Steelers, Rams are road favorites in season’s first Monday Night Football

By MATT YOUMANS LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL

8 years ago

Los Angeles Rams head coach Jeff Fisher stands on the sidelines during the first half of a preseason NFL football game between the Los Angeles Rams and the Kansas City Chiefs in Los Angeles, Aug. 20, 2016. (Richard Vogel, File/AP)

Washington Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins (8) in the huddle against the Atlanta Falcons in the first quarter at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Aug 11, 2016. (Brett Davis/USA Today Sports)

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (7) works against the New Orleans Saints during the first half of an NFL preseason football game, Friday, Aug. 26, 2016, in New Orleans. (Butch Dill/AP)

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Eric Rogers, left, pushes off San Diego Chargers cornerback Craig Mager during the first half of an NFL preseason football game Thursday, Sept. 1, 2016, in San Diego. (Denis Poroy/AP)

Here’s the tip of the day: Leave work early and meet your friends out to watch “Monday Night Football.” It will be 4:10 p.m. on the West coast when Ben Roethlisberger takes the field in Washington, D.C.

Roethlisberger and the Pittsburgh Steelers are favored against the Redskins. At 7:20 p.m., the Los Angeles Rams hook up with the 49ers in San Francisco.

Both home teams are underdogs. Denver kicked off the NFL season with a win as a home ‘dog, but home ‘dogs went 0-4 straight up Sunday.

The Monday night doubleheader marks one of the great days on the calendar. It’s a special American tradition that comes around once a year — along with Thanksgiving, Christmas, the Rose Bowl, the Super Bowl, the first round of the NCAA Tournament, the Masters, the Kentucky Derby, the Fourth of July, your mom’s birthday and the McRib.

The Steelers are 2-point favorites, after laying a field goal early in the week. MGM Resorts sports book director Jay Rood said it’s “100 percent accurate” that the public is betting Pittsburgh and the sharps are betting Washington.

That does not mean the sharps are right. The public side is the right side a fair amount of times, too.

This is a showdown between a quarterback people trust (Roethlisberger) and a quarterback who makes us skeptical (Kirk Cousins). The Redskins took the NFC East title last season by going 6-2 straight up and against the spread in their final eight games. Cousins actually led the league in completion percentage. Roethlisberger was banged up for much of last year, but he led the Steelers to a playoff win at Cincinnati.

“I’m not sold on Washington, and I’m not sold on the quarterback,” Rood said. “You have a slimmed down version of Big Ben, who could be healthy. I kind of like Pittsburgh. But I don’t bet for a living. I could be wrong.”

I bet the Redskins at plus-3 prior to the weekend. Cousins is capable of getting the job done against a mediocre Steelers defense. The Pittsburgh offense should lack some explosion with running back Le’Veon Bell and wide receiver Martavis Bryant serving suspensions. I have no play on the total (49).

The nightcap figures to be an ugly game. The total is 43. Chip Kelly makes his coaching debut in San Francisco, with Blaine Gabbert as his quarterback. Gabbert makes us skeptical. The Rams will rely heavily on running back Todd Gurley. Rood said about 70 percent of the action is on the Rams as 3-point favorites. The line still is 2½ at a few Las Vegas books.

Picks: Redskins (+2) and Rams (-2½)

Contact sports betting reporter Matt Youmans at myoumans@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2907. Follow on Twitter: @mattyoumans247