As the 2025 NFL preseason nears its conclusion, Thursday night’s Week 3 clash between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Carolina Panthers at Acrisure Stadium feels more like a dress rehearsal than a true showdown. With key starters on both sides resting or sidelined, fans shouldn’t expect fireworks — but the game still presents intriguing betting angles and insight into both teams’ depth.
What to Expect on Thursday Night
Pittsburgh has already announced several key players as healthy scratches for the second straight week, including Aaron Rodgers, D.K. Metcalf, Jaylen Warren, T.J. Watt, and Jalen Ramsey. Their absence has left the Steelers leaning heavily on backups and rotational players to handle the workload. In particular, quarterback Skylar Thompson has taken center stage. Last week, Thompson completed 10 of 15 passes for 113 yards and an interception against Tampa Bay. While steady, his play lacks the explosiveness to ignite the offense.
Carolina, meanwhile, has had an even rougher time this preseason. The Panthers are 0-2 and have struggled mightily on both sides of the ball. Their offense was particularly anemic in last week’s outing against Houston, where they managed a net total of minus-2 yards in two offensive series. Making matters worse, veteran quarterback Andy Dalton is out with an injury, leaving the offense in the hands of Jack Plummer.
Plummer’s preseason performance hasn’t inspired much confidence. Against Houston, he finished 10-of-14 for 83 yards but also threw two costly interceptions. With the Panthers’ running back and tight end rooms thinned by injuries and miscommunications plaguing the offense, it’s hard to envision a sudden turnaround.
Odds, Spread & Total
Via FanDuel Sportsbook:
- Spread: Steelers -5.5 (-102), Panthers +5.5 (-120)
- Moneyline: Steelers -215, Panthers +180
- Total Points: Over 36.5 (-105), Under 36.5 (-115)
How to Watch
- Date: Thursday, August 21, 2025
- Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
- Location: Acrisure Stadium
- TV: NFL Network
Betting Trends to Know
Pittsburgh head coach Mike Tomlin has built a strong track record in the preseason. Under his leadership, the Steelers are 40-29 straight up and 37-31 against the spread. Tomlin’s disciplined teams tend to show up, even in games where the stakes are minimal.
Carolina’s new head coach Dave Canales, on the other hand, hasn’t had the same preseason success. His teams are just 1-4 straight up and winless against the spread (0-5). That track record alone makes backing the Panthers a tough sell.
Prediction & Pick
With so many offensive pieces sitting out or underperforming, the game is shaping up to be a grind. Pittsburgh’s defense, despite missing some of its top names, has remained disciplined and effective. Carolina, in contrast, is struggling on both ends of the field — their offense can’t stay on the field, and their defense has allowed 50 points over two games.
Jack Plummer’s lack of poise under center, combined with a nonexistent run game, sets Carolina up for another frustrating night. And while Pittsburgh isn’t blowing anyone away either, their execution on both sides of the ball is clearly more polished.
Considering all of this, the best value lies in the total. Expect an ugly, low-scoring affair filled with punts, stalled drives, and short fields that don’t translate into points. The under has strong appeal here.
Best Bet: Under 36.5 (-115 at FanDuel)
With both teams unlikely to unleash their stars and the backups showing limited upside, this game has “defensive slugfest” written all over it.