Steelers vs. Ravens Week 18 Picks: Bitter Rivals Clinging to Slim Playoff Hopes
The Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens - two perennial powers - need a win and lots of help to reach the postseason. Who will emerge victorious on Sunday? Check out our Steelers-Ravens picks below.
What a difference a year makes. Last season, the Steelers and Ravens owned two of the best records and two of the top-five seeds in the AFC. Turn the page to the 2021 season and both are clinging to faint playoff hopes.
The Steelers are 8-7-1 and need a road win in Baltimore, the Jacksonville Jaguars to upset the Indianapolis Colts, and the Las Vegas Raiders-Los Angeles Chargers game to result in anything but a tie to advance to the playoffs.
The Ravens' playoff odds are even longer. Baltimore needs not only to best its biggest rival, but also for the Chargers, Colts, and Miami Dolphins to all lose on Sunday.
Here are my picks and predictions for the NFL Week 18 matchup between the Steelers and Ravens (odds via Circa; pick confidence based on a 1-to-5 star scale).
Steelers vs. Ravens Game Info
Date/Time: Sunday, Jan. 9, 1 p.m. ETTV: CBSLocation: M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore, MDWeather: Cloudy with a little rain
Steelers vs. Ravens Odds Analysis
Though they're in the midst of a five-game slide, the Ravens opened as 5-point favorites on Monday, despite the uncertain status of quarterback Lamar Jackson. That spread has held strong and reached -6 by Thursday. Pittsburgh has drawn 69% of the money from the sharps and 51% from the public.
The total has hovered at around 42 since its open, and that's where it stands now.
The Steelers are 7-9 against the spread on the season and own a 6-10 Over/Under record. The Ravens are 8-8 both ATS and O/U.
Steelers vs. Ravens Picks
Steelers +3.5 (-117) ???Under 41 (-110) ???
SEE ALSO: Packers vs. Lions Week 18 Picks
Steelers vs. Ravens Predictions
Steelers +3.5 (-117)
The spread stood at Ravens -6 for much of the week, but that must have come with the expectation that Jackson would return to the lineup with the Ravens' playoff hopes hanging by a thread. That's the only explanation for Baltimore - which has lost five straight, including the previous meeting with Pittsburgh - being favored by nearly a touchdown.
The Ravens officially ruled out Jackson on Friday, causing the line to drop to Ravens -3.5.
Backup Tyler Huntley will start his third game in the past four weeks. Though Huntley has performed admirably, the Ravens lost his previous two starts by 1-point margins.
The smart bet is to take the Steelers at +3.5. They've won the last three games in this rivalry. Five of the last six matchups ended in one-score margins.
Under 41 (-110)
This AFC North rivalry is rooted in strong running games and stiff defenses. Three of the last four meetings went Under this total.
Though three of the Ravens' last four games hit the Over, their opponents (Cleveland, Green Bay, Cincinnati) supplied the majority of the points in those contests. Even their last game against the high-octane Los Angeles Rams finished Under at 39 total points. Pittsburgh isn't likely to supply the same amount of offense as Baltimore's previous opponents.
The Steelers have averaged 18.3 points in their last three games. The Ravens have averaged 23 points per game in their last four, all without Jackson.
With a little rain in the forecast, expect the clock to tick as both teams opt to run the ball in a low-scoring affair.
SEE ALSO: All picks and odds. Be sure to check out SportsbookReview.com's community forums and betting tools.
Steelers-Ravens picks made 1/7/2022 at 1:05 p.m. ET
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