January 11, 2025

Sport and Betting News

Predictions, Odds, and Best Bets for Steelers vs Ravens Wild Card Matchup

14 mins
  • The Steelers are steep 9.5-point road underdogs when they visit the Ravens on Wild Card Weekend
  • Baltimore enters the playoffs winners of four straight
  • Read below for the Pittsburgh Steelers vs Baltimore Ravens prediction, odds and expert picks

AFC North rivals will meet for a third and final time this season when the Pittsburgh Steelers (10-7, 4-5 away) visit the Baltimore Ravens (12-5, 6-2 home) on Wild Card weekend. These two teams are trending in wildly opposite directions in this playoff opener: the Ravens have ripped off four straight wins, while the Steelers stagger into Baltimore losers of four in a row. Steelers vs Ravens kicks off Saturday night at 8pm ET from M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore. Prime Video will provide the broadcast coverage. Here is a look at our Steelers vs Ravens prediction, along with the betting lines below.

Steelers vs Ravens Odds

Team Spread Moneyline Total
Pittsburgh Steelers +9.5 (-110) +400 Over 43.5 (-110)
Baltimore Ravens -9.5 (-110) -550 Under 43.5 (-110)

The Steelers vs Ravens odds have the Ravens as hefty 9.5-point favorites, closing in on an 80% win probability. Baltimore closed the regular season with double-digit wins in four straight. There have been just slight movements on the spread, with Pittsburgh listed as long as 10.5-point dogs, and Baltimore as short as 8.5-point favorites, before settling mostly at 9.5. A whopping 90% of the bets are on the Ravens moneyline with 75% of the money. 

Odds as of January 10 at Caesars. See SBD’s Caesars Sportsbook review or check out the latest Wild Card weekend NFL point spreads.

Fingers crossed you under bettors got in early, as this total was high as 46.5 during the week before settling a full three points lower at 43.5.

Steelers Betting Trends

If the Steelers really are playing possum, then they are the most committed actors the NFL has ever seen. Pittsburgh couldn’t score more than 17 points in each of its final four games, including getting drubbed by these very Ravens 34-17 in Week 16.

Quarterback Russell Wilson has thrown for less than 218 yards in five straight games, and during the four-game slide, he’s had just four TD passes against two interceptions. Averaging 22.4 points per game, they are the third-lowest scoring team entering the playoffs, ahead of only the Texans and Rams.

Thankfully, a defense that had given up 27 or more points in three straight games showed up against the surging Cincinnati Bengals, holding them to 19 points, and giving Pittsburgh hope they can come up with a gameplan to contain an equally explosive Ravens offense.

They’re going to need points though, and a return to form from George Pickens is absolutely crucial. The mercurial wide receiver had just one catch for zero yards against the Bengals with a handful of killer drops. Pickens has just four grabs and 50 yards in two games since returning from a hamstring injury.

Ravens Betting Trends

Postseason success is the one knock on an incredible career out of the gate for Ravens’ pivot Lamar Jackson. He has just two playoff wins in his career, matching his regular season MVP total. But he has something this year that he’d never had before: a superstar to take on some of those weighty expectations.

Derrick Henry is the perfect antidote for Jackson should he struggle at any point finding his game against the Steelers. The first-year Raven ran for 1,921 yards and 16 scores, a season so good it needed a 2K season from Saquon Barkley to overshadow it.

That dynamic backfield is going to be tough to contain, and a big reason the Ravens were the third-highest scoring team in the NFL at 30.5 points per game. But they won’t be whole, with shifty star receiver Zay Flowers out with a knee injury. That’s a big playmaker off the chess board in this matchup.

Steelers vs Ravens Prediction

It’s clear the Steelers aren’t in the offensive ballpark compared to the Ravens, but they’ve found a way to contain Jackson. Save for that 34-point outburst and win the last meeting, Baltimore has lost eight of the last 10 to the Steelers. But more importantly, they have been held Under 20 points in all but the last game, with the Under hitting in eight of the last nine.

The Flowers injury should also throw some caution into bettors thinking the Ravens run away with it, even with Henry. Pittsburgh also beat the Ravens in an 18-16 slugfest in Week 11 – about the only way the Steelers have a shot at winning. For Jackson, it’s Super Bowl or bust from this point forward in his career, and getting past the Steelers is a good test, as there are far greater teams down this AFC path. It won’t be pretty, but Baltimore should prevail, though Pittsburgh finds a way to keep this one closer than it should be.

Steelers vs Ravens Pick:

  • Under 43.5 Points (-110 at Caesars)
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The highly anticipated Wild Card matchup between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Baltimore Ravens is set to be a thrilling game that will keep fans on the edge of their seats. Both teams have had successful seasons and are looking to make a statement in the playoffs.

The Steelers come into this game as the favorites, boasting a strong defense led by T.J. Watt and Minkah Fitzpatrick. Their offense, led by quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster, has also been firing on all cylinders. The Steelers finished the regular season with a record of 12-4 and are looking to continue their winning ways in the playoffs.

On the other hand, the Ravens have had a solid season as well, finishing with a record of 11-5. Led by quarterback Lamar Jackson, the Ravens have one of the most dynamic offenses in the league. Jackson’s ability to run and pass makes him a threat to any defense, and the Steelers will have their hands full trying to contain him.

In terms of predictions, this game is expected to be a close one. Both teams are evenly matched and have the talent to come out on top. The key for the Steelers will be to contain Jackson and limit his big plays, while the Ravens will need to find a way to slow down Roethlisberger and the Steelers’ passing attack.

As for the odds, the Steelers are currently favored to win this game, with most sportsbooks giving them a slight edge. However, in a divisional matchup like this, anything can happen, and the Ravens are more than capable of pulling off an upset.

For those looking to place bets on this game, the best bet may be to take the over on the total points scored. Both teams have high-powered offenses and this game has the potential to turn into a shootout. Additionally, taking the Ravens with the points may also be a smart bet, as they have a history of playing well in big games.

Overall, this Wild Card matchup between the Steelers and Ravens is shaping up to be a must-watch game for football fans. With two talented teams facing off, anything can happen, and it’s sure to be a game filled with excitement and drama.

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