OK, very funny, DraftKings.
Fresh off its major merger announcement last week (though probably not related to it) for it, the DFS/sports betting behemoth has posted odds online of 750/1 on the Eagles and Steelers to meet in the Super Bowl.
Separately, DK has the Eagles at 30/1 and Steelers at 100/1 to get to Miami on Feb. 2, which is not much different from other sites. But as far as we can tell, it’s the only outlet in the state where you can actually bet on the two Pennsylvania teams to meet there.
We’re not recommending anyone place that bet, of course — just doing our public service by letting you know it exists.
Last week made for big swing for both teams
On a more serious note, the Eagles and Steelers have traded places in recent weeks in terms of their postseason hopes.
Philadelphia was stuck behind the Cowboys in the NFC East division-winning scenario for most of the season until reeling off its current three-game winning streak, including last week’s impressive 17-9 decision over Dallas.
The Eagles have gone from being an underdog to make the playoffs to a heavy favorite, anywhere from -286 at Unibet to -350 at FOX Bet. The only way they don’t make it is if they lose to the Giants while the Cowboys defeat the visiting Redskins.
The Steelers, meanwhile, had a clear path to the wild-card round before losing winnable games to the Bills and Jets. They can still get the No. 6 seed if they win and the Titans lose to the Texans (and there’s a long-shot scenario to make it if they and the Titans both lose, depending on other games), but Pittsburgh’s playoff odds are now an underdog at +200, FanDuel says, and even less likely at +300, according to FOX Bet.
Here’s the betting outlook for the 4:25 p.m. Sunday games for the two Pennsylvania teams, using the eight available mobile sites in the state:
Philadelphia Eagles (8-7) at New York Giants (4-11)
The Eagles were a 4-point to 4.5-point favorite Friday morning, depending on the site, and from -215 to -225 on the moneyline. The over/under varied from 44.5 to 45.5.
The Eagles beat the Giants just three weeks ago in overtime, 23-17, but they are even more nicked up now than they were then, with Zach Ertz, the team leader in receptions and receiving yards, added to the list of players who could be sidelined Sunday.
Carson Wentz looked like the Wentz everyone wants him to be — the one where it doesn’t matter which receiver he’s throwing to, due to all their injuries — against the Cowboys by completing 31 of 40 passes for 319 yards. It’s possible he will be needed to do something similar Sunday.
The Giants rampaged last week in beating the Redskins, 41-35, with rookie quarterback Daniel Jones throwing for five TDs and Saquon Barkley shredding Washington’s defense for 189 rushing yards and 90 receiving yards.
This could be another close game, which makes it worth considering FanDuel’s offer to place a moneyline bet on an NFL team and be refunded up to $50 if the team loses but keeps the margin within 6 points.
DraftKings again is offering its “Always Scoring in Philadelphia” promotion, where a moneyline bet on the Eagles is buttressed by $6 in free bets for every TD they score.
Other sites are likely to have their own promotions worth checking by Sunday morning.
Pittsburgh Steelers (8-7) at Baltimore Ravens (13-2)
The Steelers got a break when the Ravens clinched the No. 1 seed in the AFC by beating the Browns last week.
It means league MVP favorite Lamar Jackson, along with numerous other key Ravens, is to be rested Sunday to avoid potential injury. It also means Robert Griffin III will have his first start at quarterback since 2016.
That’s why the Steelers are favored by 1.5 to 2 points (-122 to -132 on the moneyline), even though they have their own QB concerns in relying once more on Devlin “Duck” Hodges, who has thrown six interceptions in his two most recent outings. If he throws wounded ducks or whatever you want to call them again, coach Mike Tomlin doesn’t have Mason Rudolph to turn to, due to shoulder injury after supplying a spark to the offense last week.
The Steelers played the Ravens about as well as anyone in their Pittsburgh encounter early this year, with Baltimore eking out a 26-23 victory.
It will undoubtedly be up to the tenacious Pittsburgh defense to keep hope alive. That’s how the oddsmakers see it in placing the over/under at a paltry 37. A low-scoring game would be pretty common for this M&T Bank Stadium encounter, anyway, as the two teams’ matchup has gone “under” the last five times in Baltimore.
Steelers fans will be closely following the Titans game simultaneously, with Tennessee a 3.5-point favorite at Houston. Just like the Ravens, the Texans will be locked into their playoff position (unless the Chiefs lose at home to the Chargers earlier in the day) and will want to be injury-averse.
Photo by Charles LaClaire / USA Today Sports
