Pittsburgh Steelers vs Baltimore Ravens Prediction, Spread & Odds for Saturday
By Robert Duff in NFL Football
Published:
- The Pittsburgh Steelers are 4-point road favorites at the Baltimore Ravens in their Week 18 NFL game on Saturday, January 6
- With AFC home field advantage clinched, Baltimore is resting QB1 Lamar Jackson
- Pittsburgh QB1 Kenny Pickett (ankle) won’t be playing. See our top Steelers vs Ravens picks here
With home field advantage in the AFC clinched, the Baltimore Ravens (13-3, 11-5 ATS) have nothing to play for in Week 18 other than to ensure that their arch-rivals the Pittsburgh Steelers (9-7, 9-7 ATS) don’t make the NFL Playoffs. That situation has been priced into Saturday’s Steelers vs Ravens odds.
That may be all the incentive they need. Still, oddsmakers, noting that Baltimore head coach John Harbaugh is stting out QB1 Lamar Jackson and is likely to be resting some of his other starters, are setting Pittsburgh as 4-point road favorites in the Steelers vs Ravens odds. Pittsburgh is 4-1 against the spread in the last five meetings with Baltimore.
Steelers vs Ravens Odds
Team | Moneyline | Spread | Total |
---|---|---|---|
Pittsburgh Steelers | -210 | -4 (-110) | Over 35.5 (-105) |
Baltimore Ravens | +150 | +4 (-110) | Under 35.5 (-115) |
In the Pittsburgh vs Baltimore odds, the Steelers are -210 moneyline favorites, giving them an 67.74% implied win probability. The total is set at 35.5 points. Each of the last six Steelers vs Ravens games have gone under.
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Kickoff for this game at M&T Bank Stadium on Saturday, January 6, is set for 4:30 pm ET. The broadcast is being carried by ABC/ESPN.
Pittsburgh vs Baltimore Betting Trends
In the NFL public betting splits at the time of this writing, 85% of spread handle and 90% of moneyline handle was backing home underdog Baltimore. The Ravens are an NFL-best 3-0-1 as a home underdog since the start of the 2021 NFL season.
In fact, Baltimore owns a share of the NFL’s best ATS mark this season. At 11-5, the Ravens cover at a 68.8% success rate. The Steelers are 13-7 both straight up and ATS over their last 20 games. Batimore is 6-0 SU in the last six games.
This is the fourth successive Pittsburgh vs Baltimore game with a total of 38.5 points or less. Pittsburgh’s gone over in four of its past five games. It’s been the over that’s hit in five of the last seven games played by the Ravens.
The Ravens are the chalk to win the AFC in the NFL Conference odds at +140. The Steelers are the longest shot on the boards to wear the crown as AFC champions at a betting line of +10000.
Steelers Riding Rudolph
In two games as Pittsburgh’s starting QB, Mason Rudolph has gone 2-0 both SU and ATS. He’s thrown for two TDs and hasn’t been picked off while compiling 569 yards through the air and a 115.3 passer rating.
Starter Kenny Pickett, who’s missed the past four games following ankle surgery, returned to practice this week. However, Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin is deciding to ride with the hot hand under center. and is staying with Rudolph
Mason Rudolph among all QBs with 50+ dropbacks this season:
EPA per dropback: +0.243 (No. 2)
Completion percentage over expected: +11.2% (No. 1)
Passer rating: 115.3 (No. 1)
Yards per attempt: 10.5 (No. 1)— Ian Hartitz (@Ihartitz) January 3, 2024
Currently the ninth seed in the AFC playoff picture, there are several scenarios that could unfold in order to squeeze Pittsburgh into the postseason. Amazingly, there’s even one convoluted situation in which the Steelers could lose this game and still qualify for the playoffs.
Huntley Starts for Ravens
Harbaugh confirmed Wednesday that Jackson, currently the favorite in the NFL MVP odds, won’t be playing in this game. Tyler Huntley is getting the start at QB for the Ravens. He’s 3-5 as an NFL starter, including a 1-2 mark against the Steelers. Huntley has thrown for one TD against three interceptions when facing Pittsburgh. His passer rating is 60.6.
Lamar Jackson said he is cool sitting out on Saturday vs. Steelers.
“I believe Snoop [Tyler Huntley] can get the job done.”
No surprise QB1 will sit this one out. #RavensFlock pic.twitter.com/JwMbe590L5
— Carita Parks (@CaritaCParks) January 3, 2024
As for his other starters, Harbaugh indicated those decisions will be based on which of the club’s injured players prove to be available for the game.
It’s understandable why Harbaugh is sitting on the fence with his decision. He knows his club has a first-round bye, so does he really want his starters sitting without game action for two successive weeks? At the same time, he has to weigh the risk of injury.
Steelers vs Ravens Prediction
Baltimore can’t approach this as a meaningless game. The Steelers are playing for their playoff lives, so they’ll be arriving in a foul mood and ready to play.
Pittsburgh is 6-1 straight up and 5-2 against the spread in the last seven games against the Ravens. The Steelers are 5-1 SU and ATS in their last six visits to Baltimore.
Steelers vs Ravens Picks: Baltimore Ravens +4 (-110)
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Sports Writer
An industry veteran, Bob literally taught the course on the history of sports at Elder College. He has worked as a Sports Columnist for Postmedia, appeared as a guest on several radio stations, was the Vice President of the Society For International Hockey Research in Ontario, and written 25 books.