$ BETTING GUIDE
Looking to place a wager on some football games this weekend? The Post-Gazette has all the information you need to make picks in key contests, locally and nationally. Here’s the outlook for games Oct. 7-11.
Odds are current as of Wednesday afternoon, per DraftKings. Historical information is from Odds Shark. Public betting info is from Action Network.
Pro Football Steelers at Cleveland
Spread: Cleveland, -3.5
Moneyline: Cleveland -190, Steelers +160
Over/under: 42
Trends: The over has cashed in just one of the Steelers’ six games this season. … However, six of the past eight meetings have reached or exceeded a total of 42 points. … The Steelers have covered in two of their three games as an underdog this season. … The Browns are a strong public side, with 67% of the bets and 79% of the money behind them. … Cleveland is 5-7 against the spread at home since the start of 2020.
Thursday Night: Green Bay at Arizona
Spread: Arizona, -6.5
Moneyline: Arizona -280, Green Bay +225
Over/under: 50.5
Trends: Both teams are 6-1 against the spread in 2021. … The over is drawing 70% of the bets but just 39% of the money wagered, a sign big bettors expect the under to hit. … That might be because the under has hit in five of Green Bay’s seven games.
Sunday Night: Dallas at Minnesota
Spread: Dallas, -3
Moneyline: Dallas -150, Minnesota +130
Over/under: 54.5
Trends: Dallas is undefeated against the spread this season, having covered in each of its first six games. … The Cowboys have also been a profitable over bet, cashing in five of their six games. … For this reason, Dallas is a massive public side with 84% of the bets and 92% of the money behind it, making this a potential opportunity to fade the public and bet with the house.
Monday Night: New York Giants at Kansas City
Spread: Kansas City, -9.5
Moneyline: Kansas City -425, New York +320
Over/under: 51.5
Trends: Kansas City is 2-5 against the spread in 2021 after failing to cover in 10 of its final 11 games last season. … The under is drawing 55% of the tickets but 92% of the money, a sign bigger bettors are expecting a lower-scoring game.
College Football Miami at No. 17 Pitt
Spread: Pitt, -9
Moneyline: Pitt -380, Miami +290
Over/under: 61
Trends: The Hurricanes are drawing just 48% of the bets but 67% of the money, a sign bigger bettors are backing them. … Pitt has not beaten Miami by more than nine points in any of the 23 meetings since 1976. … However, Pitt has beaten its four power conference opponents by an average of 17.25 points this season. ... The under has hit in each of Pitt’s past two games after the Panthers started the season with five consecutive overs. … Miami has covered in three of its past four games after starting the season 0-3 against the spread.
No. 20 Penn State at No. 5 Ohio State
Spread: Ohio State, -18.5
Moneyline: Ohio State -1000, Penn State +650
Over/under: 59.5
Trends: Penn State would have covered a spread of 18.5 points in each of the past five meetings. … The Buckeyes are drawing 70% of the tickets and 85% of the money, a sign big bettors are backing them. However, the line has moved seven points since open, meaning today’s Ohio State bettors are getting a significantly worse price. … The over has cashed in five of Ohio State’s seven games this season while the opposite has been true for Penn State. … The Nittany Lions are 2-3 against the spread as underdogs since the start of last season. … The Buckeyes are riding a four-game winning streak against the spread after starting 0-2-1.
No. 22 Iowa State at West Virginia
Spread: Iowa State, -7
Moneyline: Iowa State -275, West Virginia +220
Over/under: 48.5
Trends: The Cyclones have won each of the past three meetings by an average of 25.3 points. … Despite this, the Mountaineers are drawing 81% of the money wagered on just 52% of the tickets, an indication big bettors are behind them. … The under has cashed in five of West Virginia’s seven games in 2021. … Four of the past six meetings have gone under a total of 48.5 points.
No. 6 Michigan at No. 8 Michigan State
Spread: Michigan, -4.5
Moneyline: Michigan -200, Michigan State +170
Over/under: 50.5
Trends: The over is drawing just 44% of the tickets but 78% of the money, a sign bigger bettors are expecting a higher-scoring game. … Both teams have been hot vs. the spread. Michigan is 6-0 while Michigan State is 5-1-1.