The Steelers Are The Biggest Liability To The Sports World In 2024

The Pittsburgh Steelers have a much improved roster heading into the 2024 season, especially if the team finds a way to finally complete a trade for Brandon Aiyuk. Fans are optimistic about this season, mainly because of the new look on the offensive coaching staff. Pittsburgh's offense had been plagued by Matt Canada for about the last three seasons, and now the quarterback room is revamped and Head Coach Mike Tomlin brought in a proven offensive coordinator in Arthur Smith. 

Sports gambling has grown bigger season after season, especially as it becomes legal in more states. Nowadays, gambling is a part of every form of sports media, and it is constant talking point during segments revolving around the NFL. One sportsbook, Westgate SuperBook, has their risk manager Casey Degnon speak with Fox Sports. He was asked about betting trends for the upcoming season, when he revealed that they have double the money wagered on the AFC than the NFC as of now. He was asked about the book's biggest liability going into the season.

"We have more tickets on the Steelers to win the AFC than any other team, bettors seem to love them every year, but it’s even more than usual. They don’t even care who the quarterback is. Last year, we wrote tons of Steelers money with Kenny Pickett as the starter. We posted the conference markets a week before the Super Bowl. Pittsburgh opened at 40-1, and we wrote bets right away. We’ve continued to move it down, and we even took some pops at 25-1. I guess they’re betting on the Russell Wilson and Justin Fields revenge tour."

Pittsburgh is by no means a favorite to win the AFC; the organization isn’t even a favorite to win the AFC North. This is what bettors look for, a team with odds that play in to its favor. A lower risk yields a higher reward if the outcome does actually happen. Pittsburgh currently has the ninth-best odds to win the AFC, after opening with the 12th best odds for the Westgate SportsBook.

Pittsburgh has a diehard fan base that probably puts some money on their team, but then there are also gamblers who probably think Russell Wilson or Justin Fields can turn things around for the Steelers. Degnon shared that the worst result for the sportsbook would be the Steelers winning the conference.

"If the Steelers win the AFC, we’ll lose six figures."

Currently, the Steelers odds to win the AFC sit at +2500 on the Westgate SportsBook, meaning if you bet $10 you would win $260 total if Pittsburgh made it to the Super Bowl. It's an extreme long shot, but it isn't out of the realm of possibility. In order to make it that far in the postseason, the Steelers would need to find a way to take down Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs, who have made the AFC Championship Game in six straight seasons.

It's important to keep in mind that this information was shared by a representative from just one, relatively small sportsbook. Across all books combined, the damage would be much larger if the Steelers managed to reach that level of success in 2024.

Steelers Have Work Cut Out For Them To Even Make The Playoffs

Pittsburgh made the playoffs during the 2023 season after a late-season winning streak, but the organization hasn't won a playoff game since the 2016 season. They will have their work cut out for them to make the playoffs, as they will play all six of their divisional games in the second half of the season as well as a game against the Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles.

The Steelers benefitted from some injuries while making the playoffs in 2023. Both games they won against the Cincinnati Bengals didn't feature their star quarterback Joe Burrow, and they also won a game against the Baltimore Ravens while they were resting their starters. They won't have the same easy path in 2024.

What do you think about the Steelers being so heavily bet on? Let us know in the comments below!

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