If there was just one game to watch this NFL Picks Week 1, there would be no question the top pick most of the time would be the hard-hitting contest between hated AFC North rivals, Pittsburgh Steelers and the Baltimore Ravens! It sure seems like the clock gets turned back to the more physical years of the league every time these guys get together, as you’re guaranteed to see some people get popped left and right through out this one.

This year, the NFL thought: What the heck, let’s have these two juggernauts destroy each other to start the season! And thankfully, that’s exactly what we are going to get, as neither one of these teams is one to back down! So who will win this epic grudge match? Which team will draw the all important first blood on the other?

By taking a quick glance at the NFL Picks Week 1, immediately you can see that NFL Odds makers are thinking right along the same line as we all are, as they expect a war till the last whistle in this one.

According to NFL Odds making experts, this will be a very close contest, with the edge barely going to the home team, Baltimore Ravens [-2] by a safety over the Pittsburgh Steelers [+2]. This game is scheduled to kickoff Sunday afternoon at 1 PM ET from M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland.

My NFL Picks Week 1 for this game differs from the aforementioned point-spread. Instead, I like Pittsburgh to go into a hostile environment and pull off the victory or at worst, loose by a single point in the final seconds. The key for me it’s going to be defense, of course, just like in any other Steelers-Ravens game.

I give the edge to the Steel Curtain in this category, because of their great balance between seasoned, savvy defensive players and young hungry lions. Just think about it: is there a better culture for a young defensive player to develop his talents at this level than at the hands of Mike Tomlin and his savage defenders? The answer to that question is simple: No way in hell!

“How many times have you heard that a defense is just right? Never,” said 33-year-old Steelers linebacker, James Harrison. “You never hear that a defense is just the right age to be playing good ball. It's either too young or too old, and I've been hearing that for the last few years.”