NFL Week 15 Picks: Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Dallas Cowboys

Pittsburgh Steelers at Dallas Cowboys
Sunday, 12/16/12, 4:25 PM EST, TV: CBS
Opening Point Spread: Dallas -1
Current Betting Line: Dallas PK
Opening Total: 44
Current Total: 45.5
Odds Courtesy of Bookmaker

Titans Vs Cowboys Betting Preview — The Dallas Cowboys are 0-6 ATS at home this season

Pittsburgh will attempt to bounce back from a disappointing 34-24 loss to the San Diego Chargers as seven-point home favorites last week, while going OVER the total for the third consecutive game. “We didn’t make the necessary plays that we needed to make,” commented Cortez Allen. “We just have to be better.” The Steelers have won 29 of their past 35 regular-season games against NFC opponents, which can’t be ignored when making your NFL picks against the spread in Week 15. Pittsburgh is 3-4 ATS on the road this year, with the OVER going 5-2 in that situation.

The Steelers are looking to extend their regular-season streak of holding teams under 300 net passing yards to 37 games. Pittsburgh has held eight of its last nine opponents to under 20 points, which is important to consider when looking at the total on the pro football odds page. The franchise is in position to land one of the two AFC Wild Card spots if it manages to win out, as it has won both of Ben Roethlisberger’s starts against today’s opponent.

Dallas has won four of its last five games, including a 20-19 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals as 3.5-point road underdogs, while going UNDER the total for the first time in three contests. The Cowboys will certainly be challenged to move the football through the air, as they face a defense that allows just 169.2 passing yards per game, while wide receiver Dez Bryant is listed as probable with a fractured left index finger. Dallas is 0-6 ATS at home this season, with the OVER going 4-2 in that situation.

The Cowboys will need quarterback Tony Romo to be smart with the football inside Cowboys Stadium, as he’s completed 66.3 percent of his attempts for an average of 306.8 yards in his last five games. Dallas has also managed to win its last two games despite giving up 7.2 yards per carry, but Pittsburgh ranks just 25th in the league in averaging 98.6 yards per game on the ground.