The following breakdown has been provided by our friends at Sharp Hunter, authored by Mike Mutnansky:

Backups quarterbacks. 

Contract incentives. 

Questions about team motivation. 

We have a bevy of moving parts in Week 18 across the NFL. 

Thankfully, the sharps at Sharp Hunter can give us an idea of where the sharp money is going this weekend. 

We’ve got two games on Saturday before Sunday’s monster slate. One of those games features the Steelers hosting the Bengals. Cincinnati is a 2.5-point favorite in a game with a consensus 48-point total.

Best Bet for Steelers vs Bengals Week 18

At Sharp Hunter, we’re seeing action Bengals. We show a One-Bag Sharp Score to back that up. 

I get why they’re betting on Cincinnati here. 

But this is not a spot I can bet with the sharps. 

The Bengals need this game—plus losses from Denver and Miami on Sunday—to make the playoffs in the AFC. The Steelers are in but a win here can help them secure the #5 seed and avoid Baltimore in the Wild Card round in the AFC. Even if the Ravens win early Saturday, I expect Mike Tomlin to play this game to win.

And these are the spots I love to back Mike Tomlin. He’s a gaudy 26-10-2 (72%!) ATS as an underdog in the AFC North. In Week 17 or later in the regular season, his teams are 14-7 ATS. He gets his team ready for games like this and they finish the season playing competitive football.

On the field, his team has some advantages—especially with Pittsburgh’s defensive line over the Cincinnati OL. MAJOR advantage Pittsburgh.

Even with all of Joe Burrow’s heroics this season, his team needs a win here because the defense has been terrible. George Pickens is getting healthier and will have a major impact here. Jaylen Warren keeps getting more touches and that has made the Black and Gold offense better.

Look, I love Burrow. The public loves Joe and his Bengals. The NFL would love Burrow and Co. in the playoffs. And even the sharps at Sharp Hunter are betting the Bengals minus the points. 

I’m alone on an island—the “Have to bet Mike Tomlin as an underdog” Island. 

Give me the Steelers plus the points on Saturday Night.

For a full, comprehensive breakdown of everything you need to know for the Bengals vs Steelers game, check out our Game Preview with predictions, betting trends, and more!

Steelers vs Bengals Week 18 Predictions