Steelers vs Ravens Odds – Fight for the AFC North
Sportsbook odds: smashmouth football on tap
- WHO: Pittsburgh Steelers vs Baltimore Ravens (-1)
- WHAT: NFL betting
- WHEN: Sunday, December 14 at 4:15 p.m. ET
- WHERE: M&T Bank Field in Baltimore, Maryland
- KEY STATS: Four of the last five meetings have gone OVER the total; Ravens are 2-0 straight up and against the spread in last two meetings
- PICK: Steelers
Steelers vs Ravens betting is going to be fairly exciting this weekend, as the two teams battle for first place in the AFC North. The Steelers are one game ahead in the standings but the Ravens have the opportunity to close that gap with a home win on Sunday.
Sportsbook odds have the Ravens as a slight favorite after they put on a defensive show against Washington on Sunday night. Those who bet online have watched the Ravens go from a team that wasn’t expected to make the playoffs to a team that is among the contenders for the Super Bowl.
Sunday’s matchup should be a physical, intense battle between two of the best defenses in the NFL. The Steelers defense ranks first overall and scoring defense while the Ravens defense ranks second in total defense and third in scoring.
The Steelers have faced one of the toughest schedules in NFL history and have persevered through many injuries. Online sports betting sharps know there are very few teams that could be 10-3 after playing a similar schedule.
Their strength of schedule so far has been .516 and they still have an upcoming contest with the Tennessee Titans, who have the best record in the NFL. Still, the Steelers vs Ravens line favors Baltimore by one.
The Ravens might have some injury concerns heading in to this contest, which could hamper them offensively. Part of why their offense has been so successful, and part of why rookie quarterback Joe Flacco has been effective in his rookie season, has been the Ravens’ fourth-ranked running game.
But online betting handicappers need to monitor the injury reports this week as Willis McGahee left Sunday’s contest with a stinger while Ray Rice also left the game with a lower leg injury, which could leave the Ravens offense shorthanded.
On the season, the Ravens are averaging 144.0 rushing yards per game but have averaged just 102.3 rushing yards per game in their four losses.
There will be two key breaking points in this upcoming contest: the Ravens' running game and the Steelers' pass protection.
Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has been sacked 41 times this season, which are the fifth most sacks allowed by any team in the NFL. Meanwhile, the Ravens have notched 28 sacks, fifth-most in the AFC.
The Steelers have faced a rugged schedule and have overcome plenty of adversity this season. More importantly, online sports betting handicappers know they’ve performed better on the road than they have at home. The Steelers are 5-1 on the road and should be able to march on to 6-1 away from Heinz Field as long as they can manage the Ravens defensive pressure.
STAN’S PICK: Look for the Steelers to shutdown the Ravens running game and bait rookie quarterback Joe Flacco into some mistakes. Bet the Steelers to win and cover in this contest.
If you love sports, hit up betonline.com and the Betting Edge today for more betting advice and analysis.
Stan Simmons first tasted football through the college game, but his football handicapping has strictly focused on the professional sport. Not many people devote as much time to the NFL as Simmons. For six days a week he works, labors and handicaps the sport, and on the seventh he rests as the games play out. Thoughts or questions?.
