by Rod Pearson
Monday, Dec 16, 2024
Game Time: 4:30 pm ET, Saturday, December 21, 2024
Venue: M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore, MD
Where to Watch: FOX
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: Point Spread: Steelers +6.5, Ravens -6.5; Over/Under: 45 points
Bet365: Point Spread: Steelers +6.5, Ravens -6.5; Over/Under: 45 points
BetMGM: Point Spread: Steelers +6.5, Ravens -6.5; Over/Under: 45.5 points
Season Record
Pittsburgh Steelers: 10-4 (1st place, AFC North)
Baltimore Ravens: 9-5 (2nd place, AFC North)
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Recent Form
Pittsburgh Steelers: lost their last game on the road against the Philadelphia Eagles 27-13.
Baltimore Ravens: won their last game on the road against the New York Giants 35-14.
Pittsburgh Steelers vs Baltimore Ravens Preview and Analysis
The Steelers are entering this game with a 10-4 record overall and they have a 3-1 record in their divisional games too. They are 5-1 in their home games, 5-3 in their road games, and they are also 0-0 in their neutral site games this season, but they will be on the road for this game. They lost their last game against the Philadelphia Eagles 27-13. Russell Wilson was the starting QB and he completed 14/22 passes for 128 passing yards, 1 touchdown, and 0 interceptions. Najee Harris led the team in rushing yards with 14. Calvin Austin III led the receivers with 65 receiving yards on 5 receptions. Patrick Queen led the defense in that game with 6 solo tackles and 5 assisted tackles while T. J. Watt led the defense in sacks with 2. No one on the defense came away with an interception for them in that one.
The Ravens are entering this game with a 9-5 record overall and they have a 2-2 record in their divisional games too. They are 4-2 in their home games, 5-3 in their road games, and they are also 0-0 in their neutral site games this season, but they will be at home for this game. They won their last game against the New York Giants 35-14. Lamar Jackson was the starting QB and he completed 21/25 passes for 290 passing yards, 5 touchdowns, and 0 interceptions. Derrick Henry led the team in rushing yards with 67. Rashod Bateman led the receivers with 80 receiving yards on 3 receptions and 2 TDs. Kyle Hamilton led the defense in that game with 4 solo tackles and 2 assisted tackles while Kyle Van Noy, Malik Harrison, and David Ojabo each led the defense in sacks with 1. Ar'Darius Washington came away with the only interception for them in that one.
Steelers vs Ravens Prediction
The current betting odds have the Ravens listed as a 6.5 point favorite in this game according to Draftkings Sportsbook. The Ravens have looked good in their games this season with their 9-5 record overall which has them in 2nd place of the AFC North and fighting for a Wild Card spot, but that can all change in this game as the division is on the line here. Meanwhile, the Steelers have looked really good in their games this season with their 10-4 record overall which has them leading the AFC North. The Steelers are coming off a loss to the Eagles last week while the Ravens are coming off a win, and now the Ravens are just 1 game behind the Steelers again for the division. The Steelers already beat the Ravens earlier this season, but the Ravens have a chance to get their revenge here and they need this game badly to have a chance to take the lead back in the AFC North. The Ravens are coming off a big win over the Giants last week and their offense has looked great all season, being one of the best offenses in the entire NFL. The Steelers haven't looked as good on offense lately without Pickens in the lineup, and they looked really bad in their loss to the Eagles last week. The Ravens have looked better on defense lately and they did hold this Steelers offense to no TDs in their loss a few weeks ago. Now the Ravens have the home advantage and this could be a game where the Ravens pull away and the Steelers have no way back in it with their offensive troubles lately. The best way to place a bet here is on the Ravens to cover the spread in this game.
Steelers Ravens Prediction: Our NFL Pick for Saturday, December 21, 2024 (4:30 pm ET start time) is Ravens 31 Steelers 17.
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NFL Betting Trends
Pittsburgh Steelers: 19-30 1H ATS in all games. 8-16 1H ATS after playing their last game on the road. 3-11 1H ATS vs. good offensive teams - scoring 24 or more points/game. 12-3 UNDER in all games where the total is between 42.5 and 49 points. 8-1 UNDER vs. poor passing defenses - allowing 235 or more passing yards/game. 8-1 UNDER when playing against a good team (Win Pct. 60% to 75%).
Baltimore Ravens: 19-11 ATS in all games where the total is between 42.5 and 49 points. 10-2 ATS when playing against a good team (Win Pct. 60% to 75%). 14-3 ATS vs. good offensive teams - scoring 24 or more points/game. 23-17 1H UNDER as a favorite. 16-7 1H UNDER as a favorite of 3.5 to 9.5 points. 9-4 1H UNDER revenging a loss against an opponent.
Key Injuries
Pittsburgh Steelers: M. Adams (DT) Undefined - Knee. C. Anderson (OT) Questionable - Groin. M. Pruitt (TE) Injured - NIR - Rest. E. Roberts (LB) Injured - NIR - Rest. C. Patterson (RB) Injured - NIR - Rest. D. Elliott (SAF) Out - Hamstring. P. Queen (LB) Injured - NIR - Rest. G. Pickens (WR) Out - Hamstring. M. Williams (WR) Injured - NIR - Rest. T. Watt (LB) Injured - NIR - Rest. N. Harris (RB) Injured - NIR - Rest. L. Ogunjobi (DT) Out - Groin. C. Heyward (DT) Injured - NIR - Rest. I. Seumalo (G) Injured - NIR - Rest.
Baltimore Ravens: A. Washington (SAF) Questionable - NIR-Personal. A. Isaac (OLB) Questionable - Hamstring. M. Pierce (NT) Questionable - Calf. R. Bateman (WR) Injured - Knee. K. Van Noy (OLB) Injured - Hamstring. T. Tampa (CB) Questionable - Ankle. S. Kane (SAF) Questionable - Hamstring.
Notable Quotes
“Not as I stand here today. We had a game to play today. We wanted to win it and we didn’t. Some of that other stuff is less relevant to us.” - Mike Tomlin after his team’s loss against the Eagles in their last game.
“All around he had a great game. He’s been locked in all season, all week. He’s on the guys in meetings, walk-throughs, everything. He’s keeping it about football and getting the football right.” - John Harbaugh after his team’s win against the Giants in their last game.
Starting Lineups
Pittsburgh Steelers
WR Miller, Scotty
WR Jefferson, Van
WR Austin III, Calvin
TE Freiermuth, Pat
QB Wilson, Russell
RB Harris, Najee
Baltimore Ravens
WR Flowers, Zay
WR Bateman, Rashod
WR Agholor, Nelson
TE Andrews, Mark
QB Jackson, Lamar
RB Henry, Derrick
FB Ricard, Patrick
Statistical Leaders
Pittsburgh Steelers
Passing: R. Wilson (1912)
Rushing: N. Harris (891)
Receiving: G. Pickens (850)
Touchdowns: P. Freiermuth (6)
Baltimore Ravens
Passing: L. Jackson (3580)
Rushing: D. Henry (1474)
Receiving: Z. Flowers (916)
Touchdowns: D. Henry (15)
Coaches:
Pittsburgh Steelers: Mike Tomlin (18th season)
Baltimore Ravens: John Harbaugh (17th season)
Rod Pearson
About the Author:
Rod Pearson has been a rabid sports fan his entire life. He grew up in Ontario, and was skilled in both hockey and baseball, and pitched in an elite baseball league for many years. In 2022, Rod decided to hang up his glove, so that he could write about the sports he loves -- but from a gambling perspective. Join Rod every day as he breaks down the games to find the best betting value.
