Steelers vs. Ravens Point Spread: NFL Week 17 Odds, Prediction
It’s a must-win for the 7-8 Steelers who have already won two games straight just to keep any playoff hopes alive. The 10-5 Ravens have already clinched their post-season ticket and now have their sights set on the AFC North division title.
Lamar Jackson (knee) remains out for Baltimore, meaning Tyler Huntley will make his fourth start in a row. The Ravens are 2-1 with Huntley but haven’t scored more than 17 points. Pittsburgh hasn’t allowed more than 16 points in four straight too, setting up a tough challenge for the Jackson-less Ravens offence.
Kickoff at M&T Bank Stadium starts at 8:20 p.m. EST, with Baltimore a three-point favourite and the total at 36 on the NFL odds.
NFL Point Spread and Betting Analysis
As each team’s offence struggles to put up points, the under has been the money-making play for both Pittsburgh and Baltimore. The under is 11-4 in Baltimore’s 15 games, and 6-1 in their seven home games. It’s connected in nine of Pittsburgh’s 15 outings. Six of the last eight Steelers–Ravens contests played in Baltimore have gone under the total too.
In fact, the Ravens beat the Steelers 16-14 back on December 11 but it was Mitchell Trubisky at quarterback for Pittsburgh. Trubisky threw three interceptions while Huntley had 88 passing yards. Baltimore did rush for 215 yards, using six ball-carriers to reach that mark.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Last Sunday wasn’t pretty, but first-round pick Kenny Pickett engineered a game-winning drive to defeat Las Vegas 13-10. Pickett’s 14-yard touchdown strike to fellow rookie George Pickens capped off a 10-0 fourth quarter for the Steelers, and was Pickens’ team-leading third receiving touchdown.
Pittsburgh’s offence still ranks 29th in the NFL with 17.6 points per game, as it’s the defence carrying the Steelers as of late. That defence generated three turnovers last weekend and now lead the NFL with 17 interceptions. The Ravens will be a good test for this ball-hawking unit too, as Baltimore is currently tied for the second-fewest giveaways with 16.
Baltimore Ravens
Huntley completed just nine passes last week in Baltimore’s 17-9 win against Atlanta, a game where the Ravens defence held Atlanta to zero conversions on four red zone trips. Baltimore’s been a top-five red zone defence this season too, allowing touchdowns on 48 per cent of opponents red zone drives.
The Ravens have carried the ball just under 35 times per game in their last three contests too. Huntley, along with running backs J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards all reached double digit carries against Atlanta and the trio combined for 184 rushing yards. Dobbins only had 59 rushing yards in the win, which was a lot fewer than his totals of 120 yards in back-to-back games in the weeks prior. Regardless, all three should be quite involved in the ground game.
PIT
BAL