Even though the Baltimore Ravens haven't been truly competitive this season, they do have one massive win on the road against the Pittsburgh Steelers. That's really the only reason why Pittsburgh is down and out in the AFC North chase. That said, the Steelers have a shot at some revenge on Sunday with the return game in Baltimore in a game which likely must be won to have a shot to get into the playoffs as an AFC Wild Card.
NFL Odds at BookMaker.eu
Pittsburgh Steelers -9.5
Baltimore Ravens +9.5
Over/Under 47
ODDS ANALYSIS
This is a series which always seems to be very close. Sure, a few meetings were blowouts in recent history, but six of the last nine games were decided by three points or fewer. That's why it's a bit surprising to see Pittsburgh favored by a whopping 9.5 on the road, insinuating that it is almost two full touchdowns better than its arch rival at this late juncture of the season.
The Steelers have since moved up to -10 and have had basically all of the betting action on their side. This should be a trend in live betting as well, as the Steelers will virtually always be asked to cover numbers in front of the spread.
The total of 47 has held firm all week long.
WHEN THE PITTSBURGH STEELERS HAVE THE BALL
The Steelers might have the most dynamic offense in the NFL right now. They've scored at least 30 points in six games in a row, and the argument could be made for Ben Roethlisberger to be amongst the MVP candidates this season.
Statistically speaking, the numbers for Big Ben aren't there. Throwing 18 TDs against 12 INTs in 10 games isn't exactly MVP caliber, but he has thrown for an average of 337 yards per game and has merely had nine touchdowns pilfered by DeAngelo Williams on the ground.
The argument could be made that Roethlisberger has the best set of receivers in the NFL at his disposal. The Ravens have been burned by deep balls this year, and that really gives live bettors the opportunity to cash in quickly with Markus Wheaton and Martavis Bryant streaking down the field. Of course, Antonio Brown is the stalwart with 116 catches, 1,586 yards and nine scores, but it's Wheaton and Bryant who can turn this game on a dime.
WHEN THE BALTIMORE RAVENS HAVE THE BALL
The Ravens are really trying their best right now, but they're overmatched in every sense of the word when they have the ball. Jimmy Clausen hasn't put more than 14 points on the board in his last three starts, and his total of 33 points in those games wouldn't even be enough to win this game in all likelihood.
The best drives for the Ravens begin and end with Buck Allen getting a plethora of touches. Justin Forsett's best game of the season came against these Steelers when he ran for 150 yards on 27 carries. Allen of course, has taken over as the primary tailback after Forsett suffered a season-ending injury a month and a half ago, and he's shown a bit of promise.
Last week against Kansas City though, Allen was completely taken out of the game, amassing just four carries for 18 yards. He hasn't had a single carry for more than nine yards in two straight NFL games, and that isn't going to cut it. If Allen can make an impact as a rusher, at least the Ravens can keep the Pittsburgh offense off the field. That's going to be a huge key in live betting for sure on Sunday.
BookMaker offers play-by-play betting odds for live sporting events every day! The user-friendly wagering interface on your smartphone provides an easy way to place bets on the go. Mobile betting lines are updated by the minute, so click here to start gambling on thrilling live action at BookMaker Sportsbook! The Week 16 matchup between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens will take place Sunday, December 27, 2015, at 8:25 p.m. ET at M&T Bank Stadium. The game will be televised on CBS.
