NFL FOOTBALL BETTING PREDICTION - JACKSONVILLE JAGS @ PITTSBURGH STEELERS

NFL Football

2008-01-05 - Jacksonville Jags at Pittsburgh Steelers

A Sports Betting Pick by FirstDown

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS @ PITTSBURGH STEELERS

PITTSBURGH STEELERS

Pittsburgh won the AFC North with their 10-6 record, beating out the Cleveland Browns thanks to their 2 victories over that franchise this season. However, they will enter this wild card game as the underdog, something that is unheard of at Heinze Field in regular or playoff matches. Pittsburgh ended the season 7-1 at Heinze Field this season and it was really their form on the road that let them down, but they have not come flying into the playoffs.

The Steelers have limped into the playoffs with 3 defeats from their last 4 regular season games. At the start of those 4 games, Pittsburgh were tipped as potential number 2 seeds in the AFC, but those defeats dropped them to number 4. Their last game at home saw Jacksonville really beat them at their own game by running through the Steelers. The defense has also come up short recently, conceding 28.5 points per game in those last 4 games. The offense has not really struggled less and has only surpassed 22 points in 1 of those 4 matches. Their last 4 games at Heinze Field saw them lose 1, win 2 by 3 points and blow out Cincinnati showing their vulnerability.

Ben Roethlisberger returns to the starting line up this week, but the Steelers have been decimated by injuries over the last few weeks. Willie Parker is done for the year and Troy Polamalu is a big doubt for this game. Aaron Smith and Ryan Clark miss out, and offensive tackles Marvel Smith and Max Starks also wont take part.

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS

Jacksonville are considered the real dark horse as the number 5 seed in the AFC. They finished with an 11-5 record which was a better record than Pittsburgh but still not good enough to overhaul Indianapolis in the AFC South. They ended with a 5-3 record on the road after Houston beat on their second string players last week in Houston.

Before last week the Jaguars had won 6 of 7, their only loss being a tight defeat to the Colts in Indianapolis. They have beaten 3 other AFC playoff teams during their run both at home and on the road and the team has scored at least 24 points in each of their last 10 games. The defense had only allowed 2 teams to pass 20 points in their 7 games previous to last week. Jacksonville are playing hot right now.

Mike Peterson will miss this match for the Jaguars again.

STATISTICS

Jacksonville have won 3 straight against Pittsburgh, including the last 2 meetings at Heinze Field. They have to overcome history here as no team has beaten Pittsburgh twice at Heinze Field within a single season.

There is a high chance we will see snow or rain tomorrow but the conditions should be no worse than they were during their match 3 weeks ago.

PREDICTION:

Jacksonville are considered the Pittsburgh Steelers of the South and will look for another dominant running game to see off Pittsburgh.

The Steelers are likely to put the ball in the hands of Big Ben and hope he can take advantage of the weaker secondary of the Jaguars.

I have a feeling the fact that Jacksonville won here recently, plus the injury problems throughout the Steeler team, means the Jaguars come to Heinze Field and win again.

The Pick :