The Baltimore Ravens (-4) and Pittsburgh Steelers are ready to collide on the grass at Heinz Field. CBS will televise the action and this early afternoon game is scheduled to get underway at 1:00 p.m. ET.
Betting Preview: Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Baltimore Ravens
Pittsburgh is entering this AFC game as the underdog and is currently getting 4 points. The Ravens are also receiving -170 moneyline odds while the Steelers are +150. It appears that there could be multiple solid live betting opportunities for this game, and Vegas has placed the over/under (O/U) at 42.5 points.
This game’s line opened at 3.5, while the total hasn’t moved since it opened at 42.5.
The Ravens are down 1.8 units so far and 1-3 against the spread (ATS). The team’s posted an Over-Under record of 3-1.
The Steelers are down 3.7 units for moneyline bettors this season. They’re 1-2 ATS and have an O/U record of 1-2.
The Ravens have gone 2-2 straight up (SU), including 0-1 SU against AFC North opponents. The Steelers are 1-3 SU overall and 1-0 SU against divisional foes.
The Ravens fell to Cleveland 40-25 in a Week 4 matchup where the defense allowed the Browns to pass for 342 yards while rushing for 193 yards and four scores. Nick Chubb torched the defense in that one with 165 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 20 attempts. On the offensive side of the ball, Lamar Jackson completed 24 passes on 34 attempts for 247 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions. Mark Ingram II (71 yards on 12 rush attempts) and the signal-caller Jackson (66 yards on nine carries) spearheaded the running attack in the loss. Marquise Brown (four receptions, 22 yards) and Seth Roberts (four catches, 36 yards) handled the receiving duties.
Pittsburgh is coming off of a 27-3 win over Cincinnati in Week 4. The team’s defensive unit held its ground in the victory, restricting the Bengals to just 171 passing yards and 73 rushing yards. Joe Mixon was a bright spot in the loss for Cincinnati, posting 62 rushing yards on 15 attempts. For Pittsburgh, Mason Rudolph completed 24-of-28 passes for 229 yards and two touchdowns. Jaylen Samuels contributed in all facets in the win. In addition to 26 rushing yards on 10 attempts (and one TD), Samuels also reeled in eight catches for 57 yards.
Baltimore has run the ball on 50 percent of its offensive possessions this year while Pittsburgh has an overall rush percentage of 35.3 percent. The Ravens have produced 205.8 rush yards/game (including 173 per game versus North opponents) and have six touchdowns via handoffs this year. The Steelers are totaling 64.5 rushing yards per game (66 in conference) and have two total rush TDs.
If 2019 numbers can translate to this game, then it appears the Steelers ought to have an advantage along both the offensive and defensive fronts. Their offensive line has given up just four sacks while the D-line has logged 14 sacks. The Ravens O-line has allowed 10 sacks and their defense has logged only eight sacks.
The Ravens offensive scheme has averaged 291.3 yards in the air overall (247 per game versus conference opposition) and has 11 passing scores so far. The Steelers have recorded 224.3 pass yards per contest (260 in the AFC) and have six total pass TDs.
Defensively, Baltimore has let opponents rush for an average of 93.5 yards and pass for 313.8 yards per game. The Pittsburgh defense has allowed 280.3 yards per game to opposing passers and 122.8 yards per game to opposing runners. The Steelers are allowing an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of just 6.55 to opponents, while the Ravens have given up a 7.93 ANY/A.
Offensively, Jackson is up to 843 passing yards this year, and has completed 65-of-91 attempts with 10 passing scores and only two interceptions. He has a 9.32 adjusted net yards per pass attempt overall, although that number is 5.25 over the past two outings.
We expect the Baltimore offense to mix it up in this one. Mark Ingram II (225 rushing yards, two rush TDs, 30 receiving yards this season), Lamar Jackson (112 rush yards, 0 receiving yards) and Willie Snead IV (107 receiving yards, two TDs) have each played significant roles lately.
Mason Rudolph has completed 36-of-47 passes for 341 yards, four TDs and one INT for Pittsburgh. His ANY/A sits at 8.00 for the year and 7.44 across his past two games.
James Conner, Diontae Johnson and JuJu Smith-Schuster have combined for 413 total yards and four touchdowns as a trio the last two outings.
Baltimore Ravens vs. Pittsburgh Steelers Free NFL Pick
SU Winner: Steelers, ATS Winner: Steelers, O/U: Over
Team Betting Notes
- The Pittsburgh D has sacked opposing QBs 14 times this year. Baltimore has registered just eight sacks.
- The Pittsburgh offense has lost two fumbles in 2019 while Baltimore has let one get away.
- Both passing attacks have produced four pass plays of 40 or more yards. The Ravens have have made seven pass plays of 30+ yards while the Steelers have created five such plays.
- The Baltimore defense has allowed six pass plays of 40 yards or more, while Pittsburgh has given up two such plays.
- The Baltimore offense has created four rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while Pittsburgh has created two such runs.
- The Ravens defense has allowed three rushing plays of 20 yards or more, while the Steelers have given up two such runs.
- The O/U for Pittsburgh’s last outing was set at 44.5. The under cashed in the 27-3 victory over Cincinnati.
- Over its last three games, Pittsburgh is 1-2 ATS and the under cashed in two of those three.
- Over its last three games, Baltimore is 0-3 ATS and the over cashed in two of those three.
- The O/U for Baltimore’s last game was set at 47. The over cashed in the team’s 40-25 loss to Cleveland.
- As a team, Baltimore has produced 5.9 yards per carry over its last three outings and 6.2 over its last two.
- Pittsburgh has averaged 3.6 yards per carry over its last three contests and 3.1 over its past two.
