ESPN.com's AccuScore, the computer prediction machine designed to calculate the odds of NFL games from week to week, has predicted the Steelers as favorites in this Sunday's game against the Patriots. The Steelers, according to the machine, are 53 percent favorites when simulated the standard 10,000 times. The average margin of victory though was a paltry 0.7 points per simulation.
The edge in this prediction may be that the Steelers are at home, despite the fact that the Patriots own the better record (albeit by 0.5 games in the loss column), at 5-1, to the Steelers 5-2. But that subtle difference probably speaks to the 0.7 point differential in the prediction.
Also, this news just broke from practice squad linebacker Mortty Ivy, who tweeted that he will be playing in Sunday's game. Check back for updates on the injury status of the Pittsburgh linebacking corps and more updates and coverage of this weekend's big game.