The odds to win the Super Bowl in 2021 are out. And it appears the oddsmakers have a lot of faith in Ben Roethlisberger making a healthy return.
Let me rephrase.
The oddsmakers seem to have a lot of faith in Steelers fans having a lot of faith in Ben Roethlisberger making a healthy return.
Because it appears that they are assuming a pretty fair amount of money is going to come in on the Black and Gold.
Via BetOnline.ag, the Steelers and Cowboys are tied with 16-1 odds of winning the NFL Championship next year. Only five teams — the Kansas City Chiefs (7-1), Baltimore Ravens (8-1), San Francisco 49ers (8-1), New England Patriots (12-1) and New Orleans Saints (14-1) — are bigger favorites.
Interesting for a team that was 8-8 last year, has missed the playoffs two years in a row and has an aging quarterback returning from elbow surgery.
But Steelers fans love to bet on their favorite team regardless of circumstances. So the oddsmakers are preparing themselves.
For the sake of reference, the Steelers had 18-1 odds a year ago before the conference championship games. The San Francisco 49ers were 40-1 and the Tennessee Titans were 50-1.
Both of those two teams are alive on championship weekend this year.
• ESPN looked back at the NFL trades this year. The Steelers’ acquisition of Minkah Fitzpatrick graded well. But it didn’t get an “A.” And it wasn’t deemed to be the best deal of the 2019 season.
• It looks like progress is being made toward a new NFL collective bargaining agreement. But Pro Football Talk says some significant hurdles still exist.
• Sidney Crosby scored the only goal for the Penguins on Thursday night.
AN ABSOLUTE LASER. pic.twitter.com/1NAGKEeAlz
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) January 17, 2020
They lost to the Boston Bruins, 4-1.
Alex Ovechkin had more fun. He netted a hat trick for the Washington Capitals against the New Jersey Devils.
Make that 25 Hat Tricks for the #Gr8!
https://t.co/3GMQfYqVy9#ALLCAPS @Enterprise pic.twitter.com/Jpk4vVR7SJ
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) January 17, 2020
Washington won 5-2. Ovechkin reached 31 goals on the season. He joins Mike Gartner as the only players to score 30 or more in each of his first 15 NHL seasons.
He now has 689, one behind Mario Lemieux for 10th on the NHL’s all-time list.
• And usually when you talk Sid, Ovechkin and Lemieux, the next name out of your mouth is Tanner Pearson, right?
Right?
Well, this empty netter for Pearson got him up to 13 goals on the season. It sealed a 3-1 win over Arizona.
Tanner Pearson EN 3-1 #Canucks pic.twitter.com/cBstvEOf5v
— Here's Your Replay ⬇️ (@HeresYourReplay) January 17, 2020
Pearson had just nine goals in 44 games when he was with the Penguins last year.
