Baltimore Ravens vs. Pittsburgh Steelers Predictions, Odds, Picks

Dec. 5, 2021
Dan Dobish
VI Betting Expert
VegasInsider.com

Week 13 NFL Picks & Predictions

Games Scheduled for 1:00 p.m. ET

The Baltimore Ravens (8-3) travel to meet the Pittsburgh Steelers (5-5-1) in a key AFC North Division battle in Week 13 on Sunday at Heinz Field. Kickoff is scheduled for 4:25 p.m. ET, and the game can be viewed on CBS.

Score Prediction

Ravens 32, Steelers 25

Best Bets

Ravens -4.5 (-110)BetMGM (Vegas)

Over 44 (-110)BetMGM (Vegas)

Baltimore Ravens vs. Pittsburgh Steelers Predictions

The Ravens enter this week's game with a one-game lead in the AFC North Division after topping the Cleveland Browns last week on Sunday Night Football, while the Steelers find themselves in the basement after last week's debacle in Cincinnati.

It certainly wasn't a pretty showing on SNF for the Ravens, and QB Lamar Jackson tossed three first-half interceptions, and four picks overall. But the good news is that even in a showing not even close to being his best game, the Ravens were able to pick up Jackson and win a key divisional game.

The Steelers allowed 41 points for the second consecutive week, as the Bengals surged past Pittsburgh by a 41-10 score. The good news for the Steelers is that they're back home, where they are 3-0-1 SU across the past four games at Heinz Field.

Baltimore Ravens vs. Pittsburgh Steelers Betting Odds

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Baltimore Ravens vs. Pittsburgh Steelers Betting Resources

  • Matchup: AFC North
  • Date: Sunday, December 5, 2021
  • Venue: Heinz Field
  • Location: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
  • TV-Time: CBS - 4:25 p.m. ET

Week 13 NFL Picks & Predictions

Games Scheduled for 4:00 p.m. through 8:20 p.m. ET

Baltimore Ravens Betting Analysis

Straight Up - SU, Against the Spread - ATS, Over-Under (O/U)

  • SU: 8-3
  • ATS: 5-6
  • O/U: 5-6
  • ATS - Home: 3-3
  • ATS - Away: 2-3

The Ravens enter Sunday's game in the Steel City on a 2-0 ATS run. They're look to cover in three straight for the first time since finishing the regular season on a 6-0 ATS run to close out the 2020 campaign. That 6-0 ATS run last season started in Week 12 on a 19-14 win in Pittsburgh on a Wednesday night, pushed to the middle of the week due to COVID.

The Ravens have posted an impressive 9-2 ATS mark in the past 11 games inside the AFC North Division, while going 16-5 ATS in the previous 21 games in the month of December. As far as the total is concerned, the UNDER is 4-0 in the past four road games, while going 5-1 in the past six as a road favorite. The UNDER is also 9-3 in the past 12 following a straight up win, too.

In this series, Baltimore has an impressive 5-1-1 ATS mark in the past seven trips to Pittsburgh, and the road team is 7-2 ATS in the past nine meetings in this series, while the underdog is 20-7-3 ATS in the past 30 in this series.

Pittsburgh Steelers Betting Analysis

Straight Up - SU, Against the Spread - ATS, Over-Under (O/U)

  • SU: 5-5-1
  • ATS: 4-7
  • O/U: 4-7
  • ATS - Home: 1-5
  • ATS - Away: 3-2

The Steelers defense has been very un-Steelers-like lately, allowing 41 points in each of the past two games. It's no surprise the OVER has cashed in those two outings, while going 3-1 in the past four overall. The last time the Steelers hit the OVER in three straight games was during their collapse down the stretch in Weeks 15 through 17.

Pittsburgh enters this week with a 1-2 SU/ATS mark inside the division this season, while the UNDER is also 2-1 in those three outings. The Steelers offense looked like it had it together after a slow start, but they have managed just 10, 37, 16, 29 and 15 across the past five outings. They've been harder to figure out more than ever, and Pittsburgh can use a big win if they want to keep their postseason hopes afloat.

The Steelers have covered just twice in the past seven divisional games, while going 1-6 ATS in the past seven at home, and 1-7 ATS in the past eight games in the month of December.


The Baltimore Ravens are 5-1-1 ATS in the seven trips to Heinz Field in Pittsburgh. (AP)

Inside the Stats - Baltimore Ravens

  • Record: 8-3
  • Division Standing: 1-1
  • Points Scored: 263
  • Points Allowed: 240
  • PS/G: 23.9
  • PA/G: 21.8

Inside the Stats - Pittsburgh Steelers

  • Record: 5-5-1
  • Division Standing: 1-2
  • Points Scored: 224
  • Points Allowed: 267
  • PS/G: 20.4
  • PA/G: 24.3

Key Players to Watch

  • BAL: Marquise Brown - WR (60 catches, 770 yards, 6 TD)
  • BAL: Lamar Jackson - QB (219/341, 3,319 total yards, 17 total TD, 12 INT)
  • PIT: Najee Harris - RB (196 rushes, 708 yards, 5 TD)
  • PIT: Diontae Johnson - WR (68 catches, 809 yards, 4 TD)

Baltimore Ravens vs. Pittsburgh Steelers Betting Conclusion

The Steelers had a ton of problems trying to corral Cincinnati's Joe Mixon last week, and now they get to try and contain Jackson and the Ravens rush attack. Not good. Pittsburgh ranks 28th in the NFL against the rush, allowing 133.1 yards per game on the ground, and 367.5 total yards per game to check in 25th. A lot of people have talked about QB Ben Roethlisberger, wondering if he is long in the tooth and done, but the real story for the Steelers and their mediocrity has been the defense, or lack thereof. I mean, this is a defense which led Chicago Bears rookie QB Justin Fields nearly engineer a game-winning drive, while flirting with 300 yards passing.

This isn't your typical Ravens defense, either. Well, the rush D is nasty, yielding just 84.2 yards per game on the ground. Bad news for Harris, and anyone kicking the tires on a prop involving him. But the Ravens pass defense is actually 32nd in the NFL, yielding 275.7 yards per game. So those will be the keys to who wins this game - if the Ravens can stop the pass, or if the Steelers can stop the run. I think Baltimore has a lot better of a chance to shut down Big Ben than the Steelers has of shutting down Jackson on the ground.

Baltimore Ravens vs. Pittsburgh Steelers Betting Trends

  • The Ravens are 1-4 ATS in the past five against losing teams.
  • The Ravens are 9-2 ATS in the past 13 divisional games.
  • The Ravens are 16-5 ATS in the past 21 games in December.
  • The Steelers are 3-7 ATS in the past 10 games overall.
  • The Steelers are 1-6 ATS in the past seven games at home.
  • The UNDER is 4-0 in the past four road games for the Ravens.
  • The UNDER is 7-3 in the past 10 home games for the Steelers.
  • The Ravens are 5-1-1 ATS in the past seven trips to Pittsburgh.

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