Steelers vs. Ravens Point Spread: NFL Week 18 Odds, Prediction
The Steelers have kept their faint playoff hopes alive with back-to-back wins, capped by last weekend’s crucial 30-23 victory in Seattle, but have a mountain to climb in their bid to snap a three-game road losing streak versus the league-leading Ravens.
The Ravens enter NFL Week 18 riding a six-game SU win streak after dismantling the Miami Dolphins in a lopsided 56-19 victory last weekend, but have compiled a dismal 3-6 SU record in their past nine dates with division rivals.
With Baltimore expected to rest a number of key starters in what is a meaningless game for the squad, the Steelers have emerged as 3-point road favourites on the NFL Week 18 odds, and the total is pegged at just 35.
NFL Point Spread and Betting Analysis
The Ravens have emerged as the class of the NFL, both on the gridiron and at the sportsbook, during an impressive 10-1 SU run, covering eight times over that stretch. However, the Ravens have produced mixed results for loyal sports bettors on home turf, going just 4-4 against the spread while seeing four of those contests get settled by just a single score. However, with plans announced to rest stars like Lamar Jackson and Odell Beckham Jr., it is difficult to find meaning in this team’s statistical performance.
Conversely, the Steelers can be expected to have all hands on deck for Saturday as they seek to boost their postseason hopes. In addition to a victory over the Ravens, the Steelers will also need the Buffalo Bills to lose in their visit to Miami, or the Jacksonville Jaguars to lose or tie in their date with Tennessee, or Houston and Indianapolis to tie in their key AFC South matchup.
Pittsburgh also maintains a faint hope to advance to the playoffs if it doesn’t win, but would need the help from a multitude of other teams to pull off that feat. However, the Steelers have been a betting disappointment when favoured on the road by four or fewer points, losing outright in four of their past seven, and covering in just three of their past nine.
Pittsburgh Steelers
After guiding the Steelers to consecutive wins, Mason Rudolph is expected to make a third straight start under centre on Saturday afternoon. Rudolph connected on 18-of-24 pass attempts for 274 yards last weekend, and while he failed to find the end zone, he gave the Steelers a chance to win with some key passes to receiver George Pickens late in the contest. Pickens has developed instant chemistry with Rudolph, averaging 163 receiving yards and making two scoring catches while enjoying his two most productive performances of the season over the past two weeks. Running back Najee Harris is also coming off a season-best 122-yard, two-touchdown performance in Seattle, but is nursing a knee injury that limited him at practice this week.
Baltimore Ravens
With Lamar Jackson enjoying the weekend off, Tyler Huntley is expected to be running the Ravens offence on Saturday, in his first start since last season’s Wild Card Weekend loss to Cincinnati. Huntley also got the call in place of an injured Jackson when the Steelers last visited Baltimore 51 weeks ago, tossing for 130 yards, one score, and one pick as the Ravens blew a 10-point second-half lead on their way to a 16-13 loss. In addition to missing OBJ, Huntley is likely to be without the services of receiver Zay Flowers, who was DNP at practice all week due to an ankle injury. Indeed, with a lengthy injury report that features 16 players, it is realistic to expect that any dressed starters will see limited action for the Ravens, who have already clinched the AFC top seed.