First Call: Ugly tie affects Steelers’ odds; Penguins’ latest chance to get right; Loyola Chicago joins A-10

Wednesday’s “First Call” shows us that the Steelers’ 16-16 tie against Detroit has influenced some gambling odds. The Lions have some significant injury concerns after that game as well. Plus, we serve up some local college basketball news and a potential tonic for the lackluster Pittsburgh Penguins.

After effects

It wasn’t just the Steelers who left Heinz Field banged up after that 70-minute tie against the Detroit Lions Sunday.

According to NFL.com, Detroit starting quarterback Jared Goff sustained an oblique injury during the game. And his status for this week’s game against the Cleveland Browns is unclear.

NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported Tuesday that the Lions coaching staff wants to see how well Goff can throw by Wednesday’s practice. The Lions are likely to start David Blough in Cleveland if Goff can’t play.

Goff hasn’t missed a start this season, but the Lions are 0-8-1 with him under center this year.

Numbers game

It shouldn’t be a surprise that the Steelers’ awful performance against Detroit has influenced their gambling odds.

Based on information from BetOnline.ag, the Tuesday after they fell to 1-3 in Green Bay (Oct. 5), the Steelers had 125-1 odds against them to win the Super Bowl. Those numbers shrunk to 40/1 following their defeat of the Chicago Bears last week.

Now, after tying the winless Lions, the odds against the Steelers have climbed up to 50/1.

In terms of winning the conference, the Steelers are sitting at 25/1 against. They were 18/1 last week and 60/1 after that loss to the Packers.

Maybe this will help

After a 2-1 loss against the Buffalo Sabres Tuesday night at PPG Paints Arena, the Penguins (5-6-4) hit the road for a Thursday date with the Montreal Canadiens (4-12-2).

Those two points really should be attainable because the Canadiens are struggling. Mightily.

So far, the Habs only have 10 points. The Ottawa Senators (nine points) are the only Eastern Conference team with fewer. Following a 3-2 defeat in New York against the Rangers Tuesday night, Montreal has lost six of its last seven games.

That said, the Pens have lost five of six. And stumbling teams have managed to right the ship lately against them. Buffalo had lost six of seven heading into Tuesday night’s game. The Penguins also fell in Ottawa 6-3 over the weekend.

Welcome aboard

Duquesne will be seeing a familiar foe in the Atlantic 10 next year.

According to ESPN.com, Loyola Chicago is leaving the Missouri Valley Conference and joining the A-10 in July. Loyola jumps in as the conference’s 15th member.

Loyola moved from the Horizon League to the Missouri Valley in 2013, after Creighton left for the Big East.

The Ramblers men’s basketball team advanced to the Final Four in 2018 and reached the Sweet 16 last season. Loyola also won NCAA championships in men’s volleyball in 2014 and 2015.

The move renews rivalries with Duquesne, Dayton, La Salle and Saint Louis from Loyola’s time in the Midwestern Collegiate Conference. Although the Dukes were only in the MCC for one year — the 1992-93 season.

Like Loyola Chicago, Fordham, Saint Joseph’s and Saint Louis are other Jesuit schools in the Atlantic 10.