Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Baltimore Ravens Picks, Predictions, Odds

Michael Crosson Sports Betting Expert

5 minute read

The 17th Sunday of regular season NFL action will conclude with a meaningful AFC North clash between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens. Coverage begins from M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore at 8:20 p.m. ET on NBC.

Updated on 04/26/2024

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PITTSBURGH STEELERS vs. BALTIMORE RAVENS BETTING PREDICTION

Pittsburgh is down, but not quite out entering Week 17, as the Steelers trail Miami by just one game for the final AFC Wild Card spot with a record of 7-8. And with two weeks left to play, Mike Tomlin, also, still has a chance at keeping his perfect .500-or-better streak alive.

However, playoff contention didn’t always seem like a legitimate possibility for this squad, nor did a .500 record, considering the Steelers posted a 2-6 skid out of the gate and had to win five of their next seven games in order to reach their current status. Which personally, I didn’t see coming.

But when T.J. Watt is at full strength, Pittsburgh’s defense is an absolute machine, highlighted by the Steelers holding their opponent to 17 points or less in six of their last seven games. And if they continue to dominate on that level, this squad has a puncher’s chance in almost any matchup.

It looks like the stars are aligned for Pittsburgh this week too, as the Steelers draw a rematch against a Ravens squad that’s now scored 17 points or less in five of their last six games, and Lamar Jackson appears to be trending towards his fifth straight absence.

In the previous meeting between these teams, Tyler Huntley and the Ravens escaped with a 16-14 road victory in a contest the Steelers had three turnovers in. 

However, outside of their loss to Baltimore, the Steelers’ offense has turned the ball over just once since their Week 9 bye. So, I expect to see a much cleaner performance from Tomlin’s crew this time around.

We’re probably looking at a hungrier dog runs faster scenario in this matchup, with the Ravens sure to keep Lamar on ice having already clinched a playoff spot, opposed to the Steelers trying to keep alive, both, their postseason hopes, and their head coach’s .500-record streak with a pair of wins to close the season. 

So, I’ll back Pittsburgh to handle business on the road here.

Score Prediction: Steelers 20, Ravens 16
Best Bet: Steelers ML (+120)

Take Pittsburgh ML!

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PITTSBURGH STEELERS vs. BALTIMORE RAVENS BETTING ODDS

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PITTSBURGH STEELERS vs. BALTIMORE RAVENS BETTING RESOURCES

Date: Sunday, January 1, 2023
Matchup: AFC North
Venue: M&T Bank Stadium
Location: Baltimore, Maryland
Time-TV: NBC, 8:20 p.m. ET

PITTSBURGH STEELERS BETTING ANALYSIS

The Steelers’ defense has been on fire since Watt’s return from injury in Week 10, highlighted by Pittsburgh holding its opponent to 17 points or less in five-of-six matchups following the three-time All-Pro’s return to action.

Clearly, this Steelers’ squad lives and dies with its defensive play, considering, on the other side of the ball, Pittsburgh’s offense is averaging less than 18 PPG on the season. 

However, their offense has shown gradual signs of improvement recently, highlighted by the Steelers scoring 20+ points in four of their last seven games, which is a mark they eclipsed in just three-of-eight contests prior to their Week 9 bye.

The Steelers are now 5-2 in their last seven games, and they’ve won four of their last five, primarily thanks to their defense surrendering 17 points or less in six of those contests. 

And while it’s very difficult to perform at such a high level on a consistent basis, it’s an achievable feat when you draw a string of matchups against the Saints, Colts, Falcons, Panthers, Raiders, and the Ravens without Lamar Jackson. Which is exactly what we’re looking at again on Sunday night.

BALTIMORE RAVENS BETTING ANALYSIS

In their previous meeting with the Steelers, the Ravens got away with one, as Jon Harbaugh’s squad generated just 16 points on 309 total yards on the road in Pittsburgh back in Week 14. But they managed to take advantage of three Steeler’ turnovers, and escaped with a 16-14 victory.

Baltimore accumulated a +3-advantage in the turnover department and possessed the ball for nearly six more minutes than the Steelers in their previous affair. But due to the Ravens’ offensive struggles, Pittsburgh actually outgained them with 329 total yards in the contest.

At full strength, Baltimore is the far superior team in this matchup, and I’d actually consider them a dark horse to win the AFC. 

However, that notion is strongly dependent on the status of Lamar Jackson, considering the Ravens have averaged just 11.5 PPG across their last four games in his absence. And they’ll probably coast to the finish line at a similar pace having already clinched a playoff berth.

PITTSBURGH STEELERS vs. BALTIMORE RAVENS BETTING TRENDS

• The Steelers are 4-1 ATS in their last five games.
• The Steelers are 4-1 SU in their last five games.
• The Ravens are 2-4 ATS in their last six games.
• The total has gone UNDER in six of Baltimore's last seven games.
• The Ravens are 7-2 SU in their last nine games.
• The total has gone UNDER in four of Baltimore's last five games against Pittsburgh.
• The total has gone UNDER in five straight Ravens' home games.
• The Steelers are 4-1 SU in their last five games against Baltimore.
• The Steelers are 4-2 ATS in their last six road games.

Where to place a bet this NFL Season?

• Use our exclusive BetMGM Bonus Code VIBONUS1500 to unlock BetMGM’s welcome offer for new sportsbook users!
• Compare the latest NFL Odds from the best sportsbooks before placing a bet on this week's games.
• Check out the North Carolina Sportsbooks just before they launch legal online sports betting.

Michael Crosson

Michael Crosson began his time at VegasInsider as a freelance NBA writer back in 2019 while he continued to study Psychology and Biology at James Madison University. Following his graduation in 2021, Michael joined the team full-time, and he's been with VI ever since. Michael still writes NBA, NFL, and MLB for VI, as well as gambling industry news. He's also become a crucial part of our editorial production team. More from Michael Crosson