The 2021 NFL betting action continues Sunday, December 5, with the AFC North showdown at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, so we bring you the best Ravens vs. Steelers betting pick along with the latest team stats, news, and betting trends.
Baltimore meets Pittsburgh for the first time this season. The Ravens are 4.5-point road favorites on BetDSI Sportsbook, while the Steelers are +175 moneyline underdogs with a total of 44.0 points.
The Ravens want to stay atop of the AFC
The Baltimore Ravens (8-3; 5-6 ATS) enter Week 13 as the best team in the American Football Conference. Despite some serious injury problems, the Ravens have won three of their last four games, and each win has come by six or fewer points.
After a surprising 22-10 defeat at Miami in Week 10, Baltimore has outlasted Chicago 16-13 on the road and Cleveland 16-10 at home. The Ravens missed Lamar Jackson against the Bears, so Tyler Huntley led the offense in his first NFL start. Jackson returned last weekend and threw a whopping four interceptions, but the Ravens’ D dominated Baker Mayfield and the Browns all night long to secure the victory.
Baltimore is tallying 23.9 points per game (15th in the NFL) while yielding 21.8 in a return (9th). The Ravens’ run defense ranks second in the league in yards allowed per game (84.2), but their passing defense is dead last with 275.7 yards allowed per contest.
The Steelers fell apart in Week 12
The Pittsburgh Steelers (5-5-1; 4-7 ATS) got embarrassed by the Cincinnati Bengals last Sunday, suffering a 41-10 defeat as 3.5-point road underdogs. The Steelers extended their winless streak to three games, and everything started with Ben Roethlisberger’s absence due to COVID-19 in Week 10 that led to a disappointing 16-16 home tie against the hapless Detroit Lions.
After a heart-breaking 41-37 loss at the Chargers in Week 11, the Steelers laid an egg against the surging Bengals. They allowed 31 first-half points in another abysmal performance by their injury-depleted defensive unit, while Big Ben went 24-of-41 for 263 yards, a TD, and a couple of interceptions.
Pittsburgh’s offense is a mess, but surrendering 41 points for the second straight contest is even a bigger problem for the Steelers, who desperately need a win this weekend. With T.J. Watt on the COVID-19 list, things have just gone from bad to worse, as Joe Hadden (foot) and Robert Spillane (knee) are already listed as doubtful to play against the Ravens.
Trends:
Baltimore:
- 4-0-1 ATS in the last five road games against Pittsburgh
- 9-2 ATS in the last 11 games against the AFC North
Pittsburgh:
- 3-7 ATS in the last ten games overall
- 1-6 ATS in the last seven games at home
Baltimore Ravens vs. Pittsburgh Steelers Pick
Both teams have serious injury worries, so it’s hard to say what can happen in this AFC North battle. The Ravens’ injury report was loaded on Wednesday with ten DNP and four limited practicians. On the other side, the Steelers miss some key defensive playmakers, while WR Chase Claypool is questionable due to a toe injury.
I’m expecting the Steelers’ defense to improve after a couple of awful displays, but without Claypool in the lineup, Pittsburgh’s offense lacks a deep threat that is necessary against this Baltimore defense. The Ravens will control the clock and run the ball as much as possible, so I lean the favorites to cover. Pittsburgh has just allowed 198 rushing yards to the Bengals (5.2 per carry).
Pick: Take Baltimore Ravens -4.5 at -110
The Total:
The Steelers will show some pride after yielding 41 points against the Chargers and Bengals, while their offense will probably continue to struggle. On the other side, the Ravens have scored only 42 points in total over their previous three outings, so give me the under on the totals.
As I’ve mentioned, the Ravens will control the clock with their prolific rushing, while their front seven should disrupt the Steelers’ offensive rhythm. Pittsburgh is scoring only 20.4 points per game (22nd in the league) on 325.5 total yards (also 22nd).
Pick: Go under 44.0 points at -110
