NFL teams who play on Thursday Night Football following a game the previous Sunday aren’t all built the same. For this week’s Steelers-Bengals matchup on Thursday night in Cincinnati, we’re looking at two teams in very different circumstances.
There’s Cincinnati, coming off their fourth consecutive loss, trying to get their footing with a new quarterback, nursing injuries to key players and having not yet had their bye week. Then there’s Pittsburgh, riding high after a win over the Browns Sunday in which they were able to rest some players in the fourth quarter ahead of a quick turnaround. They’re healthy and coming off a bye week two weeks ago. Their offense is clicking, their defense has returned to expected form, and they have momentum.
Looking to bet on this week’s Steelers-Bengals game? After hitting a two-leg same-game parlay with ease last week, we’re turning up the dials and sharing a four-leg parlay that could earn you a big payout if all four legs hit.
SportsbooksOnline.com has curated a parlay on Bet365 sportsbook that has been boosted from +600 to +750, so if you bet $10, you’ll get a $75 payout. Here are the four legs of the Sportsbooks Online TNF Boost:
Steelers Moneyline
DK Metcalf Anytime TD
T.J. Watt to Record a Sack
Joe Flacco to Throw an INT
Again, at +750 odds, a big payday is possible if all four legs hit. But unlike last week’s parlay that ended up at even odds at +100 — meaning sportsbooks gave it about a 50-50 shot — this week’s parlay has much longer odds, making it less likely to hit. But while we wouldn’t recommend making a huge wager on this parlay, +750 odds translate to about a 12% chance of winning. We think this parlay has a much better chance than 12%.
Why?
This is the Steelers’ game to lose, with ESPN Analytics giving them a 64.5% chance of winning. With Joe Burrow sidelined and pass rusher Trey Hendrickson likely limited if he plays at all, the Bengals are without their anchor on both sides of the ball. The Bengals’ defense has allowed the second-most yards per game and third-most points per game in the NFL, so their offense, now led by Joe Flacco, must put up some major points to keep up with the Steelers. We don’t think it’s happening.
Now, for the prop bets.
WR DK Metcalf and QB Aaron Rodgers are in sync. And while Metcalf hasn’t yet hauled in more than five passes in a game yet this season, one trend is beginning to emerge for the Steelers’ new WR1: DK Metcalf has caught a touchdown pass in each of the Steelers’ last four games. Can he make it five in a row? Against the NFL’s 31st-ranked pass defense? Absolutely, he can.
It’s a similar story for T.J. Watt. After beginning the season with two sack-free games, Watt has made his presence felt in the last three contests, tallying 3.5 sacks over that span. Joe Flacco, not the most mobile QB in the NFL at this point, has been sacked 10 times in parts of just five games after posting his highest sack percentage since 2019 a year ago in Indianapolis. He’s going to get sacked this game, and T.J. Watt is the likeliest Steeler to take him down.
Finally, while Flacco certainly gives the Bengals a better chance than Jake Browning, he’s not immune to interceptions. Flacco got picked off six times in just four games with the Browns this season, and with the Steelers’ defense healthy in the secondary and coming off an impressive showing against the Browns, we think it’s a safe bet for Flacco to throw at least one pick in this game.
Will All Four Legs of Sportsbooks Online’s Parlay Hit?
The risk of any parlay with as many as four legs is that, while each leg may have a good chance of hitting, having all four hit will be difficult. That’s why we don’t recommend betting the house on this parlay. However, with long odds at +750, you’ll be heavily rewarded for betting as little as a few bucks. Good luck to all backers!
