IT’S GAME DAY!!

That means while we all wait for the Pittsburgh Steelers and Los Angeles Rams to kickoff at 4:05pm EST in Week 7 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 (+3.0) with a Total of 44.

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

The Steelers are coming off the bye. That record is good. The Steelers are not playing their best football heading into the bye. That is not so good. So, something has to give, right? I’m going to believe the post-bye good mojo will win out and an improved Steelers team will be able to find a way to win. How will it happen? I’ll go with a 4th quarter comeback, again, and the Steelers cashing in when it matters most.

Prediction: Steelers 24, Rams 20

Dave Schofield

I’m going to do something I don’t typically do— change my prediction from Thursday night on The Steelers Preview. I’m not changing the winner, but I didn’t put much thought into the score and just threw out a random weird number. Now I’m going with a more realistic score. The bottom line is I think if it’s a blowout game it would be in favor of the Rams, but if it’s a close game the Steelers find a way to win. I’m going with a close game. But with the Steelers coming out of the bye, I could see a wide range of what to expect from them whether it is a very sharp and different team than we’ve seen so far or coming out completely flat. They really are a wildcard.

Prediction: Steelers 20, Rams 16

Jeremy Betz

While the Steelers have had a lot of recent success after the Bye Week (6-0 since 2017), the Rams offensive system has given the Steelers trouble this season, mitigating Pittsburgh’s fierce pass rush and forcing the defense to win matchups down the field. While I think the Steelers offense will be improved to a degree, I think the issues on defense might be the bigger problem in this game. The Steelers fall to .500 in a loss.

Prediction: Rams 27, Steelers 23

Anthony Defeo

It’s been a while since the Steelers offense did anything, but for some reason I think that will change this week. Not that I think the Steelers will put up 38 points. No, I’m going to predict 24. It’s the Rams who I expect to challenge the 40-point mark. Why? The defense hasn’t been able to handle a potent offense led by a mastermind coach yet this year. The Rams pass 61 percent of the time, and with Cooper Kupp back in the mix, one has to wonder who will cover that man in Pittsburgh’s weak secondary?

Prediction: Rams 38, Steelers 24.

Shannon White

The Steelers are surrounded by both good and bad mojo this week. Their recent record post bye week inspires hope, but their well documented West Coast struggles takes away all those warm and fuzzy feelings. I honestly have no idea what to expect from this year’s team. Tomlin’s stubbornness knows no bounds apparently. He has promised big changes, but nothing noteworthy has happened. He says they self evaluated during the bye, but I can’t escape the feeling we are about to see more of the same. Sticking to my Pump Your Brakes podcast prediction.

Prediction: Steelers 24, Rams 21

Bradley Locker

Pittsburgh has won six straight games off its bye, but this matchup presents a number of concerns that I don’t know will be answered. Aaron Donald against Mason Cole is a mismatch that very likely will be exploited, preventing runs up the middle and generating pressure on Kenny Pickett. Further, trying to curtail both Cooper Kupp and Puka Nukua, specifically on in-breaking routes, looks much easier said than done. Factor in that Matthew Stafford has played at a very high level returning from injury, and I think the Rams best the Steelers in LA.

Prediction: Rams 27, Steelers 18

Big Bro Scho

Excitement level: Meh. I want to get excited about the Steelers and take off running on the hype train, but I just am not feeling much excitement. What do I need to change my view? I need the Steelers to start stacking wins. Constantly going back and forth between wins and losses just has me constantly going back and forth between optimism and gloom and doom. As much as I want to say the Steelers come out of their bye and  stack a win after their victory over the Ravens, I just have a feeling they will go to the west coast and have another let down.

Prediction: Rams 21, Steelers 20

K.T. Smith

This is a tough pick. The Rams are playing good football and the Steelers are susceptible to being gutted by elite receivers, of which LA has one established (Cooper Kupp) and one developing (Puka Nacua). But the Steelers are traditionally good coming off their bye, and they’re getting back some valuable players from injury. Sounds like a toss up. In that case…

Prediction: Steelers 20, Rams 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 7 game between the Steelers and Rams.