattle Seahawks, and the Denver Broncos.  Not a murderer's row by any means but still wins. Pitt is 5-3-1 on the season, but 3-6 ATS.  They have logged 2 Overs and 7 Unders.  They are a team that relies on the defense to keep them in it.  They are 2-1 in away games.

 

The Chargers are 5-4 on the season and have gone 5-4 ATS.  They have notched 3 Overs and 6 unders.  They are a lousy 2-3 in home games… of course they have no real home games as they are in their third stadium in 4 years.  LAC lost their last game to the Minnesota Vikings 27-20.  They won the game before that against the Philadelphia Eagles 27-24… They have also lost to the New England Patriots and the Baltimore Raven to make it 1-3 over their last four.  Before that they were the feel-good story of the league.  With 6 Unders on the point total this season… maybe Justin Herbert isn’t the arm talent he has been advertised as?

The Steelers score 19.7 ppg on 331.1 ypg.  They are getting 236.4 passing yards a game and a low 94.7 rushing yards a game.  Najee Harris is great, he needs more carries.

The Chargers score 24.3 ppg on 370.2 ypg.  They get 270 passing yards and 100.2 rushing yards per game.

The Steelers give up 20.6 ppg on 348.9 ypg

The Chargers give up 25.3 ppg on 361.1 ypg.

 

Our prediction for Sunday November 21st is…  Chargers 28 - Steelers 13

Entirely based on Mason Rudolph starting instead of Ben… The change to the line is far greater than Joey Bosa missing a game for the Chargers.  (Though the Chargers should trade Joey Bosa while he has value and get someone cheaper and some picks to keep building around Herbert)

 

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Pittsburgh is 3-6 ATS in all games this season.

Pittsburgh is 3-1 ATs as an underdog this season.

The Chargers are 1-5 ATS as a home favorite of 3.5 - 7 pts the last 3 seasons

The Chargers are 2-8 ATS in November games the last 3 seasons.

 

Steelers:  Ben Roethlisberger Quest ** TE Eric Ebron Quest ** 

Chargers: LB Joey Bosa (Covid-19) OUT ** DT Christian Covington (COVID) OUT.

Steelers: Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (may be out), QB Mason Rudolph, RB Najee harris, WR Diontae Johnson, WR Chase Claypool, WR James Washington, TE Pat Freiermuth, FB Derek Watt, LT Dan Moore JR, LG Kevin Dotson, C Kendrick Green, RG Trai Turner, RT Chukwuma Okorafor

Chargers: QB Justin Herbert, RB Austin Ekeler, WR Keenan Allen, WR Mike Williams, WR Joshua Palmer, TE Jared Cook, FB Gabe aNeighbors, LT Rawshawn Slater, LG Matt Feiler, C Corey Linsley, RG Michael Schofield III, RT Strom Norton 

 

Steelers

Passing Yards: Ben Roethlisberger 1,986

Rushing Yards: Najee harris 646

Receiving Yards: Diontae Johnson 613

Tackles: Minkah Fitzpatrick 64

Interceptions: Cameron Heyward 1 (this guy is a defensive tackle?)

Chargers

Passing Yards: Justin Herbert 2,545

Rushing Yards: Austin Ekeler 523

Receiving Yards: Keenan Allen 698

Tackles: Darwin James: 80

Interceptions: Kyzir White 2

 

Steelers:  Mike Tomlin.  Coach Tomlin does not want the USC job!  He has made it clear!  Offer that job to Sean Payton and Andy Reid first (Tomlin has the better pro win percentage) before we ruin a good thing in Pittsburgh.  He has a great job, he’s a great coach, and you can just eat a bucket of dirt. He is coming off a disappointing tie and may be forced to use his backup QB all game.

 

Chargers: Brandon Staley.  Coach Staley is ridiculously green around the gills.  A rookie NFL coach who is only two seasons removed from being a linebackers coach.  In fact he was a kid graduate assistant in 2008!  I have 3 cherry cars in the garage older than Brandon.  In fact “Brandon” as a name may not have been popular until the 80’s.  (Tn, MI, Il, WV, NJ, IA, … are all on pins and needles to see what the kid can do… and to finally legally gamble online)

 

Partly Cloudy, 80* for the high, 21% humidity, 4 mph wind.  The finest city in the world to live in year round will have a warm spring day again, and again, and again, and again.