The AFC North division will showcase its most intense rivalry in the Week 17 edition of Sunday Night Football, as the Pittsburgh Steelers travel to Baltimore to face the Ravens. The Steelers, who are clinging to a faint chance of making the playoffs, must win their final two games and receive some assistance in order to qualify.
Additionally, Pittsburgh is hoping to keep its streak of never having a losing season under head coach Mike Tomlin alive by winning both remaining games. In the past 15 primetime meetings between these two clubs, the Ravens hold a narrow 8-7 advantage and are currently favored by 3 points to add another victory to their record.
The Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens will face off in Week 17 of Sunday Night Football on January 1, 2023 at 8:20 p.m. ET at MT Bank Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland. The game will be televised on NBC.
Steelers vs Raven Odds
Pittsburgh Steelers +3 ( +135 )
Baltimore Ravens -3 ( -155 )
Over/Under 36
Odds Analysis
If history is any indication, the upcoming game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens is likely to be a closely contested, low-scoring affair. In their first meeting this season, Baltimore emerged victorious with a 16-14 road win, snapping a four-game losing streak against the Steelers and earning their first payout in three games. Those four losses were decided by a total of 13 points. In the past four matchups between these two teams, only once has a team scored as many as 20 points, which occurred in Pittsburgh’s 20-19 win last season. Given the close nature of the series, it is not surprising to see Baltimore as a 3-point favorite. However, the Ravens are just 1-4 SU and ATS in the last five meetings in Baltimore. The teams have also tended to see low totals in recent years, with the UNDER cashing in four straight encounters. If the current betting line holds, it will be the lowest total in the last six games between these two clubs.
Steelers
Kenny Pickett is still trying to find his footing as the Steelers’ quarterback, which has contributed to the team’s offensive struggles. However, the Steelers’ defense has been strong, helping them make a late push for a playoff spot. In their last five games, the Steelers have held their opponents to 17 points or fewer, winning four of those games and going 4-1 ATS. The only loss in that span came against the Ravens in Week 14, when Pickett left the game early due to injury. This season has been a transition for the Steelers as they move on from Ben Roethlisberger. Pickett, who was drafted in the first round as Roethlisberger’s successor, began the season as the backup to Mitchell Trubisky. Since taking over as the starting quarterback in Week 4, Pickett has completed 65.2% of his passes, but has only thrown five touchdowns and nine interceptions.
The Steelers’ offense has averaged 17.6 points per game, but they were able to secure a win in their last game despite scoring only 13 points. The defense held Las Vegas to 201 total yards and limited NFL rushing leader Josh Jacobs to 44 yards on 15 carries. Cameron Heyward recorded two of the team’s three sacks, and the Steelers intercepted three Derek Carr passes. In their previous meeting with the Ravens, the Steelers did enough to win, but three Trubisky interceptions ultimately cost them the game. Pickett is returning to the lineup after missing the first game against the Ravens, looking to build on a solid performance against the Raiders in which he was 26-of-39 for 244 yards and threw the game-winning touchdown pass with less than a minute remaining.
Ravens
The low total for this game is due in part to the Ravens’ offense struggling in the absence of quarterback Lamar Jackson, who has been out for the last three games. With Tyler Huntley under center, the Ravens have scored a total of three touchdowns. Last week’s 17-9 win over Atlanta was their highest point total in the last four games, and the Ravens have also won three times in that span, going 2-2 ATS and cashing the UNDER in all four games. The Ravens have played below the total in 11 of 15 games this season, and boast the best UNDER rate in the NFL at 73.3%, with many of those games occurring while Jackson was still playing.
Baltimore’s defense has also been strong, and has gotten stronger as the season has progressed. In the first eight games of the season, they allowed at least 20 points in a game six times. In the last seven outings, they have only allowed that to happen once, while holding three opponents to less than 10 points. Over that stretch, the Ravens are holding teams to an average of 12.7 points per game. Although they have already secured a playoff spot, the division title is still within reach for the Ravens, so there is still something to play for in this game. Additionally, this is a huge division rival, so expect a highly competitive and intense matchup.
Ravens vs Steelers Prediction
There have been a number of close games between these two teams in the past, and both are currently playing well defensively, which adds value to the UNDER. Huntley has not been able to consistently find the end zone, and that is not likely to change against the Steelers’ strong defense. Based on these factors, I believe it is advisable to take the points in this matchup.
Prediction: Pittsburgh Steelers +3 and UNDER 36
