Thought by many to be the Pittsburgh Steelers division to win at the beginning of the year, the AFC North will be a struggle all season with the four teams each having one loss through the first three weeks of the 2018 campaign. The Steelers became the last division club to win a game, waiting even longer than the Cleveland Browns, but they got that elusive victory behind a vintage Ben Roethlisberger performance. The offense was on fire and will need to be again to cover the pregame and in-game betting line against the Baltimore Ravens.
Watch this Week 4 regular season NFL matchup live on Sunday, September 30, 2018, at 8:20 p.m. ET at Heinz Field.
NFL Opening Odds at BookMaker.eu
Baltimore Ravens +3
Pittsburgh Steelers -3
Over/Under 51
No Le’Veon Bell no problem for the Steelers, who got 353 passing yards and three touchdowns from Big Ben and amassed 413 total yards in their win over the Buccaneers on Monday night. The Steelers scored all their points in the first half and held on for the victory, despite a heroic effort from Tampa’s Ryan Fitzpatrick.
When taking the field against the Ravens on Sunday night, it might go a good play to fade Pittsburgh in the first quarter on in-game betting lines at BookMaker.eu. The Steelers average nearly 30 points per game, but they’ve scored just six points in the opening frame this season. Once the offense gets warmed up, though, look out. The Steelers are the most productive second quarter team and they average nearly 20 first half points. Taking a gamble on the first half over now that Antonio Brown is smiling again is the smart play on the BookMaker live betting platform.
This game certainly doesn’t have the feel of what an AFC North games used to be. A few years back, the division was dominated by defense with the Ravens and Steelers both leading the way. But just like the rest of the league, the division has adapted and the clubs can score with the best of them. Joe Flacco certainly has improved his game from the past few seasons. The Ravens couldn’t throw the ball down field last year, partly because their QB wasn’t 100 percent and also due to a lack of options on the outside.
Those issues have been remedied with Flacco’s improved health and the acquisition of John Brown, Michael Crabtree and Willie Snead. Through three games this season the Ravens are averaging over 100 yards more per game in the air than they did last year. Brown is the biggest threat averaging 18.5 yards per reception with a pair of touchdowns and he’ll test the Steelers secondary that ranks near the bottom in yards allowed per game.
And when the Ravens sniff the goal line, they punch the ball in the end zone. They’ve hit paydirt on all 12 of their red zone trips, which has allowed them to score at least 23 points in every game while averaging the fifth-most points per game at 32.3. When the Ravens get inside Pittsburgh’s 20-yard-line, it’s time to pull up the in-game betting options at BookMaker.eu and go with a touchdown.
There’s a good chance Buck Allen scores that touchdown, too. Allen has just 16 rush attempts and 32 yards on the season, but he’s been deadly inside the opponents 5-yard line scoring three touchdowns on four carries. What makes Baltimore so potent is their abundance of weapons when they get close. Flacco has been flawless around the goal line completing over 75 percent of his passes with seven different players scoring a touchdown.
Free ATS Pick
These teams typically put on a show for the fans and with the Ravens looking competitive for the first time in a few seasons it’s going to be a good matchup. Big Ben was himself last week and he had a wonderful first half, but the Steelers’ offense disappeared in the second half, getting blanked by the Bucs. Pittsburgh has second-half issues and that could affect the in-game betting line at BookMaker.eu.
The Ravens have been better defensively this season and that group does enough to get Baltimore the outright win. Pittsburgh’s issues are much deeper than Bell’s holdout and while they got a win last week, it didn’t come without some anxious moments. Bet this game now at Bookmaker.eu and take the visitors to cover in the first half and postgame.
NFL Betting Odds: Ravens 31, Steelers 26
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