It is a battle for first place in the AFC North on Sunday as the Pittsburgh Steelers visit the Baltimore Ravens. The Steelers are 4-3 while the Ravens are 3-4-1. The Steelers are hoping that quarterback Ben Roethlisberger will be available for this game and oddsmakers have set the line based on Big Ben playing as the Ravens are 2.5 point favorites. If Roethlisberger was out the Ravens would likely be favored by about a touchdown. Let’s look at this matchup and free NFL picks.
The Steelers visit the Ravens on Sunday, November 6th at 1 pm Eastern on CBS.
NFL Odds at the Best Sports Betting Sites
Baltimore Ravens -2.5, total 43.5
Steelers at Ravens
You might be surprised that this is the first time since November of 2012 that first place is on the line in a matchup between the Steelers and Ravens. The Steelers are expected to have Roethlisberger for this matchup and his presence will not only help Pittsburgh but it will invigorate the Ravens who have lost four straight games.
“We’re seven games in, we’re one game out of first in the division, and we’re playing the team that’s first in the division, which is our archrival,” said coach John Harbaugh, “What more could you ask for than that?”
This is almost a must-win game for Baltimore as they can’t afford to go to 3-5-1 and realistically make the playoffs. “I’d love to be 7-0 and have [the Steelers] chasing us, but we’re a game behind them,” Harbaugh said. “We’re chasing them. We’ve been there before. I can’t wait.” The Ravens still have games left against Dallas, New England and road games at Pittsburgh and Cincinnati so they really need to win this game.
The Ravens and Steelers used to dominate the AFC North winning the division 9 times between 2002 and 2012 but Cincinnati has won the division in two of the last three years.
Game Notes
The Ravens are expected to get linebacker Terrell Suggs (biceps), guard Marshal Yanda (shoulder), wide receiver Steve Smith Sr. (ankle) and linebacker C.J. Mosley (hamstring) back from injury.
NFL Odds
The Steelers are 1-3-1 ATS in the last 5 meetings in this series. The Steelers are 4-1-1 ATS in their last 6 vs. the AFC North. The Steelers are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games following a bye week. The Steelers are 1-6 ATS in their last 7 games in November. The Ravens are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 vs. the AFC North. The Ravens are 2-11-1 ATS at the best online sports betting sites in their last 14 home games.
The Under is 6-1 in the Steelers last 7 road games. The Under is 21-8-1 in the Steelers last 30 vs. the AFC North. The Under is 6-2 in the Ravens last 8 home games. The Under is 3-1-1 in the last 5 meetings.
Free NFL Picks
I will avoid a side and just take this game over the total at the best sports betting sites.
