The Pittsburgh Steelers finished the 2014 regular season on an 8-2 SU and 7-3 ATS run before falling to the Baltimore Ravens in the postseason. The Steelers are hoping to bounce back in 2015 and start off their preseason against the Minnesota Vikings in the Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio on Sunday night.
Minnesota Vikings vs. Pittsburgh Steelers Hall of Fame Game betting preview
The Pittsburgh Steelers and the Minnesota Vikings kick off the 2015 NFL preseason schedule in the Hall of Fame Game in Canton on Sunday.
Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports
Pittsburgh is a 3-point betting underdog against the Minnesota Vikings for Sunday’s preseason opener according to sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark.com. The Steelers went just 1-3 SU and ATS over the course of four preseason games last year.
Most people think of the Pittsburgh Steelers as one of the best defensive teams in the NFL. However, with a defense that is in a rebuilding phase and a group of talented playmakers on offense, this year’s Steelers team actually figures to be a team that relies on its offense.
Last year, Ben Roethlisberger, Le'Veon Bell and Antonio Brown led Pittsburgh to an average of 31.2 points per game over the team's last 10 regular season games. If the core can stay healthy, this should be another offensively productive season for the Steelers.
Dealing with Adrian Peterson’s suspension and relying on a slew of young players last year, the Minnesota Vikings dug themselves an early 2-5 SU and 3-4 ATS hole of which they couldn’t find their way out.
The Vikings did show a lot of promise down the stretch however, as quarterback Teddy Bridgewater put together a nice rookie campaign and the Vikings went 5-4 SU and 7-2 ATS.
With Peterson back in the fold and Bridgewater having a year of experience under his belt and a new weapon in wideout Mike Wallace, confidence is high in Minnesota this year. The Vikings went a perfect 4-0 SU and 3-1 ATS in last year's preseason according to the OddsShark NFL Database.
Sunday’s total for the Vikings vs. Steelers betting matchup is set at 35 points at the sportsbooks. Three of the last four Hall of Fame Games have gone UNDER that total.
The preseason is always difficult to predict, and that is especially true in the Hall of Fame Game with both teams shaking off a whole offseason of rust. But for most fans and bettors, it will just be great to have NFL football back on Sunday.
