NFL Sports Book Odds Call for Tough Game when Baltimore Faces Pitt

NFL sportsbook odds makers believe that the game between the Baltimore Ravens and the Pittsburgh Steelers will be a tough one on Saturday, January 15th.

Pitt is a 3 ½ point favorite in the sportsbook to beat their AFC North rivals for the second time this season. Not many football handicappers are backing Pittsburgh to do that by at least 4 points, however, as 61% of gamblers at this point are backing the Ravens in this Divisional Playoff game.

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Will Pitt cover versus their biggest rivals? Or, will Baltimore send Pittsburgh to the showers and out of the playoffs?

Baltimore Ravens (13-4) at Pittsburgh Steelers (12-4)

Where: Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

When: Jan. 15th, 2011 at 4:30 pm EST

TV: CBS

NFL Betting Line

Baltimore Ravens +3 ½ -110 O 37 -110

Pittsburgh Steelers -3 ½ -110 U 37 -110

Check out some trends in this game.

• The Baltimore Ravens are 1-4-1 ATS in the last 6 meetings.

• The Baltimore Ravens are 4 and 1 ATS in their last 5 games overall.

• The Pittsburgh Steelers are 7 and 1 ATS in their last 8 playoff games.

• The Pittsburgh Steelers are 4 and 1 ATS in their last 5 games overall.

The reason why football handicappers are backing the Ravens versus the NFL sports book odds is because Baltimore should be working on their third victory of the season over the rival Steelers.

In the first game between these two, with Pitt QB Ben Roethlisberger waiting out a 4-game suspension, the Ravens beat Pittsburgh on the road 17 to 14 as 2-point dogs. The Ravens amassed 320 total yards in that game while holding the Steelers to 200 total yards. In game 2, in Baltimore, the Ravens could muster only 269 total yards to Pittsburgh’s 288.

Even with less yards, Baltimore had the game won with less than 3 minutes to go. Baltimore was up 10 to 6 but then Big Ben found Isaac Redman in the end zone and the Steelers pulled out a 13 to 10 victory. Will football fans see something akin to that this Saturday?

I don’t think so. Baltimore didn’t lose a game after the loss to Pittsburgh. The victories include one over last year’s Super Bowl winners, the New Orleans Saints, 30 to 24, as -1 point NFL sports book odds faves, and putting a serious beat down on the Kansas City Chiefs in last week’s AFC wild card game. Baltimore’s running game was very effective versus the Chiefs as the Ravens rushed for 142 yards on 40 carries. More impressive than the rushing game was QB Joe Flacco who threw for 265 yards and 2 touchdowns with no interceptions.

Flacco will be counted upon to burn a Pittsburgh secondary that allows 214.1 passing yards per game. Flacco will need to use the pass, and his own legs (he rushed for 26 yards versus KC) in order to keep Pitt off of the Ravens’ rushing game. If Flacco can do that, then Baltimore is plenty good enough to upset Pittsburgh straight up on Saturday.

In fact, that’s the way that I’ll be going. I’m going to bet on the moneyline NFL sports book odds in this game and not against the spread. Pittsburgh’s offense is very good, but it faces a Baltimore D that has helped the Ravens outscore their last 3 opponents 53 to 24 including holding Kansas City’s QB Matt Cassel to 70 total passing yards and 3 picks last Sunday.

Baltimore faces an opponent that they are incredibly familiar with. I believe that they end Pittsburgh’s playoff run almost as soon as it begins.

NFL Betting Pick: Baltimore Ravens +155 on the moneyline

Log onto the sportsbook for NFL sports book odds on this weekend’s Divisional Playoff games, click here!