Baltimore vs Pittsburgh Betting
Headline: Battered Steelers Host Rival Ravens for AFC North Supremacy
One of the more anticipated Week 11 matchups has been significantly watered down with the news that Ben Roethlisberger is highly doubtful to play after sustaining a separated shoulder on Monday night.
Sunday Night Football
Baltimore Ravens (7-2) vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (6-3)
Date/Time: Sunday, November 18, 8:20 PM ET
Venue: Heinz Field
Broadcast: NBC
Ravens vs. Steelers Betting Lines from SportsBettingOnline.ag
Spread: Ravens -3 (-110)
Moneyline: Ravens -165: Steelers +145
Over/Under: 41 points
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Still – you have to play the games and Pittsburgh knows that they can reach the improbable top of the AFC North heap with a win on Sunday. The issue? Byron Leftwich – nuff said!
All of the talk heading into Sunday night’s game will be about the injuries on the Steelers side of the ball but the Ravens aren’t without their banged up players, namely Ray Lewis who has anchored a defense that has been torched without him in the lineup.
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The Raves are an uncharacteristic 26th in the NFL against the run and versus the pass – the defense is the real weakness on this team!
Baltimore’s offense likely won’t have to do much on Sunday. They are an average lot – surprising considering the talent on this team! The Ravens have the 13th best passing game in the NFL and the 20th ranked running game despite Ray Rice being one of the most special players in the game. Baltimore is talented on offense albeit a tad underwhelming. But the most important factor and the determining one ahead of this game is that they are healthy!
The Pittsburgh Steelers likely lost the one player that they cannot do without on Sunday. Let’s face it Byron Leftwich is no Ben Roethlisberger! Hopes are that Rashard Mendenhall can return to action and provide a little stability to an offense that will surely be reeling.
The Steelers enter Sunday’s clash with the 11th ranked passing game but you can throw those stats out the window with Leftwich at the helm. This team will have to become one dimensional – the 21st ranked running game will have to be the stars! But even the running game could be in some trouble with the lack of any sort of threat from Pittsburgh’s passing game.[soliloquy id=”82219″]
Pittsburgh’s defense has been typically strong – this unit may provide the only chance of winning for the Steelers on Sunday. They are #1 versus the pass and #6 against the run although Jamaal Charles exposed them a tad on Monday night. The one issue with Pittsburgh’s defense is their inability to create turnovers although it was ultimately the difference Monday night.
Betting Prediction:
• Baltimore is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games
• The total has gone OVER in 7 of Baltimore’s last 9 games when playing on the road against Pittsburgh
• The total has gone OVER in 9 of Baltimore’s last 13 games when playing Pittsburgh
• Baltimore is 3-5-1 ATS in its last 9 games when playing Pittsburgh
• Pittsburgh is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games at home
• The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Pittsburgh’s last 5 games at home
• Pittsburgh is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games
• The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Pittsburgh’s last 6 games
If you jumped on this game early you would have seen the Steelers were favored by 4 1/2!!! The line may go higher even yet so if you are on the Ravens which I am, act fast! For the Steelers to win this game, they would have needed ALL hands on deck. With the barrage of injuries it just seems unfair – I feel for you Steelers fans having to watch Mr. Leftwich guide your team.
Pick: Baltimore Ravens -3
