Want even more betting news? Sign up for VSiN's free daily newsletter . Listen Live to VSiN's sports betting shows

Want even more betting news? Sign up for VSiN's free daily newsletter . Listen Live to VSiN's sports betting shows

Entering their nationally televised dress rehearsal Sunday night on the road against the Tennessee Titans (NBC, 8 p.m.), the Pittsburgh Steelers are one of the more fascinating dark horse threats in the NFL.

Some pundits believe opportunity has passed by head coach Mike Tomlin and future Hall of Fame quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. Others are sure “addition by subtraction” (waving good bye to Le’Veon Bell and Antonio Brown) will unleash a distraction-free path of destruction.

That “skepticism vs. optimism” conflict has settled futures prices in the range of “playoff” but not “championship” caliber. Top NFL threats can be placed in the following groups (minus the Colts due to Andrew Luck’s retirement):

Last season’s final four: Patriots 6/1 (14 percent), Chiefs 13/2 (13 percent), Rams 11/1 (8 percent), Saints 11/1 (8 percent).

Those are equivalent win percentages in parentheses. You figure them by dividing the number on the right of the slash by the sum of the two numbers (for the Patriots, one divided by seven is .14, or 14 percent). The public wants to bet last year’s top teams. None are showing any obvious indicators for immediate decline. Oddsmakers and sharps have respect for all four starting quarterbacks.

New kids on the block: Bears 11/1 (8 percent), Browns 16/1 (6 percent).

Recreational bettors have been enthusiastic about both up-and-comers, particularly long-suffering fans of either team. Neither Mitchell Trubisky nor Baker Mayfield may be ready to string together playoff victories. Is Mayfield ready to split or sweep divisional rivalry games against Roethlisberger?

Experienced stalwarts: Chargers 15/1 (6 percent), Packers 15/1 (6 percent), Cowboys 15/1 (6 percent), Steelers 20/1 (5 percent), Vikings 20/1 (5 percent).

This is where Pittsburgh sits. In the discussion … but still a relative long shot in a deep field of threats.

Tomlin has a history of saving his team’s energy for the regular season. That’s particularly important this year with an opener in two weeks at New England. The Steelers have been a 6-point underdog to the Patriots all summer, suggesting they’re about three points worse than “championship caliber” on a neutral-field Power Ratings scale.

Tomlin’s aware that fatigue from travel could be an issue this season. Pittsburgh will make two separate trips to California in the first six weeks, then will cap off its campaign playing five of the final seven on the road.

Handicappers and bettors should monitor 2019 changes in Pittsburgh’s rankings in these two important statistical categories:

2018 total defense: Steelers No. 6, Patriots No. 21, Browns No. 30, Chiefs No. 31.

The Steelers had an elite defense last season … significantly better than the Browns in that battle for the AFC North and meaningfully better than the AFC finalists. Pittsburgh will matter as long as it can slow opponents down.

2018 giveaways: Patriots No. 7, Chiefs No. 7 (tie), Browns No. 22, Steelers No. 26.

This is where improved chemistry and execution is most likely to show up. Pittsburgh had a disastrous turnover performance despite being led by a veteran quarterback.

If the offense cuts down on miscues and the defense stays stout, the Steelers will look more like an 11/1 power than a 20/1 dark horse very quickly.