by Chuck Sommers
Tuesday, Dec 06, 2022
Time: 1 p.m. ET
Venue: Acrisure Stadium, Pittsburgh, PA
Where to watch: CBS
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: Steelers -2.5; Steelers -150, Ravens +130; O/U 37
FanDuel: Steelers -2.5; Steelers -146, Ravens +124; O/U 36.5
BetMGM: Steelers -2.5; Steelers -154, Ravens +130; O/U 37
Caesars: Steelers -2.5; Steelers -155, Ravens +130; O/U 37
Season record
Ravens: 8-4 (1st place, AFC North)
Steelers: 5-7 (T-3rd, AFC North)
Week 14 is here in the NFL season and things are starting to heat up. Teams you didn’t expect to be in the hunt this late in the season are surely cashing in now, and you’re ready to enjoy the ride, I’m sure. What will this week hold with division races tightening up and playoff races hitting the first quarter mark? One thing you can surely count on is our champion handicappers making things happen. Brian Bitler has been killing it the last 30 days with a 16-8-0 mark. Matt Fargo has been just as efficient over the last month with a 17-10-1 run in the NFL. Both went 4-2-0 this past weekend in what was an entertaining slate of football. You’re going to want to be tuned in to bigal.com to find out what our champion handicappers are doing to get you across the finish line!
Ravens - Steelers preview, analysis and prediction
Last week
Ravens: won 10-9 vs. Broncos
Steelers: won 19-16 at Falcons
Ravens analysis
The Baltimore Ravens somehow find themselves at 8-4 and atop the AFC North, at least for now. They won 10-9 on Sunday against the Denver Broncos, and if you haven’t been keeping up, there’s only one reason why the Ravens would score just 10 points in a win. Lamar Jackson is week to week with a knee injury, which means Tyler Huntley will have to quarterback Baltimore to the playoffs with five games to go. Huntley completed 27 of 32 passes for 187 yards and an interception in his limited time. At least he wasn’t as bad as Russell Wilson and the Denver offense, particularly because Baltimore’s defense is good, but also because Denver is the epitome of human garbage on a football field this season.
"That was a great win. December football, you've got to find a way to win the game and I'm proud of our team," coach John Harbaugh said. "I'm proud of every single guy."
For the time being, the Ravens are still in first place in the AFC North, but the gap is quickly closing after the Cincinnati Bengals rallied to defeat the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday and also take an 8-4 record into Sunday. There’s a good chance with the Ravens going on the road without their MVP quarterback that it could be a very long day for the Baltimore offense when they need something to happen.
Steelers analysis
I told you it was a good thing to take the under. The Pittsburgh Steelers were not in any position to be in an offensive battle with the Atlanta Falcons last week, but the Steelers got the 19-16 win and are at 5-7 with five games to play. There’s still plenty of time for the Steelers to make a run, but this final month is more so about the development of Kenny Pickett and how they can get the most out of him to finish his rookie season. Pickett completed 16 of 28 passes for 197 yards and a touchdown. Not the best numbers, especially compared to an offense that is eons worse than Pittsburgh’s, but getting the win nonetheless was absolutely a big moment for Pickett and the Steelers.
"To go out here and get back-to-back wins, feel the momentum a little bit, it feels great," Pickett said.
To be fair, those back-to-back wins are against the Colts and Falcons, but I digress and don’t want to rain on Steelers fans’ parade. For Pickett to go get two wins and suddenly make this season respectable has to be a good quality for this group. I, for one, believe that that the best is yet to come for the Steelers. Pickett is going to need help on the outside at some point, but eventually he’s going to get it and it’s going to make Pittsburgh’s offense that much more dominant. Najee Harris continues to look like a workhorse in the backfield. Find some balance between the run and pass, and that’s one way to get it done.
Prediction
Pittsburgh in December is a nightmare for most, and with the Steelers’ defense getting healthy at the right time, this could be a winter to forget for Huntley and the Ravens. Get better soon, Lamar. Steelers by 10
Betting trends
Ravens are 34-17 ATS as a road underdog of 3 points or less since 1992.
Ravens are 55-33 ATS on the road after winning 2 of 3 since 1992.
Steelers are 202-161 ATS after the first month of the season since 1992.
The over is 89-62 when the Steelers are a home favorite of 7 points or less since 1992.
Statistical leaders
Ravens:
Passing: Lamar Jackson – 2,242 yards, 17 TD, 7 INT
Rushing: Lamar Jackson – 764 yards, 3 TD
Receiving: Mark Andrews – 654 yards, 5 TD
Defense: Justin Houston – 9 sacks
Steelers:
Passing: Kenny Pickett – 1,797 yards, 4 TD, 8 INT
Rushing: Najee Harris – 671 yards, 4 TD
Receiving: Pat Freiermuth – 597 yards, 1 TD
Defense: Alex Highsmith – 10 sacks
Don't miss our champion handicappers' free picks and expert football picks today. And if you enjoyed this Baltimore Ravens - Pittsburgh Steelers prediction, be sure to drop by every day for our daily NFL projections and previews.
Chuck Sommers
About the Author:
Chuck Sommers has camped outside of sportsbooks since he can remember, learning the tricks and nuances of the trade. He still has nightmares of betting $5,000 on the Raiders in the Tuck Rule game but has since turned that to 25 years of veteran handicapping greatness. You can find him mostly in the shadows at the Red Rock or Aliante casinos wondering if the over is cashing on any given Sunday.
