Steelers vs. Bengals Prediction TNF: Thursday Night Football Odds & Picks

Last Updated: October 15, 2025 7:28 AM EDT • 3 minute read X Social Google News Link

Can Joe Flacco restore confidence to a Cincinnati Bengals team in desperate need? My Steelers vs. Bengals prediction for Thursday Night Football (8:15 p.m. ET, Prime Video) believes so, backing them with these NFL picks to cover as the 5.5-point betting underdog.
For more comprehensive coverage of this game and more, check out the NFL predictions for Week 7.
🏈 Steelers vs. Bengals prediction & best bet
Stay ahead with the rest of our early NFL predictions for Week 7.
🐯 Bengals +5.5 (-104) ⭐⭐⭐
I'm wholly uncomfortable backing the Steelers as a 5.5-point road betting favorite. It's uncharted territory for Mike Tomlin's team since the start of last season, which hasn't been a favorite of more than 3.5 points on the road in five years.
They're laying 5.5 points on the road due to an impressive 4-1 record and the Bengals' complete ineptitude throughout most of the season.
I'm not intimating that quarterback Joe Flacco is the Bengals' savior. That would be like saying Aaron Rodgers will win MVP. However, Flacco can at least feed his superstar receivers, something Jake Browning failed miserably at.
Flacco had just four days to prepare for an away game in a hostile environment with his new employer against a Green Bay Packers team that is among the Super Bowl odds contenders.
After the 40-year-old settled in, at least somewhat, he and his Bengals outscored the Packers 18-17 in the second half. Yes, there were extenuating circumstances, but I saw enough to back the wily veteran to keep things close against a Steelers team that rarely wins comfortably.
The Steelers' first comfortable victory of the season came against the lowly Cleveland Browns on Sunday, whose offense still hasn't scored more than 17 points.
I know what you're thinking: Flacco was at the helm in four of the Browns' six anemic offensive outputs.
While that's a valid point, Flacco didn't have Ja'Marr Chase or Tee Higgins at his disposal. Of the best sports betting sites, FanDuel's -104 odds represent the best value, where a winning $10 bet will yield a $9.62 profit.
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📊 Steelers vs. Bengals odds: Thursday Night Football
Latest NFL odds updated live in real time.
🔢 Steelers vs. Bengals betting insights
- The Steelers are the 5.5-point betting favorite, and 58% of bets back them to cover
- The total has decreased from 46.5 points to 42.5, and 55% of bets are on the Over
📈 Steelers vs. Bengals opening odds
- Moneyline: Steelers +165 | Bengals -200
- Spread: Steelers +4.5 (-110) | Bengals -4.4 (-110)
- Over/Under: Over 46.5 (-110) | Under 46.5 (-110)
💡 Steelers vs. Bengals odds analysis
All of the best sports betting sites have the Bengals as the 5.5-point betting favorite, with bet365 providing the shortest odds (-111). FanDuel offers -118 odds for the Steelers at -5.5. That's the best indication the line might shift to -6 for the Steelers and +6 for the Bengals. I wouldn't play the bet if the line decreases to +5 or lower.
🔮 NFL Week 7 early predictions
- Steelers vs. Bengals prediction
- Rams vs. Jaguars prediction
- Falcons vs. 49ers prediction
- Buccaneers vs. Lions prediction
- Texans vs. Seahawks prediction
📺 How to watch Thursday Night Football
- Matchup: Steelers vs. Bengals
- When: Thursday, Oct. 16
- Kickoff: 8:15 p.m. ET
- Where: Paycor Stadium (Cincinnati)
- TV: Prime Video
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Gary Pearson X social