A split housing pillow block bearing assembly for use with a roll having a shaft. A bearing assembly including a bearing housing split along a parting line passing through the axis of the shaft into an upper housing and a lower housing, the lower housing having a foot portion extending therefrom, the foot portion being offset towards the roll whereby a portion of the bearing housing projects axially outward from the foot portion away from the roll, the lower housing and the upper housing each having an arcuate bearing receiving aperture; a spherical roller bearing positioned within the arcuate bearing receiving apertures, the spherical roller bearing having a inner bore extending therethrough, the inner bore being tapered; and a tapered sleeve mounted on the shaft, the tapered sleeve being received within the bearing inner bore, the foot portion of the bearing being attached to the frame.