The Pittsburgh Steelers have been one of the greatest professional football teams for several decades. Recently, Pittsburgh has struggled to get back into the Super Bowl hunt due to subpar quarterback play. Despite this, Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin has never had a losing season in his 17 years coaching Pittsburgh, an incredible achievement for an NFL head coach of nearly two decades.
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Pittsburgh Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin gets ready to throw a red challenge flag.
Pittsburgh has not won a playoff game since the 2016 season. Nevertheless, the Steelers have been one of the best NFL teams to bet on since 2003. Sports betting analyst Ben Fawkes shared data on the most profitable NFL teams to bet on against the spread, revealing that Pittsburgh has a 186-166-11 record since 2003. This means you would have won 52.8% of your bets on Pittsburgh if you bet on them to cover in every single game since then.
Best five NFL teams against the spread since the 2003 season:
— Ben Fawkes (@BFawkes22) July 3, 2024
1. New England Patriots (209-159-10, 56.8%)
2. Green Bay Packers (203-157-7, 56.4%)
3. Indianapolis Colts (193-161-10, 54.5%)
4. Cincinnati Bengals (180-158-14, 53.3%)
5. Pittsburgh Steelers (186-166-11, 52.8%)
Pittsburgh ranked fifth on the list, just below their AFC North rivals, the Cincinnati Bengals, who came in fourth. The Indianapolis Colts grabbed the third spot, while the Green Bay Packers took second. The New England Patriots narrowly claimed first place as the most profitable team in football since the 2003 season.
Associated Press
Pittsburgh Steelers running back, Najee Harris (22) stiff arming a Bengals defender during the 2023 season.
Pittsburgh had a 52.8% win percentage against the spread, compared to the first-place Patriots' 56.8%. This close race highlights the difficulty of consistently betting on a team and being profitable. Remarkably, bettors who placed wagers on these five teams to cover the spread in every game since 2003 would have found themselves in the rare category of profitable sports bettors. This is significant, given that most football and sports bettors tend to lose money.
It's not surprising to see Pittsburgh on this list. Since Tomlin began coaching the Steelers in 2007, he has become the longest-tenured head coach in the NFL, never experiencing a losing season. While Pittsburgh has recently struggled to return to the Super Bowl conversation, they remain a formidable regular-season team. Under Tomlin's leadership, the Steelers consistently have a strong chance of winning or at least covering the spread, making them one of the most profitable teams in the NFL.
As the 2024 season approaches, these five teams have historically shown that betting on them to cover each game could lead to profitable sports betting. However, this does not mean you should blindly bet on Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Indianapolis, Green Bay, and New England in 2024. The data spans over two decades, and teams and head coaches have changed. It's essential to research each season's performance against the spread before placing bets. Always wager responsibly.
Steelers Fans Are Split On Mike Tomlin
Steelers fans hope that Tomlin and the revamped team will continue to be profitable for those betting on them in 2024 but also because it would signal Pittsburgh is a top team in the league. Despite a challenging 2024 schedule, Pittsburgh should be well-positioned to maintain their successful trend against the spread with Tomlin at the helm.
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Pittsburgh Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin claps during a practice.
While some Pittsburgh football fans may be tired of Tomlin. The Steelers organization holds him in high regards. Many pundits believe he is one of the best coaches in the NFL. Tomlin signed a three-year contract extension keeping him the head coach of Pittsburgh through the 2027 season. Despite the mindset of some Pittsburgh fans, when Tomlin is at the helm, the Steelers are in good hands.
