The Steelers own a 4-1 lead in the recent rivalry with the Ravens, but Baltimore is 5-2 against the spread over the last seven meetings with Pittsburgh. However, all that involved a quarterback rivalry between Ben Roethlisberger and Joe Flacco. Neither of those guys will play when the Ravens and Steelers meet for an AFC North battle Sunday afternoon in Pittsburgh. How are we playing this game with our free NFL pick?
NFL Betting Odds
Week 5’s NFL betting odds opened Baltimore as a four-point road favorite for this game, with an over/under of right around 43. Early betting action then dipped that spread to -3 and bumped that total to 44.
Ravens vs. Steelers Set-Up
Baltimore is 2-2 on the season, after losing at home to Cleveland last week 40-25. The Ravens, favored by seven points, spotted the Browns the first seven points of the game and never held the lead. Baltimore fell behind 24-10 late in the third quarter, pulled within 24-18 early in the fourth but promptly gave up an 88-yard touchdown bolt by Cleveland’s Nick Chubb and faded from there.
On the day, the Ravens produced 395 yards of total offense, including 173 yards rushing, but the defense gave up 530 Browns yards, including 193 on the ground. Baltimore also lost the turnover battle 3-1, basically creating a minus-10 points differential.
Two weeks ago, the Ravens fell behind 30-13 at Kansas City and lost 33-28. So while Baltimore has proven it can beat teams like Miami and Arizona, it’s 0-2 against playoff contenders.
Pittsburgh, meanwhile, just picked up its first victory of this season, a 27-3 decision at home over lowly Cincinnati Monday night. The Steelers spotted the Bengals the first three points of the game, then scored the last 27 on their way to the win and the money as four-point favorites.
On the night, Pittsburgh only produced 326 yards of total offense, and just 66 on the ground, even resorting to the Wildcat at times. But the defense held Cincinnati to just 175 total yards and recorded eight sacks.
Quarterback Mason Rudolph, in his second start in place of the injured Roethlisberger, hit on 24/28 throws Monday for 229 yards and two touchdowns, without a pick. Rudolph isn’t exactly stretching the field, but his QB rating sits at 103.2.
The Steelers opened this season with that bad loss to New England, then lost 28-26 to Seattle, then fell at San Francisco 24-20. Those last two losses may have been close on the scoreboard, but Pittsburgh got out-gained by the Seahawks 425-261 and 436-239 by the 49ers.
Ravens-Steelers Recent History
As mentioned above the Steelers have won four of the last five meetings with the Ravens, all with Roethlisberger vs. Flacco. Last year these teams split their two meetings, Baltimore winning at Heinz Field 26-14, Pittsburgh winning in Crab City 23-16. Both those games played under their totals.
NFL Betting Trends
- Visiting teams are 40-21 ATS so far this NFL betting season, and underdogs are 36-25 ATS.
- Home dogs are 5-15 SU, 9-12 ATS this season.
Totals Report
- Overs are 3-1 in Ravens games this season, which are averaging a healthy 59 total points.
- Unders are 3-1 in Steelers games this season, which are averaging 41 points.
- Unders are 6-2 over the last eight meetings in this rivalry, as these teams have played several close, relatively low-scoring games.
- Through the first four weeks of this NFL season, unders are 35-28.
- Get more details: Ravens at Steelers NFL Match-up Stats
