SPORTS BETTING

• Pittsburgh Steelers at Denver Broncos

  Posted on Mon, 09 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT by GetChalk

  
  

  The clock has struck midnight for the Cinderella Denver Broncos, who suffered their first loss of the season last week to the Baltimore Ravens after beginning the schedule with six straight wins.
   
  Now, with the defending Super Bowl champs on deck for Monday Night Football, Broncos fans will see if the fairytale season can continue or if Denver will become the bottom feeder it was expected to be this year.
   
  Oddsmakers have set the Broncos as 2.5-point home underdogs for Monday night's contest. Denver has won its last two meetings with Pittsburgh, including a thrilling 31-28 victory in October 2007 in which the Broncos allowed 14 points in the fourth quarter but won the game on a 49-yard field goal as time expired.
   
  Coming off the bye, the Steelers have had two weeks to prepare for the Broncos. Pittsburgh battled for an impressive 27-17 win over the Minnesota Vikings as a 6-point home favorite. The defense, which ranks eighth in the NFL, came up big against the Vikings.
   
  The Steelers limited Minnesota star running back Adrian Peterson to just 69 yards on the ground and turned an interception from Keyaron Fox into a game-sealing touchdown. Pittsburgh sacked Vikings quarterback Brett Favre four times, one of which forced a fumble that was returned for six points by linebacker LaMarr Woodley.
   
  Pittsburgh's pass rush will have Denver quarterback Kyle Orton in its sights. It has registered 21 sacks on the season, while the Broncos offensive line has let opponents get to Orton 11 times in 2009. In his first year in the Mile High City, the former Chicago backup has played above expectations.
   
  Orton doesn't dazzle opposing defenses with his air attack but has compiled a QB rating of 95.5 and has connected for nine touchdowns and just one interception. Against the Ravens in Week 8, Orton was 23-of-37 for 152 yards without a touchdown or a pick. He was sacked twice by the Baltimore pass rush.
   
  While the Steelers' defense garners all the attention, Denver's stop unit ranks first in the league and has allowed an average of under two touchdowns per game. However, last week, the Broncos were taken apart by the Ravens offense.
   
  They gave up 30 points on just under 300 total yards. One of those scores came on the opening kick to start the second half, when Ladarius Webb ran 95 yards for a touchdown return.
   
  Denver's special teams have allowed over 25 return yards per kickoff and are fourth worst in the NFL in punt coverage. On the other side of the field, Pittsburgh's special teams are averaging more than 25 yards per kick return but just under seven yards on punts. The Steelers have yet to score a return touchdown this season.
   
  Pittsburgh's offense has managed over 23 points per contest and ranks sixth in average yards. The Steelers continue to struggle on the ground due to injuries to their running backs. Rushers Willie Parker and Rashard Mendenhall have both been slowed, averaging just under 107 yards on the ground this season. Heading into Monday, Parker is dealing with illness as well as an injured foot. Mendenhall has also battled sickness this year and rushed for 69 yards against the Vikings two weeks ago.
   
  Carrying Pittsburgh's attack is quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, who passed for 175 yards and one touchdown in the win over Minnesota. On the season, Big Ben is toting a QB rating of 102.6 and has found his targets for 11 touchdowns while getting intercepted six times.
   
  Roethlisberger will have to get the ball out of his hands quickly on Monday night. His methodical passing style has allowed pressing rushers to sack him 20 times. The Broncos’ pass rush is second in the NFL with 23 sacks and the team has six interceptions on the year.
   
  Denver bolstered its secondary with the addition of veteran corner Ty Law this week. Law, who played for the New York Jets last season, joins other seasoned defenders Champ Bailey and safety Brian Dawkins in the backfield.
   
  Monday night's total is set at 40 points. The Broncos and Steelers have played over the total in three straight meetings and have an 8-2 over/under mark since 1990. Denver owns a 1-6 over/under record this season while Pittsburgh is 4-3 over/under.