Pittsburgh Steelers at Baltimore Ravens Odds

Betting Odds

Point Spread: Pittsburgh Steelers at Baltimore Ravens (-2.5)
Game Total Line: (36)
(wagering lines available at 5Dimes)

The Pittsburgh Steelers kick-off the 2011 regular season with a bang when they tangle with their AFC North rivals, the Baltimore Ravens this upcoming Sunday afternoon at M&T Bank Stadium. The game is set to start a 1 p.m. (ET) and it will be broadcast nationally on CBS.

If Pittsburgh wants to start its season on the right foot, it will need to shake-off the memory of a bitter 31-25 loss to Green Bay in Super Bowl XLV as a three-point underdog. This marred an otherwise successful season in which the Steelers went 12-4 overall to top the Ravens for the division title on a tie-breaker. More impressive was their 7-1 straight-up record on the road.

They begin the 2011 season with an offense that was ranked 14th overall. It was both efficient and balanced; ranking 14th in passing yards per game and 11th in rushing yards. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger completed 61.7 percent of his passes for 3,200 yards and 17 touchdowns and ended the season ranked fifth in the league with a passer rating of 97.0.

Defensively, Pittsburgh was one of the best in 2010, ranking second overall and first in points allowed; giving up an average of just 14.5 points a game. Expect the same kind hard-nosed play in this game as the Steelers’ roster remains strikingly similar to last season’s.

Baltimore fully understands that this game could be the key to its whole season. The last three years it finished second in the North only to make an exit from the playoffs as a wildcard team playing on the road. Last season it was this very team that ended its season with a 31-24 loss to the Steelers as a 3.5-point road underdog.

If the Ravens are going to make a run to the top of the division, they will need a more consistent effort from fourth-year quarterback Joe Flacco. His overall numbers in 2010 were not that bad, with 3,622 yards passing for 25 TD’s, but he needs to do a better job at stepping up big in games such as this. Fortunately, he will have help with a running game that is led by Ray Rice. A key offseason addition that should make it even more potent, was fullback Vonta Leach, who was the lead blocker for Arian Foster in Houston last season. Flacco will also have a new target to throw the ball to with the recent signing of wide receiver Lee Evans.

Baltimore also boasts one of the top defenses in the league led by the ageless one, linebacker Ray Lewis and defensive back Ed Reed. These two helped the Ravens finish 10th overall and third in points allowed; giving up an average of 16.9 a game.

Head-to-head, Pittsburgh has won seven of the last 10 games SU and is 6-3-1 against the spread. The total has gone ‘over’ in six of the 10 meetings, but stayed ‘under’ in both regular season games last year.

Point Spread Pick

For the most part, these games are close, low-scoring affairs. The average margin of victory in four of the last five games has been three points, which should once again be the case on Sunday. With the current spread less than three, stick with the Ravens to pull out the win by a field goal.
Take the Ravens -2.5 available at 5Dimes. Note: Get -105 betting lines at 5Dimes on game day!