Those who played 2008’s Super Bowl odds will see a familiar matchup on Thursday night, as Arizona heads to Pittsburgh to try and avenge their loss in last year’s big game.
Cardinals vs Steelers Odds – Thursday, August 13, 8:00 PM ET
This would have been our first opportunity to see Chris “Beanie” Wells, the first-round draft pick out of Ohio State who is supposed to challenge Tim Hightower for the starting running-back spot. However, Wells is injured, which is a trend that dates back to his days with the Buckeyes. This would also be a great opportunity for Matt Leinart to prove that he can be the No.2 quarterback, and possibly push Kurt Warner for the starter’s role, instead of being one of the biggest draft busts in recent memory. Cornerback Bryant McFadden returns to Pittsburgh after leaving the Steelers for the Cardinals in the offseason, and he’s a definite boost to Arizona’s odds if you’re betting online.
The Steelers will be looking at a backup for pivot Ben Roethlisberger, either veteran Charlie Batch or second-year player Dennis Dixon, whose athleticism made him a Heisman candidate at Oregon. However, he suffered a knee injury late in his last year at Oregon, which may have robbed him of a chance to be a “Wildcat”-type player. The first-string defense is pretty much set, meaning the rest of the group are essentially fighting to be backups.
Betting services are backing the Steelers by three points at Heinz Field, where the Cardinals have lost by 13 points in each of their two trips to Pittsburgh. It’s difficult to handicap early preseason games as the first string is usually gone by the second quarter at the latest, and it becomes a contest in who is the deeper team. We still don’t have much faith in Leinart as the Cardinals’ backup quarterback, which is disheartening coming from a former Heisman winner that comes out of USC, which is known as one of the top schools to go to if you want to learn the pro game. Also, preseason or not, the Pittsburgh fans will be in full voice, waving their “Terrible Towels”, and this gives the Steelers the edge. Make Pittsburgh one of your football picks on Thursday night.
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