The Baltimore Ravens and the Pittsburgh Steelers will add another episode to their storied and bitter rivalry this coming Sunday, as Lamar Jackson and company pay Mason Rudolph and crew a visit. At this point in the season, NFL Futures price the Steelers with +30,000 odds to win Super Bowl 54, while the Ravens are looking much better with +2500 odds. Going into this Week 5 game, Baltimore is favored by 4-points.
The Ravens have problems to fix. After winning their first two games of the season against non-Super Bowl contenders, the Ravens seemed to have been exposed in their losses to the Kansas City Chiefs and the Cleveland Browns. In Week 4’s 40-25 loss to the Browns, the Ravens allowed 530 total yards. They also gave up over 500 yards to the Chiefs. Over the last three games, the Ravens have the worst total defense in the league over that span with an average of 395.5 total yards surrendered per contest. Baltimore can find its defensive mojo again in Week 5, though, as the Ravens will be up against the Steelers, who don’t have Ben Roethlisberger directing offense for the team. Quarterback Lamar Jackson can still light it up when given the chance. He had 247 passing yards and three touchdowns against two interceptions in the Cleveland game.
The Ravens, who are sixth in the NFL with 276.8 passing yards per game, are 4-1 against the spread (ATS) in their last five road games.
Betting on the Pittsburgh Steelers (1-3)
It took some time, but the Steelers finally nailed their first win of the year with a 27-3 thumping of the Cincinnati Bengals at home last Monday. Quarterback Mason Rudolph had 229 passing yards and two touchdowns without an interception on 24-of-28 completions. Running back James Conner also wreaked havoc on the field, rushing for 42 yards and adding 83 receiving yards and a touchdown on eight receptions. Conner and Jaylen Samuels have been quite the versatile weapons for the Steelers as they are being frequently used in passing plays, too. With how bad the Ravens’ defense has played of late, expect Conner and Samuels to put on a show for the Steelers. It’s the defense, though, that’s keeping the Steelers together in the absence of Ben Roethlisberger. The Steelers sacked Andy Dalton eight times and are allowing 22.0 points per game this season.
The Steelers are 5-5 ATS in their last 10 home games.
