NFL wild-card predictions: Sharp money moves line on Steelers-Texans playoff game
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Something has to give in the Pittsburgh Steelers’ wild-card playoff game at home against the Houston Texans on “Monday Night Football.”
The Steelers are riding a 23-game home winning streak on Monday night, but coach Mike Tomlin has lost six straight postseason games.
The Texans are on a nine-game winning streak but searching for their first road win in the playoffs in the franchise’s 24-year history.
Houston is a 3-point favorite and the consensus total is 38, with 38½ available at the South Point, Caesars Sportsbook and STN Sports.
Sharp bettors have backed the Steelers, who were 3½-point underdogs last week.
“Right now, we need Houston. We’ve taken some big bets on Pittsburgh,” Westgate vice president of race and sports John Murray said. “Currently, we’ve taken some real sharp bets on Pittsburgh. But a lot of the sharp money has gone up in smoke this weekend.”
The Steelers won and covered four of their last five games this season, winning the AFC North division title in Week 18 with a 26-24 upset of the Ravens as 4½-point underdogs on “Sunday Night Football.”
“We’ve seen some money on the Steelers. The number has come down from 3 -120 to 3 flat (-110),” Red Rock Resort sportsbook director Chuck Esposito said. “We have a lot of future book liability on the Steelers, too. The Steelers have been at least 3-point home ‘dogs in a primetime game in back to back weeks. The difference is you get (wideout) DK Metcalf back.
“The Texans are a little challenged offensively but by far the best defensive team in the postseason. That’s why you see the lowest total on the board at 38½.”