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Ravens Open as 3-Point Favorites vs Steelers in Week 17

Robert Duff

by Robert Duff in NFL Football

Updated Apr 7, 2020 · 10:05 AM PDT

Baltimore Ravens coach John Harbaugh on sideline.
The Baltimore Ravens opened as three-point favorites over the Pittsburgh Steelers but those odds could be impacted by how many starters Ravens coach John Harbaugh opts to rest. Photo by Keith Allison (Flickr).
  • The Baltimore Ravens are three-point favorites over the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 17
  • The Steelers must win to keep their playoff hopes alive
  • Baltimore has already clinched home-field in the AFC postseason and may opt to rest some key starters

Even though the Baltimore Ravens might not be utilizing all of their A-list players, oddsmakers are still confident that the AFC North champions will have more than enough to handle the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The opening line on Sunday’s Ravens-Steelers game lists Baltimore as three-point favorites at home. That’s even though it would only be common sense for the Ravens to give several of their stars the week off.

Baltimore has clinched home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs, so another win would be meaningless to them.

Pittsburgh Steelers vs Baltimore Ravens Odds

Team Moneyline Spread Total
Pittsburgh Steelers OFF +3 (-115) OFF
Baltimore Ravens OFF -3 (-105) OFF

Odds taken Dec. 22.

Pittsburgh must win Sunday and hope the Tennessee Titans lose in order to grab the sixth seed and the final AFC Wild Card spot in the postseason. Pittsburgh is 3-4 straight up on the road this season.

No Reason for Ravens to Play Anyone

Yes, the Steelers are Baltimore’s most hated rivals. One of these two teams has won each of the last four and eight of the past 10 AFC North titles. There’s nothing that would satisfy Ravens fans more than to officially end Pittsburgh’s season.

Then again, maybe there is. Like a Super Bowl win, for instance.

The Ravens are home and cooled out. With 11 straight victories, 13-2 Baltimore has locked up home field through the playoffs. By winning Sunday, all the Ravens can do is pad their stats.

There’s no reason at all that quarterback Lamar Jackson should even be active for Sunday’s game. In fact, every key starter for Baltimore should take a seat.

If the Ravens need a reminder of why this must be so, they got it when running back Mark Ingram,  a 1,000-yard rusher this season, was carted off the field injured during Sunday’s 31-15 win over the Cleveland Browns.

He suffered a calf strain. The Ravens indicated they’d know more about the seriousness of the injury on Monday after Ingram undergoes a battery of tests.

Steelers Throw Away the Six Seed

Amazingly, after launching the season 0-3 two weeks ago, the 8-4 Steelers were in the driver’s seat to claim the second AFC Wild Card. Pittsburgh held the #6 seed.

Even after their Week 15 loss to the Buffalo Bills, the Steelers still clung to the six seed. But Sunday’s stunning 16-10 setback at the New York Jets dropped 8-6 Pittsburgh behind 8-6 Tennessee.

The Steelers now must beat the Ravens and hope the Titans lose at Houston to the Texans in order to make the playoffs. There’s also a complicated scenario involving the outcome of four separate games that could get the Steelers in even if they lose on Sunday.

It’s deja vu all over again for Pittsburgh. Last season, the Steelers opened 1-2-1. Then they rattled off seven straight wins to take control of the AFC North. But a 2-4 finish cost Pittsburgh a playoff spot.

Will Line Move Toward Steelers?

With the Ravens almost certain to flood the field with second stringers, logically that should shift the line in Pittsburgh’s favor.

You’d think so, but then you realize the Steelers just lost to the Jets, whose first string might not be as talented as Baltimore’s second string. And even if Robert Griffin III starts at QB for the Ravens, isn’t he still an upgrade over the Pittsburgh options of Mason Rudolph or Devlin Hodges?

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