Pittsburgh Steelers vs. San Francisco 49ers 2019: Prediction Against The Spread, Week 3 Betting Odds

The Pittsburgh Steelers are trying to save their season in Week 3 when they visit the San Francisco 49ers. A loss Sunday afternoon would drop the team to 0-3, giving them little chance to make a run toward the NFL playoffs.

No one has had a more disappointing start to the 2019 season than the Steelers. Pittsburgh has dug themselves into an early two-game hole in the AFC North by getting embarrassed by the New England Patriots and losing their home opener to the Seattle Seahawks. The team has also lost starting quarterback Ben Roethlisberger for the remainder of the year.

All of that makes the Steelers 6.5-point underdogs in Week 3, according to the latest betting line at OddsShark. The over/under is 44.

San Francisco’s start to the season couldn’t be any different than that of Pittsburgh. The 49ers are undefeated through two games, and they lead the NFC with a plus-38 point differential.

The Steelers are tied for the NFL’s second-worst point differential at minus-32.

What should we make of San Francisco’s hot start? The 49ers could be in the mix for a playoff spot, but the team still haven’t proven that they are among the conference’s best.

Wins against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Cincinnati Bengals aren’t evidence that San Francisco will exceed preseason expectations. The Steelers should give the 49ers their toughest test of the young season, even with Mason Rudolph starting in place of the injured Roethlisberger.

It’s hard to know exactly what to expect from Rudolph, who didn’t attempt a pass in 2018 when he was drafted in the third round by Pittsburgh. The second-year quarterback was more than serviceable in relief of Roethlisberger last week, completing 12 of 19 passes for 112 yards and two touchdowns. Rudolph’s one interception wasn’t his fault as Donte Moncrief dropped a wide-open pass that fell into the hands of Seahawks’ safety Bradley McDougald.

Rudolph doesn’t have to be outstanding in order to give Pittsburgh a chance in this one. A performance similar to his Week 2 game would make Sunday’s contest competitive.

Jimmy Garoppolo has more experience and a much bigger contract than Rudolph, but the jury is still out on the 49ers’ quarterback.

Garoppolo was very good in Week 2, throwing for 296 yards on 25 attempts with three touchdowns and an interception. The quarterback only totaled 166 yards on 27 attempts in the opener with a touchdown and a pick.

Garoppolo still only has 12 career starts. He’s thrown 16 touchdown passes and 10 interceptions since joining San Francisco in 2017.

Left tackle Joe Staley is expected to miss six to eight weeks with an injury. Garoppolo could face a ton of pressure from Pittsburgh’s defensive front. Stephon Tuitt had 2.5 sacks against Russell Wilson in Week 2. T.J. Watt has nine quarterback pressures this season, according to Pro Football Focus.

Pittsburgh still has plenty of good players on both sides of the ball, as well as a top head coach. Their success in 2019 wasn’t going to be dependent on Roethlisberger being an elite quarterback.

The Steelers can keep Sunday’s game within a touchdown.

Prediction: San Francisco over Pittsburgh, 26-23