Pittsburgh at Detroit

Pittsburgh is going to be eager to get things started off on the right foot after a very disappointing 2003 campaign. On the flip side, Steve Mariucci doesn't use the preseason to win - he uses it to evaluate players. Mariucci is 12-19 (39%) ATS during the preseason. Playing dogs against coaches that perform in this way has been a profitable endeavor over the years. Detroit's laying points here simply because they are at home but there isn't much of a home-field advantage during the preseason when teams aren't so concerned with winning and fans are less engaged while watching backups play. Both of these teams have good backup QBs - Charlie Batch for Pittsburgh and Mike McMahon for Detroit. However, Pittsburgh's got the distinct running back advantage where newly acquired Duce Staley could see decent action and will be followed on by The Bus. Detroit's starting Shawn Bryson (who??) and his backup will be Artose Pinner (who again?). If this line somehow grows 1/2 point to 3.5, note that Mariucci is 0-6 ATS in the preseason as a favorite of more than three points. In any case, I'll make the Steelers a one unit selection this week.