Sportsbooks have flooded the West Virginia online sports betting market with same-game parlays this season.
The Pittsburgh Steelers seek a same-week parlay, two victories in five days, when they visit the Minnesota Vikings on Thursday Night Football.
Pittsburgh, 6-5-1, brings momentum from a heart-stomping 20-19 triumph over the Baltimore Ravens at Heinz Field. It faces a 5-7 Vikings team that experienced colossal dejection, losing on the final play against the Detroit Lions, who gained their first victory of the season.
The Steelers’ up-and-down season will look up again if they can nail this two-bagger.
Pittsburgh Steelers Odds At WV Sportsbooks
Diontae Johnson, who caught two touchdown passes from Ben Roethlisberger last week, is +750 to score first and +150 anytime at DraftKings WV Sportsbook.
Chase “Overdue” Claypool, with just one TD this season, is +1200 to tally first and +190 overall.
Najee Harris, Mr. Automatic in the Steelers backfield, is +550 to score first and -135 to tally at all. These numbers illustrate a stark phenomenon for Pittsburgh’s first-round draft choice, who has 1,166 all-purpose yards: He’s expected to score.
Pat Freiermuth, the team’s clutch receiver near the goal line, is +1200 to notch the first touchdown and +190 for anytime. Freiermuth tallied the difference-making two-point conversion against the Ravens.
For Minnesota, Justin Jefferson is +650 as a first-time tally and -105 anytime.
His stature will be impacted by the health of Adam Thielen, who is at +650 and -100. Monitor the status of Thielen, who left Minnesota’s game against Detroit early with a high-ankle sprain. They don’t heal quickly.
Mountain State prop bettors know that based on the injury he suffered in the first series on Sunday, it’s difficult to believe he’ll be able to push off on the ankle on a short week.
Thielen did not practice Tuesday. This does not mean he won’t play, but the signs point against him.
What that could mean is possible double coverage on Jefferson and one fewer potent target for the Steelers to cover deep.
Betting On The Steelers’ Game Total
Over bettors will strongly consider the DraftKings total of 43.
The Steelers and Vikings games combined for 44 points (in the fourth quarter) of their Sunday matchups.
Combine that with the Vikings’ shell-shocking loss, and one would expect an angry, up-tempo start. Further pair that with the Steelers being weak on allowing yards after third-down catches, keeping the Ravens’ offense on the field.
The over-under for this game is manageable for the over. Or at least with a slight tease down on the total for a price.
Yes, eight of the 12 previous Thursday night games have ended in the 30s and mid 40s. Teams don’t usually have the timing and zip that a full week gives them, but the Steelers and Vikings can’t afford to play conservatively.
DraftKings bettors, meanwhile, have an interesting Steelers win total prop to consider.
Pittsburgh is -125 at DraftKings to win at least eight games. That’s two more wins needed in their murderous five-game homestretch. They play at the Vikings, host the Tennessee Titans, visit the Kansas City Chiefs, play the Cleveland Browns at home and have an away rematch with the Ravens.
Do they have two in them?
The return of T.J. Watt has brought ferocity to the Pittsburgh defense. This game is one of the most winnable on the remainder of the Steelers’ schedule.
Regarding the game itself, if the Steelers can notch a defensive or special-team touchdown, it pays +650. Viking Kirk Cousins is always a pick-six threat because he makes poor decisions at times.
On the flip side, a Vikings special-team score is worth +550.
Anyone thinking a defense can score first would obtain +3000 for the Vikings and +3500 for the Steelers.
Pittsburgh Steelers Season Overview
The Steelers have been a “just when” team for the last month.
As in:
Just when they were poised to go 6-3, Roethlisberger missed the Detroit Lions game by testing positive for COVID. Mason Rudolph wasn’t good, rain made conditions soggy and the Steelers gained a morbid-looking 16-16 tie.
Just when they roared back from 17 points down to lead the Los Angeles Chargers the next week, they gave up a long, game-winning late touchdown.
A blowout loss to the Cincinnati Bengals followed, and just when it looked like their season was over, the Steelers seized a nail biter from the Ravens.
Even the Ravens game was a “just when” miniseries: a pass-interference call keeping a late Steelers drive alive, then a Baltimore late fumble that went out of bounds.
The Steelers needed one final contribution from Watt. He applied pressure on Lamar Jackson, who rushed his game-winning two-point toss to a wide-open Marc Andrews, who could not grab it.
Pittsburgh won the game of inches this time. But every week, it comes down to something like that.
