Pittsburgh At Baltimore Betting Lines
Opening Line: Ravens -2.5
Over/Under: 36
Time: 1 PM EST Sunday September 11, 2011 on CBS
This game is only in week 1, but it is a big one for each team since they will likely battle it out for the AFC North title. The Ravens could use some confidence in beating the Steelers since they have been knocked out of the playoffs by them in 2 of the last 3 years including last season. Both teams are obviously led by their solid defense, but each offense has the tools to be a solid one and one major key in this game is the play of each team's offensive line. These 2 teams split the 2 games they faced each other last season with each winning on the road. The betting total for this game is 36 and that is low, but in last season's match ups both games went Under the posted total.
Joe Flacco has improved his numbers every season since he came into the league and he has WR Anquan Boldin, but even though the team lost 2nd leading WR Derrick Mason the team picked up Lee Evans from the Bills. The Pittsburgh pass defense ranked 12th last season and S Troy Polamalu is 100% healthy and the team re-signed CB Ike Taylor. Pass protection is key for the Ravens facing a Steelers' pass rush that features the OLB duo of LaMarr Woodley and James Harrison, who combined for 20.5 sacks last season.
Ray Rice had over 1,200 rushing yards last season and the team bolstered their rushing offense by signing Pro Bowl FB Vonta Leach. These guys have their work cut out for them facing the Pittsburgh run defense that was the best in the league last season.
The Steelers ranked 14th in passing offense and 11th in rushing offense and they may be much better this season. Ben Roethlisberger is healthy and in his prime and the backfield of Rashard Mendenhall (1,273 yards 13 TD last season) and backup Isaac Redman has looked great in the preseason. The Ravens' run defense ranked 5th in the league last season and they have to stuff the run in this game.
Big Ben has many weapons in WR's Mike Wallace, Hines Ward, Jerricho Cotchery, Antonio Brown and Emmanuel Sanders and TE Heath Miller and even though the Ravens struggled last season against the pass, ranking 21st in the league in pass defense, they may be much better this season. Ed Reed led the league in picks last season in only 10 games and CB Jimmy Smith may have been the steal of the first round in the draft.
Like the Ravens the Steelers have issues on the offensive line, as they cut former starting OT's Max Starks and Flozell Adams and will go younger on the line. If they can keep Ray Lewis and Terrell Suggs out of the backfield and give Roethlisberger time in the pocket the Ravens may be in for a long day.
Betting Trends
Pittsburgh is 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games and has an Over record of 4-0 in their last 4 games.
Baltimore is 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games as a favorite and has an Under record of 4-1 in their last 5 home games.
Pittsburgh is 5-1-1 ATS in their last 7 games facing the Ravens.
Take the Steelers +2.5 @ Intertops.eu