IT’S GAME DAY!!

That means while we all wait for the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cincinnati Bengals to kickoff at 1:00pm EST in Week 12 on Sunday, it’s time to take a look at who the SCN staff likes in this game. The current line for the game is PIT (-1) with a Total of 34.5.

But these picks are vs. the spread, or based on an over/under. These are straight up picks. So, let’s get to the prognostications…

Jeff Hartman

Does coaching matter? I believe it does, and I think we’ll see that in the way of results on Sunday when the Steelers go to Cincinnati. Buoyed by an opportunistic defense, I think the Steelers offense has their best output in a long time vs. the Joe Burrow-less Bengals.

Prediction: Steelers 27, Bengals 17

Dave Schofield

The Steelers offense, particularly the passing game, needed a spark. If the running game can keep doing what it’s doing, and the defense can keep doing what it’s doing, this additional phase showing any kind of improvement should help the Steelers end up on the right side of things on the scoreboard. Plus, this is one of the worst defenses the Steelers will face all year at least at this point of the season. I’m just happy to be excited to watch a Steelers game again.

Prediction: Steelers 24 Bengals 13

Jeremy Betz

The biggest spark for the Steelers after their unexpected but necessary OC change should be player usage and the overall flow of the offense. If those improve, you could see an immediate uptick in production despite the rapid turnover mid-season. Let your best players shine in Pickens and Warren and build the pass game off the run game’s success and things could get fun for Steelers Nation, starting this week against a shell of the real Bengals.

Prediction: Steelers 24, Bengals 14

Anthony Defeo

Win or lose, the Steelers are going to make a great story after they play the Bengals on Sunday. I have no idea at all how the offense is going to function with Eddie Faulkner and Mike Sullivan. I guess we could see a new wrinkle or two. That said, I don’t expect Kenny and Co. to quickly turn into Boomer and the Boys from the late 80s. Thankfully, Jake Browning is the Bengals quarterback and not Boomer.

Prediction: Steelers 19, Bengals 10

Shannon White

Still sticking with the Steelers established trend of lose one, win two. The Steelers really should have won last week against the Browns, but they continued their play not to lose mentality. Matt Canada is history, so hopefully the Steelers offensive reigns have been loosened. Sticking with my Pump Your Brakes podcast prediction.

Prediction: Steelers 23, Bengals 14

Big Bro Scho

I got burned last week, not again. Until the Steelers offense can prove to me that they’re going to be able to put points on the board I will not be able to pick the Steelers. Every time I pick the Steelers this year when they started to show promise they end up going in the opposite direction offensively. Should the Steelers win this week? Yes they should. But just because they should doesn’t mean they are going to.

Prediction: Bengals 21, Steelers 18

K.T. Smith

I don’t know how much the offense improves right away but I think the relief of finally moving on from Canada allows guys to loosen up and play more freely. The Steelers looked incredibly tight on offense last week, so that should be worth something. Hopefully just enough to get a huge road win.

Prediction: Steelers 20, Bengals 17

What is your prediction? Let us know in the comment section below, and be sure to stay tuned to SCN for the latest news and notes surrounding the upcoming Week 12 game between the Steelers and Bengals.