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Pittsburgh Steelers at Baltimore Ravens NFL Betting & Picks

Written by Jimmy Boyd

No. 1 meets No. 2 in the AFC North when the 10-3 Steelers take on the 9-4 Ravens Sunday. The Steelers currently have the second-best record in the AFC, but odds makers feel they won’t be the only team able to stake claim to that after this week as they have listed the Ravens as the 2-point favorite with the total set at 34.5.

Pittsburgh is a perfect 4-0 in division games and has already edged out the Ravens once this season. The Steelers won at home 23-20 back on September 29th. That loss is the only one that the Ravens has suffered in division play this season and also the only loss they have suffered at home. Ravens NFL betting backers are a profitable 5-1 straight up and against the spread at home this season and a perfect 5-0 against the spread in AFC North games this year. The Steelers have had their way with the NFL odds on the road this season as they are 5-1 straight up and 4-2 against the number away from home.

We expect nothing short of a hard-nosed defensive battle this week and the odds reflect that with the total set at just 34.5. Pittsburgh brings in the No. 1 defense in the NFL but the Ravens boast the NFL’s No. 2 ranked defensive unit. We all know what we can expect from Pittsburgh defensively, but it is going to have to show that it can do a better job of scoring the football if it wants to pull off the season sweep. The Steelers offense ranks just 26th overall in the league and they cannot continue to depend on the defense to bail them out. The Steelers defense scored as many touchdowns as the offense on Sunday with cornerback Deshea Townsend returning a 25-yard interception for a touchdown in the final two minutes to beat the Dallas Cowboys, 20-13.

It was a tough week for Big Ben Roethlisberger, who was just 17 of 33 and was sacked five times. The important thing was that he was not picked off. Taking care of the football will again be vital in what figures to be a close contest. Pittsburgh was not able to get much out of its ground attack either. Tailback Willie Parker led the Steelers with only 25 yards. The amassed just 70 total rushing yards for the game.

Defensively, if the Steelers can continue to make plays, they will continue to win. The Steelers intercepted three passes and sacked Pro Bow QB Tony Romo three times. If you like Pittsburgh to remain unbeaten in the AFC North, bet the Steelers at +2 at Bookmaker.

Offensively, the Ravens have been a better football team that the Steelers this season and they are a much improved team since the first meeting between the two squads. Baltimore is winning by an average of 14 ppg at home this season and much of that can be accredited to the quick maturation of rookie QB Joe Flacco. Flacco was just 10 of 21 last week but he made his completions count as the offense averaged 13.4 yards per completion. The running game has been strengthened by the consistent play of Le’Ron McClain who led the Ravens with 61 yards and a touchdowns last week. Willis McGahee continues to struggle. He had 32 yards rushing and a fumble. Ray Rice had the biggest run of the game, gaining 21 yards on a third-down draw. Running back by committee will continue to be Baltimore’s approach against the Steelers.

It will most likely be up to Big Ben to beat the Ravens through the air because the defense is not giving anything up on the dirt. The Ravens held Clinton Portis to just 32 yards and a 2.9 yards per carry average last week. Linebacker Ray Lewis proved he still has plenty left in his tank with 13 tackles, including three behind the line of scrimmage. If you think Baltimore will have its revenge over the Steelers, bet the Ravens at -2 at Bookmaker.

Let Jimmy Boyd’s NFL expert picks help guide you to a profitable week on the gridiron!

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