The Pittsburgh Steelers opened up as a 2.5-point favorite over the Los Angeles Chargers in a Week 3 contest with the total in this game set at 35.5. Enough Los Angeles money has hit the books and Pitt has dropped down to mostly -1.5 depending on where you shop and the total has been bet down from 36.5 to 35.5.

Not sure when or if Russell Wilson will see any daylight for the Steelers, and that leaves Justin Fields running the show at QB. Not really thrilled about his numbers from the Denver game (13/20 for 117 yards) or the Atlanta game (17/23 for 156 yards), but he is 2-0. Chargers QB Justin Herbert did limp out of the stadium last week after getting banged in the 3rd Q against Carolina, but he is also 2-0.

And if you're thinking L.A. might be looking ahead, you are right on the money because the Chargers fly back home to Los Angeles to host the two time defending Super Bowl champion Chiefs next week.

Los Angeles Chargers vs Pittsburgh Steelers Odds Week 2

Odds as of September 17 at FanDuel

Chargers vs Steelers Picks Week 3

Steelers ML (-124)

Jim Harbaugh knows how to coach 'em up. He took a Stanford program that was mostly a chronic loser and wound up 29-21, and then just brought a national championship to Michigan. Oh yea, he also had four amazing years in San Francisco with a Super Bowl shot and a ridonkulous 44-19 (.695%) record.

With a 2-0 start, Harbaugh is rolling again, but not sure the wheels are that sturdy. The two wins, a 22-10 W against the Raiders and a 26-3 W over the Panthers did not impress. Justin Herbert looked kinda EH against Carolina, completing 14-of-20 for only 130 yards which was the second lowest total of his career. He was smushed in the 3rd Q and we watched as he walked out of the news conference with a noticeable limp. It's a good thing that J.K. Dobbins has found the fountain of youth, gobbling up 131 yards on 17 carries.

However, the Steel Curtain has allowed an average of only 76.5 yards per game on the ground and it is not gonna be easy for L.A. to find holes in the defense. Speaking of defense, these two teams are No. 1 and No. 2 in points allowed. The Bolts have given up only 13 in the first two games, while the Steelers have allowed just 16.

No wonder the O/U total is only 35.5, the lowest on the NFL slate. Thinking that the main issue is gonna be Herbert's mobility. When you have T.J. Watt snorting and huffing on a search and destroy mission, if Herbert can't use his legs, he will be living in SACK CITY all afternoon. Just a reminder that T.J. has led the league in sacks three times and is tied with Michael Strahan as the all-time leader for a season at 22.5. 

We have another home opener and we have gone back 10 years to provide a snap shot of how Pittsburgh has fared. Not great actually. The Steelers have won five and lost five straight up, and covered four of eight with two pushes.

Which way do we turn? To the men of Steel that have a QB that is a wild card, or, to the revitalized Lightning Bolts with a banged up QB? Throwing an either/or at you. Find a way to watch warmups and check out Herbert's movement. If he looks a little on the lame side, like my gramps walking to the pantry at midnight, the Bank of Benj is wide open in Pittsburgh. If he is prancing and dancing with no apparent limp, we're still buying Steel, but would lighten the bet to just a few pennies.     

Chargers vs Steelers Prop Picks

Pat Freiermuth OVER 2.5 Receptions (-110)

Through the first two weeks of the season, TE Pat Freiermuth and QB Justin Fields have begun developing some chemistry with four connections in each of those games. We just need three this week against the Chargers to cash our bet.

Chargers vs Steelers Betting Trends