Monday Night Lock (NFL Week 17)
Browns @ Steelers (-2.5), O/U 43.5
Have you ever wondered how a spread changes depending on the meaning of the game? This game gave us our answer, seeing as the Browns were favored all week, by as much as 3.5, and since being eliminated from playoff contention yesterday, are now 2.5 point underdogs here. Nothing else changed. They simply are just being viewed as having less to play for. That’s wild to me, especially in a primetime division game where they’ll likely give it their all to try to end their rival’s season.
This likely will be Big Ben’s last home game as a Pittsburgh Steeler, and perhaps as an NFL player. That was all the reason I needed to pick the Steelers in this one. Despite what my eyes tell me of who Big Ben is now, I still respect him too much to not think he’ll be on his A-game one last time here. I’m a sap for these types of things. I felt much better about the pick when the Steelers were getting the field goal and opposed to essentially giving the field goal, but I’ll stick with my pick here. Let’s go Ben!
