The Pittsburgh Steelers host rivals Baltimore Ravens, Sunday Dec 27, as the Ravens have a chance to end the Steelers playoff hopes. The Ravens have won five of the last eight meetings and won their last meeting. NFL oddsmakers at SPORTSBOOK.com have the Steelers as -3 point home favs over the Ravens with the over/under set at 42 points . Be sure to get your Baltimore Ravens vs Pittsburgh Steelers NFL Week 16 Picks in now at SPORTSBOOK.com
The Ravens (8-6) beat Chicago 31-7 at home in Week 15 and sit second in the AFC North with a chance at a Wild Card. QB Joe Flacco made 21 of 29 passes for 234 yards with four TD’s; overall he’s thrown for 3,345 yards with 19 TD’s and 11 interceptions for a 89.9 passer rating. RB Ray Rice had 16 carries for 87 yards, while WR Derrick Mason made six catches for 87 yards with a TD. WR Demetrius Williams made four catches for 71 yards with a TD and TE Todd Heap added two TD’s. The Ravens defense had two sacks and pulled down four interceptions. The Ravens are just 2-8 SU at Pittsburgh's home stadium . They have lost in all different types of ways there, and usually in excruciating fashion. The Ravens must overcome the mental hurdle of playing at Heinz Field, especially if it is a close game late in the fourth quarter. Their 13th ranked pass game will move the chains against the Steelers 18th ranked pass defense. They won’t be able to run the ball against the league’s best rush defense of the Steelers. RB Willis McGahee leads the Ravens on the ground with 445 yards rushing with 11 TD’s, he has four TD’s in four games. The Ravens have swept the Steelers just once all time. The Ravens have averaged 31ppg and allowed 12.3ppg in their last three games. They are 2-4 SU on the road where they average 20ppg and give up an average 21.7ppg.They are 8-6 ATS and 6-8 over/under.
The Steelers (7-7) beat Green Bay 37-36 at home in Week 15 and sit third in the AFC North where a loss ends their season. QB Ben Roethlisberger made 29 of 46 passes for a high 503 yards with three TD’s; overall he’s thrown for 3,849 yards with 22 TD’s and 11 interceptions for a 100.6 passer rating. RB Rashard Mendenhall had 11 carries for 38 yards with a TD, while WR Mike Wallace made two catches for 79 yards with two TD’s. WR Hines Ward and TE Heath Miller combined for 14 catches for 244 yards. The Steelers O-line allowed five sacks on the day. QB Roethlisberger missed the first game against the Ravens this year with a concussion , and will undoubtedly be ready to face them this time around. If his O-lins allows Roethlisberger to be sacked, another injury could be looming. His eighth ranked overall offense will go head to head with the Ravens fourth ranked defense, that allows the second least amount of points per-game. The Steelers sixth ranked pass game will be in tough against the Ravens sixth ranked pass defense. Their 19th ranked ground game will be against the Ravens eighth ranked rush defense. The Steelers have averaged 22.1ppg and allowed 20ppg in their last three games. They are 5-2 SU at home where they average 25.4ppg and allow 21.4ppg. They are 4-10-0 ATS and 8-6 over/under.
Recent Trends to Consider:
- Over is 5-0 in the last 5 meetings in Pittsburgh.
- Over is 6-1 in the last 7 meetings.
- Underdog is 4-1 ATS in their last 5 meetings
- Ravens are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 games as a road underdog of 0.5-3.0.
- Ravens are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games in December.
- Ravens are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 games as an underdog
- Steelers are 0-5 ATS in their last 5 games as a favorite.
Baltimore Ravens vs Pittsburgh Steelers
When: Sun, Dec 27, 2009 1:00 PM ET
Line: SPORTSBOOK.com
Pick: Ravens +3
Point-Spreads.com Baltimore Ravens vs Pittsburgh Steelers NFL Week 16 Picks
The Bottom Line: The Ravens have what it takes to end the Steelers playoff hopes. Be sure to get your Baltimore Ravens vs Pittsburgh Steelers NFL Week 16 Picks in now at SPORTSBOOK.com and Get a 50% Deposit Bonus and $25 Free Bet at SPORTSBOOK.com, simply use promo code WIN100 and start winning today!
